Sister Spotlight: Joy Wiest

Where were you born? I was born in Bedford, TX but my family moved to the San Diego area when I was just 4 months old so I wasn’t able to pick up a good Texan accent. We lived in Southern California until I was 10 and then we moved here to Santa Clara.

If you are married, how did you meet your husband? We happened to move across the street from Ryan’s family when we moved to Santa Clara. Sparks flew for him, but not for me and then later on they flew for me but not for him. We never hooked up until after his mission, but in the mean time we were able to hang out with each other and have fun just being friends.

My favorite hobby is – Sometimes I forget I have hobbies. But, I do love to play tennis, needle point, read, go hiking and biking. I’ve loved gardening since I was little, but this is only my second year growing one of my own and I’ve got a lot to learn!

My favorite restaurant is – I will eat whatever as long as it is not seafood.

The music I listen to the most is – I love country, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s music.

My favorite thing to buy is – I really don’t like to shop.

The best vacation I ever had was – I’ve loved every vacation! Anything to get me out of my cooking and cleaning routine, experiencing new things, and be together as a family! I do love going to the beach for a week every year with my extended family.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I would like to play the piano as well as Sister Fielding.

What chore do you absolutely hate doing? Dishes. They are just never, ever, ever ending.

What is the “thing” that you are most grateful for? My husband and children! They make me so happy!

Sister Spotlight: Jill Telford

If you are married, how did you meet your husband? I met my husband while I was on a camping trip with my family and some friends. Our friends’ son invited Gary to come and we met. I was 14 and he was 15. My mother always told me that I couldn’t marry until I was 20. So, when I was 19 and Gary had returned from his mission we were engaged in the mountains. As you can tell, the mountains have had a huge impact on our relationship.

My favorite hobby is – I love to do several things : I love to garden, I love to run and exercise, and I love to sew quilts and do fun sewing projects. I also love being a grandma!

My favorite restaurant is – Little America and Market Street Grill.

The music I listen to the most is – I like all kinds of music. When Gary is around I listen to soft FM music but when I exercise I listen to rock.

My favorite thing to buy is – Fabric and Treats.

The city I would most like to visit is – Washington D.C.

The best vacation I ever had was – When we were able to travel to Holland and Denmark while were in England.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I want to learn to play the violin and become a great violinist.

What chore do you absolutely hate doing? I DO NOT like ironing.

What do you think is your very best feature or characteristic? I love people and I love to give of myself.

What is the “thing” that you are most grateful for? I am grateful to have the privilege of being a mother, wife, grandmother, and being able to live in a free country where I can choose to worship as I choose.

Sister Spotlight-Katie Vrajich

My favorite dinner/ dessert is: anything Italian.  I especially love vinegar-y salads.

My favorite flower is: stargazer lily

My favorite hobby is: volleyball,  reading,  Jamberry

My favorite restaurant is: Gina's: a cute little Italian place in California where I'm from that my aunt used to own.

A game I like to play is: Clue,  but no one will ever play with me! I like to play fast card games like speed or spit or frustration but people won't play those with me either because I beat them too much!

The music I listen to most is: primary songs in my car.  If I'm ever alone I just like peace. 

My favorite thing to buy is: food.  Fruits and vegetables.  I really don't like shopping of other sorts.  I don't even really like gRocery shopping.  If I could never buy anything again I'd love it!

A book I highly recommend is: The Jackrabbit Factor and the Anatomy of Peace.  Both totally changed my life. 

A movie I watch over and over is: I don't watch movies over and over. 

A smell that makes me pause is: salty ocean air. 

The city I would most like to visit is:  really anywhere.  I love experiencing new people and cultures and places.

The best vacation I ever had was: a month in Spain to visit all of our family there.  They rolled out the red carpet and it was so, so beautiful!  The Canary Islands,  Galicia and Madrid. 

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Elastagirl from the incredibles. I wish I had stretchy arms or at least 2 more arms. It would be so fabulous!

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I want to learn to speak German,  French,  And Mandarin and i want to speak Spanish better.

What chore do you absolutely hate doing? Cleaning my stove top!  I hate it so much I even asked my visiting teacher to do it once.  Best service I've ever received!  Lol.

What do you think is your very best feature or characteristic? I really like to learn about people. 

What is the "thing" you are most grateful for? Health.  Life.  I'm so grateful I woke up and I'm breathing today.

What is your dream vacation? I've dreamed of my little hut over some little island in the south Pacific for a long time.  But at this particular point in my life pretty much anywhere warm with my sweetheart with good food and warm water and a good book and I'm happy!

What's the coolest thing you've ever done? Living in the Caribbean.  I'm very suited to island life. 

If you are married, how did you meet your husband? How did he propose? We grew up in the same ward in Atascadero, California.  When he had been home from his mission about a year I was a senior in high school and his mom had really been bugging him to date.  He saw me at church and said "if you can find me someone like Katie Kurrels,  I will date that person." His mom had my mom on the phone asap and the rest is  histOry.

What would be your perfect day? I'd wake up with the birds,  do my morning routine,  go for a run,  have a big green smoothie,  go for a fun adventure exploring with my family.  Someone else would deep clean my whole house while I was gone, and then I'd play sand volleyball and then lay in the nice warm sand reading a good book while my kids run around laughing and playing and building sand castles.  I'd feel the warm sun on my cheeks,  sand in my toes and hear happy kiddos and be relaxing all at the same time.  Then we'd have a bbq and hang out outside until the stars come out.  The kids would fall asleep peacefully and easily and my sweetheart and I would look up at the stars and chat.  Mmmm.... And I'd probably have really delicious food for lunch or dinner and probably some chocolate would be involved.