My name is Lori Grace Hill. I’m a 50 year old woman. I grew up in
I’ve had an interest in spiritual things since I was a very young child. I am an ancestor of Mormon pioneers, growing up in an inactive family. As a young adult I began attending a Baptist church with a childhood friend. There I met a boyfriend and eventually my ex-husband. They motivated me to stay around the church long enough to learn what it was all about and my life was forever changed. I’ve been a Christian School Administrator for over 13 years and I was a pastor’s wife for five years. I’ve come to believe with all my heart that living the truth is not about religion, but about having a close personal relationship with the Lord.
My mother Jean M. Hill was the most influential person in my life. She taught me through her incredible example, to love others and treat them with kindness and acceptance. She loved me selflessly, I could count on her for everything I needed and she taught me about trust, life and relationships. I lost her almost 20 years ago and miss her every day. My dad, Robert (Bob) T. Hill, was always there for me too and is my example of how to work hard, do things well, and persevere (and how to be classy!). I lost him just 6 months ago. Supporting him, caring for him and loving him through his final months of life was one of the saddest and most fulfilling experiences of my life. I learned so much about life and love! He taught me throughout his life, but especially during those last few months, about strength, grace, dignity and courage as he faced his final times here on earth with an incredibly positive attitude.
I have three older sisters, Pegge JeanUre (Lynn), Jeri Ann Thompson (Dennis) and Jolene Hill Berry
My own children are the light of my life and what keeps me going. I have two biological daughters, Hillori Jean Smith (21) and Tarrin (Tara ) Alene Smith (19). They are beautiful, gracious young women who are not only my daughters but my dear friends. They care about others and use their talents to make a difference in people's lives. I have two adopted sons, Michael J. Foster (22) and Joseph Lee Foster (22) They are loving, hard working young men who take good care of their families and of me, and of whom I am very proud. Mike is married to Alyssa and Joe is married to Kaitlin. Both of my daughters-in-law love my sons very much. They are good young women and wonderful mothers to my three grandbabies Ayden Anthony Foster and Ariyah Lynn Foster (Mike and Alyssa's children) and Blake Lee Foster (Joe and Kaitlin's child). Those three precious babies are an amazing blessing and fill my life with fun and love!
With all of the love and closeness that is a part of my family, it is nevertheless broken. I am now divorced after 23 years of marriage. I didn’t want to be divorced and I did everything I knew to do to prevent it. I would have been willing do put forth any effort I could or make any sacrifice possible but that wasn’t an option for me. My husband didn’t want to work on it any more at that time. I think there were ways we needed to grow that we couldn’t while we were in our marriage. Though I know of many ways in which I could have been a better wife, I don’t think I was a bad wife and I think I have a lot of insight into what makes a good wife and a good marriage. I prayed all day, every day for many months and believed with all my heart that the Lord would restore my marriage but so far it hasn't happened. I’m waiting patiently for the time when I will understand why all of this happened. I have faith the Lord will reveal that to me one day and he has begun to do just that. I still love my ex-husband very much and we have recently begun seeing one another again and talked some about reconciliation. Divorce may just turn out to be the very best thing that ever happened to our marriage. ;) I believe that almost all of the people that know us are happy about that and wish us well. But as Darren told me recently, "People need to mind their own business and let us work it out." He's come so far and found so much healing and courage in the last year. So much of all that we have been through is finally beginning to make so much more sense!
The wonderful thing about love is that we never reach the capacity of our ability to love. There is always room for love to grow and increase. I hope and pray that my future holds a close relationship with a husband (whomever that turns out to be!) who loves me and enjoys being married to me so that I can achieve my lifelong goal of being a good wife. Someone to share my life with and to grow old with , someone to enjoy my children and grandchildren with. Right now I’m learning to be single, gaining confidence in my ability to live life on my own and finally enjoying who I am.
I’ve also been blessed with many other dear friends and loved ones, including the family of my ex-husband (his parents, brothers and sisters, and nieces and nephews), and those friends I’ve come to know as coworkers, classmates, neighbors, friends of friends, students and their families, teachers who have worked with me, and all the many members of my church families through the years. They’ve loved me, advised me, kept me company and made me laugh and cry and I love them all. My life has been touched and enriched by many people whom I love and am so thankful for.
I have a small private school with students from preschool through 12th grade. My daughters Hillori and Tara help me teach. I love teaching and helping young people, especially struggling or troubled teens. My goal is to grow the school and move it into a building by the 2013-14 school year. I also own a small window cleaning business that my son Joe helps me run. The business is thriving and growing like crazy right now and it is very exciting! I enjoy the exciting challenges of being a teacher and business woman.
If you’re one of the special people who are a part of my life or who’ve ever touched my life, thank you so very much! You've had a part in making me who I am today.
The purpose of this blog is to share my knowledge with others and possibly help them in some way. I love to write and hope to encourage, enlighten and entertain others with the things I write and post here (and I know I'll have a lot of fun doing it)!
God Bless!!
Lori
Lori
