Spotlight on Alysha Braithwaite

Alysha Rose Braithwaite:


1. I am married to Jacob Braithwaite, we were married in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple August 6th, 2010. So we've been married for almost a year and a half.

2. I've been in the ward since we were married, so for almost a year and a half.

3. I'm a senior earning my undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Creative Writing at the University of Utah. I will graduate December 2012 and then I am planning on getting my Masters and PhD in Philosophy as well.

4. I was working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for almost 4 years, but quit my job to focus on school for awhile because I have been taking a lot of credit hours lately. I am currently looking for a part time job starting in January.

5. We don't have any kids yet.

6. I love pretty much any kinds of food but lately I've been loving Indian and Tai. I like spicy sweet stuff.

7. Cheesecake Factory's dulce de leche cheesecake is my favorite dessert. I love caramel and nuts.

8. Ever since I was little I've wanted to go to Japan and I've always wanted to learn Japanese, I think it is because my dad went on his mission to Japan and has always said it is amazing. I speak some French and would love to see France too though.

9. I think I've told some people in the ward this already, but I was born without a soft spot on my head. My skull didn't have room to grow when I was a baby and I had to go to Primary Children's Medical Center in order for them to cut a hole in my skull. The hold didn't grow together the way soft spots normally do and later I had to have a plastic plate put in my head where the hole was made. I had that surgery when I was about four years old and I had some weird side effects for awhile. I would see double sometimes and I had to relearn how to walk. The doctors told my mom when I went into surgery that I would probably have to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, but everything worked out OK. I remember haveing many blessings and people praying for me when I lived in Primary Children's for awhile.

10. I have been the relief society chorister for about a year.

Say Hi to Julia Waldron

Julia Waldron (say hi quick! we just found out Julia and her family are moving soon)


1. Are you married, if so, for how long?

Yes, for 3 years.

2. How long have you been in the ward?

I have been in the ward the same amount of time that I have been married:)

3. Are you school, if so, what is your major?

I am not in school, Yay!!

4. If you are working, what do you do?

I volunteer as a mom and a homemaker.

5. How many kids do you have, if any at all?

I have one little boy, Julian.

6. Favorite type of food?

My favorite type of food is Thai. (but I also love some good barbecue)

7. Favorite dessert or treat?

Creme Brulee

8. If you could travel anywhere where would you go?

Kenya!

9. Tell me something interesting about yourself that we don't know? (ei. hobbies, funny story, favorite vacation, any crazy injuries...you get the idea)

I love to visit Mexico and one of my fondest memories is going to Lucha libre in downtown Mexico City, as well as of the amazement that I had learning that you can fit 4 or 5 people in the back of a vw bug taxi cab.


10. Do you have a calling yet? If so, what do you do?

Yes, I am a visiting teaching district leader and visiting teacher.

Get to Know Nicole Barton

NICOLE BARTON


1. Are you married, if so, for how long?

I am married, it has been a little over 3 years.

2. How long have you been in the ward?

About 9 months

3. Are you school, if so, what is your major?

I am a grad student at the U in education. I graduate in May.

4. If you are working, what do you do?

I work part-time as a dental assistant for my father and brother who are both dentists.

5. How many kids do you have, if any at all?

No kids yet, just the youth in our ward. ;)

6. Favorite type of food?

Japanese, but I love the best version of everything.

7. Favorite dessert or treat?

Salty: popcorn, Sweet: hot brownies with vanilla bean ice-cream

8. If you could travel anywhere where would you go?

I have been to Germany, but I would love to see more of Europe, esp. Italy and Greece.

9. Tell me something interesting about yourself that we don't know? (ei. hobbies, funny story, favorite vacation, any crazy injuries...you get the idea)

I had open-heart surgery when I was six.

