Getting to Know Me!

Hi! My name is Debbie. I grew up in Bountiful, UT where my parents still live today so visiting there brings such wonderful memories. I grew up playing the piano, soccer, and running hurdles in track. I still love to roll down those grassy hills. I come from a family of 5 brothers and no sisters so I can hold my own. :)

I was heavily involved in both arts and athletics in High School, (OK, academics a little, too) and when it came time for college I received a vocal scholarship at BYU. Oddly enough, I did not want to major in Voice, but in order to keep the scholarship from the department I had to declare Voice as my major, so thus was the accidental road to opera singing. (I think all of my colleagues I've spoken to about this subject did not aspire to be an opera singer in the beginning!) It turned out to be a wonderful and fruitful experience that lead me to many things paving the road of adult life ahead. One of the most important is meeting my best friend, buddy and pal, Jim in the chamber choir BYU Singers where we toured together as a choir. (There's a more interesting story about our miraculous union that I won't post here.) :)

After our wedding during the "reading days" just before finals, (which was April 1st), we moved (thus squeezing in the wedding) to Corpus Christi for Jim's first job as a meteorologist. After a short 9 month stint, the next city for weather reporting was Waco, TX--just after the Branch Dividian scare--causing lots of explanations to friends and family from UT that life was going on as normal for Waco-ites. While residing in Waco, I was unable get pregnant and start the family, so I jumped in to get a Master's Degree with Jim at Baylor University. Mormons at a Baptist school! The interesting part was we got to know our friends and colleagues there BEFORE they found out we were Mormon, which led to many trusting discussions. I met many wonderful people and lasting relationships there, and had a wonderful education. In Waco is also where I was employed by other churches as the organist/keyboardist/vocalist. I was able to attend our ward in the afternoon, and work in the mornings at other Christian churches: once at the Presbyterian church, and another time with the Methodist church. A different feeling getting a large check in the mail monthly for providing music for worship services!

After graduating with our Masters, Jim was offered a job at Albuquerque, NM where we lived for three years. Here is where I began professional opera singing and traveling. However it was time to seek help to start our family. With the help of fertility drugs we had our first child... after which we couldn't make it stop. :) We then moved to Las Vegas where we finished having our four kids in five years. Ashley, Grant, Emmie, and Dallin. I was able to pursue my doctorate degree in music at UNLV where I also taught courses. Jim worked in the afternoons and evenings, so I attended and taught school in the mornings. After three years in Vegas, changes were made at the station there, and Jim's contract was not renewed which left him without a job. After many possibilities, almosts, and turning down a job that wasn't right, we moved to Utah for other pursuits to support our family until the right job came. After three (rough) years of looking for a job in his field he was offered a meterologist position here in Houston with "Weather Insight" which offeres an online product of weather forecasting for energy traders. The company began to go under and we were devasted for having moved across the country for the company to fail, especially after the employment hardship beforehand. This was also a very difficult stage in raising our children since they were close in age, and two were diagnosed with autism related disorders. Though the symptoms are mild, when they were toddlers, they had no sense of boundaries, and would take off at any given moment. And developmentally they needed more attention and effort with therapies, etc. Nursing Dallin (infant), chasing Grant (2), while holding Emmie (1)! That's my image of that stage. :) At this point we received so much love and support from our Nottingham Country Ward family, as well as the Katy ISD school system and interventions. Kind of a miracle that Jim was offered the job at Fox 26 because: We were looking for jobs again and what are the odds to find a TV weather job where you live? I was exhausted with moving so it was a blessing to continue our lives here in Katy. We have now been here 6 years. And at this point, if Jim and I could freeze our children in this stage we would. They are so much fun and a total blast! (No tots, and no teens.... HEAVEN!)

I have always enjoyed nature, mountains, views and sunsets, and being outside. So moving to the Houston area was difficult in that respect. Show me a mountain or give me a view, I say! However we have found so much joy living here raising our family. I have turned inward to my children so the operatic pursuits have faded somewhat, however I'm always involved in projects, events, and this and that here and there. I have my own teaching studio and am willing to serve in any way I can. And at this point, I enjoy being inspired by all of you. God bless.