Turning 24

In two days I turn 24. Now is the time to look back over my life and see the highlights...
First Year highlight
- I was born in Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene, Oregon. I received a blessing from my dad to have a sound mind, a healthy body, feel the responsibility for being a daughter of God, and bless those throughout my life who are my teachers.
Second Year
- I have a card from my Grandma Redford, one of , if not the last, thing I have which she gave directly to me.
Third Year
- We got our dog Whiskers. I remember when she first came home I was in the lawn and I yelled for her "come here Whiskers, come here (smooch, smooch) (pat the legs)" and she came so that's how I called for her the rest of her life.
Fourth Year
-Lived in The Dalles Oregon, we had a huge cherry orchard behind our back yard. That is when I first got stung by a bee and ate grass and mud pie. Ever since I've loved mud pie.
Fifth Year
- I started collecting keys. I had a big key ring full of keys, all shapes and sizes. I was fascinated that I held the key that unlocked something.
Sixth Year
- Moved to Moses Lake Washington and started school, met my lifelong friend Kimberly Perrins (Bates).
Seventh Year
- Had my first prayer answered. I didn't want to go to church because I didn't feel well. (likely excuse right?) My mom told me to pray about it. So I did, and I received an answer that I should go to church and I would feel better. So I did. I remember those distinct words coming into my mind.
Eighth Year
- I got baptized by my dad. My mom braided my hair all nice and got me a nice new dress. When I got into the water I said "Whoa this is deep" because it came almost up to my neck. I remember my friends and family being there.
Ninth Year
- I got my two front adult teeth. They were big (well still are but I have grown into them). I call them my chicklet teeth. I always remember people commenting on my teeth. And I believe this is the year I got my first bloody nose. Thanks to Melissa whacking me in the face with her school bag. My Grandma Redford died this year also, my first experience with death, I had a good experience.
Tenth Year
- I broke my collar bone for the first time. I was playing soccer, a boy tripped me and I landed and my shoulder hurt. I asked to go to the nurses office. I went and opened the door with the hand that my hurt shoulder is on. Thats when I started crying, the librarian came to me asked me what was the matter I said my shoulder hurt. She took me to the office. Called my mom, who happen to be unavailable, called my dad who happened to be in Ellensburg, called my sister who happen to be unavailable. And finally called my friends mom, who all she could do was sit with me until my mom arrived. It felt like hours before we got to the hospital. Bump number one the the collar bone. This is also the year my first neice was born.
Eleventh Year
-The fifth graders got to camp at Mt. Rainer for a night. I was so excited. I asked my brother in law Trent to go as a chaperone. My dad wanted to go and felt bad I didn't ask him. Trent didn't wind up going and my dad did. I have always felt bad that I didn't ask my dad first. While there we played whip the whimp. I was being chased and fell down the mountain side. Granted we were at the base, but still I can say I have fallen down Mt. Rainer.
Twelvth Year
- I got my gospel in action award, left primary went into young womens. This year all the sixth graders got to go on an airplane ride for like an hour or two. It was very cool. My first airplane ride. I became President of my class and Lakeview Elementary School all in one day. Got my first visit from Aunt Flow. Thought my life was ruined.
Thirteenth Year
- I became a teenager. I wouldn't say I was difficult teenager just a teenager. I was the setter on our volleyball team. The point gaurd on our basketball team, and the pitcher on our softball team.
Fourteenth Year
- Our softball team went undefeated so we shaved our coaches head and painted it red. Stared going to church and school dances. Started having crushes.
Fifteenth Year
- Started High School. Good times with some of my best friends Briana, Tiffany, and Suzette. Played volleyball, basketball and tennis. I lettered in Tennis, it was my first year ever playing. I really enjoyed that sport. I remember it was prom. I was only fifteen so I wasn't going, but we had a tennis match. I was playing Varsity and I was the last one on. And it was left up to me to win it all for MLHS, and the only people there were my coach, my mom, and everybody on the opposing team. I was not suppose to win, but I did. A memorable day for me.
Sixteenth Year
- I stared driving. I went to dances with dates. Here are a few guys I went on dates with. Jared Stones, Danny Lawson, Tyler Winterton, Cameron Iverson... the list goes on and on. I received my first kiss two weeks shy of 17 yrs old. I stared working at a movie theatre.
Seventeenth Year
- I started attending Big Bend Community College. I was a step sister in the play Cinderella. The only time I have ever done a play.
Eighteenth Year
- I won the Wenatchee Invite, it was a tennis tournament. I was an alternate to State in tennis. I graduated High School. I graduated from college with my AA. Started attending WSU.
Nineteenth Year
- Met some of my best friends Brittany Burrell (Marlatt), Thomas Clements, and Shane Hill. The highlight of this year was all the wonderful memories I have of spending countless days and hours with Melissa, Brittany, Shane, and Thomas. We did so many things together. I absolutely loved every minute. Whiskers died, she was a life long friend of mine and I can't wait to see her again.
Twentieth Year
- Received a broken heart =.( My first real broken heart. I got into a severe car accident, thats when I broke my collar bone the second time. Met my best friend Jeff Rippy on a blind date, played the destiny card game and knew we were going to get married. For my birthday Jeff took me see The Lion King live. That was a memorable night. I really want to see that again.
Twenty First Year
- I got engaged on January 5 at the Village Centre Cinemas. Jeff proposed after we watched a video he had made of us. My ring was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I never thought that I would get a ring that I loved, because I never thought the guy would care, but Jeff cared and be bought me the ring he knew I would love. I attended the temple to receive my endowments in April. I graduated WSU in Speech and Hearing Sciences in May and two weeks later I got married to Jeff in the Spokane Temple.
Twenty Second Year
- I was the most miserable I have ever been. I was pregnant and I was sick, really sick, and then I got huge, really huge, and then... I had a baby girl named Evalie Ila Rippy. And then I was stressed, really stressed. And then I was happy, really truely happy.
Twenty Third Year
-The highlight of this last year has truely been the growth of me as a wife and a mother. I have developed new talents and found new joys. I have strengthened relationships with my husband and my child. I have added more to my testimony of the Gospel. I have a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father.

I have had a good life, here's to being 24.