Just an Introduction

Hello Lauritzen family. I feel the need to introduce myself since none of you seems to know who I am. My name is Heidi--not twin. All throughout elementary, middle and high school I was thought of by friends and teachers as half of a whole, never as a complete person. It never occurred to me that this was true of my own family!! So you get to sit there and read about ME now and learn who that mysterious sister of yours is.

As a child, I remember feeling very lonely. Many journal entries are written about how I spent the day with my best friend, the only one who understood me, B.J. It is sad that I had eight brothers and sisters and yet had to resort to playing with a dog to feel as though I had a friend, but it's true. No wonder I am still a HUGE dog lover. Did anyone know that? I don't think there was a day when I enjoyed having my hair long. It was a huge relief to get it cut. I enjoyed singing and playing the piano (still do). I was never as good as most of you, but now I can say with confidence that through perseverance I am now better than all of you with the exception of Kristi. In fact, I am the substitute ward organist and played just last Sunday. Did you know that? I love to cook. I'm not creative like Kristi or Amy, but I can still outdo Amy in a pie baking contest and I know a good recipe just by looking at it. I enjoy the outdoors very much and wish like crazy that it was easier to take a two year-old on a hike. Bet you didn't know that. I also have an obsession with reading. It's a good thing we have public libraries or my family would be broke from buying too many books. I have also dabbled in writing a little and am currently part of the writing group in my ward. We have a blog and are given a prompt every month to write on, much like our family question of the week. I have served in the primary pretty much ever since turning 18, but I am now serving in YW, and I couldn't feel more out of place if I were called to serve in the priesthood. I substitute taught gospel doctrine a few weeks ago and didn't die. Actually, I enjoyed that. I'm a thrill seeker. I love, love, love roller coasters and have even been parasailing. I love Italian food, going for walks, singing with my kids, watching movies with my husband, playing Settlers of Catan, DOGS!!!, cleaning my house, fixing up my house, and Christmas. I feel a constant urge, like Kristi, to learn. I would love to go back to school to study interior design, landscape design, architecture, astronomy, etc. So many things to soak up and not nearly enough time. It makes me proud (I know, the universal sin) when my husband answers a page and says "Hello, this is Doctor Parkinson". It has been a long, very difficult road to get to where we are now and I need to be proud of him.

So now you know a little more about me. Should you have any questions, please ask. I would very much like my own family to know me as an individual. Not to insult Holly by any means, but I am not she, nor is she me.