10. Do you have a calling yet? If so, what do you do?

Young Women's President

Meet Elaine Hume

Elaine Hume


1. Are you married, if so, for how long?

- May 11, 2011 - 7 months

2. How long have you been in the ward?

7 months

3. Are you school, if so, what is your major?

Graduated 2005 - Major Creative Writing, minor business, emphasis in equine studies (horses)

4. If you are working, what do you do?

Executive Secretary - ITS Dept - University of Utah

5. How many kids do you have, if any at all?

zip, zero, zilch - none

6. Favorite type of food? –

Chocolate (giant pound and half pound almond bars from Hershey)

7. Favorite dessert or treat? –

Chocolate (German Chocolate cake, brownies, wilbur buds...you get the idea)

8. If you could travel anywhere where would you go? –

Scotland, England and Canada

9. Tell me something interesting about yourself that we don't know? (ei. hobbies, funny story, favorite vacation, any crazy injuries...you get the idea)

I write novels, ride horses when I can borrow one, put pictures on the ceiling, love dangling earrings and think practically about most things

10. Do you have a calling yet? If so, what do you do?

I work with the 6-8 yr old primary class with my husband

Meet Lindsay and Vennis!

Lindsay Oldroyd


1. Are you married, if so, for how long? 5 months :)

2. How long have you been in the ward? 5 months

3. Are you school, if so, what is your major? Law

4. If you are working, what do you do?

5. How many kids do you have, if any at all? None

6. Favorite type of food? Almost everything (excluding tofu... just can't seem to like it no matter how hard I try...)

7. Favorite dessert or treat? Fresh peaches

8. If you could travel anywhere where would you go? Greece- for the ruins and that beautiful scene of Santorini

9. Tell me something interesting about yourself that we don't know? (ei. hobbies, funny story, favorite vacation, any crazy injuries...you get the idea)

10. Do you have a calling yet? If so, what do you do? Nope.



Vennis Nichols

1. Are you married, if so, for how long? yes, we have been married for four years. We met almost 10 years ago just before we graduated high school (Different High Schools).

2. How long have you been in the ward? We moved in the end of July.

3. Are you school, if so, what is your major? No. I graduated from the LDS Business College in 2005 with two associates (General and Business). I hope to go back sometime to get at least my bachelors.

4. If you are working, what do you do? I am the Brigadoon apartment manager which works really well for me as a stay at home mom.

5. How many kids do you have, if any at all? We have one two year old boy Justice.

6. Favorite type of food? I love food so any kind is great.

7. Favorite dessert or treat? Anything with Chocolate and nuts especially Hazelnut and Chocolate.

8. If you could travel anywhere where would you go? Europe

9. Tell me something interesting about yourself that we don't know? (ei. hobbies, funny story, favorite vacation, any crazy injuries...you get the idea) I went on a mission to Utica New York. I love sports and having fun and especially being with my family. My best friends beside my husband are my sisters and brothers.

10. Do you have a calling yet? If so, what do you do? No

Analiesa Leonhardt

I was raised in a small town in southern Wisconsin, and am the oldest daughter in a family of two girls and seven boys. Both of my parents converted to the church just a few years before meeting each other. After taking classes at three different universities, I graduated a year ago from BYU with a degree in Botany. Two of my favorite projects I was a part of at BYU included performing ethnobotanical research on Moroccan plants, where I tested plant extracts on various pathogens and cancer cell lines; I also contributed to the WomanStats Project, working with a team of researches to compile the most comprehensive database on women in the world. My educational journey also included spending a number of months working and teaching on a demonstration farm in an impoverished village along the coast of Ecuador. A year later the Lord called me back to serve as a full-time missionary in the same country.


I moved to Salt Lake City this fall and have my first 'real' full-time job. I am an Education Specialist for The Leonardo, a hands-on science-art-technology museum opening in Salt Lake next April. In addition to helping to create the education programs for the museum, I also take a travelling science museum to middle schools all around the state of Utah. I've become rather adept at hitching up and driving our 25-foot long cargo trailer! Besides botany and education, I am also very passionate about birth. I've been trained as a doula and plan to soon return to school to become a midwife. I dream of one day fusing all three of these passions by studying and documenting the medicinal plants used by traditional midwives, along with providing training to maternal health workers in rural and impoverished areas. But, for now I just voraciously read about these things. As spring creeps in, I look forward to going out foraging for wild edibles in our area. Let me know if you'd ever like to join me!