Who is Brenda?

by: Jon

Parents: Dave and Linda

Siblings:  Bonnie and Julie

Brenda  came into this world as part of a couple.  Although she may be competitive, her older Sister (by 6 minutes) Bonnie won the fight to get into this world first.  This has never stopped Brenda though.  Brenda grew up in Escalon,  California in the Central Valley just outside of Modetso where her Father is an Engineer for the Modesto Fire Department and her Mother is a Registered Nurse for the California Cancer Center at  Doctors Medical Center of Modesto.  Their home in Escalon is in a quiet, rural area surrounded by a beautiful almond orchard where they have harvested Blue Diamond Almonds for years.  Brenda grew up being involved in all sorts of  sports and such activities.  One of the greatest days in her parents lifes was the day Brenda and Bonnie turned 16 which meant the end of shuttling them from Volleyball games to Mutual, a sleepover to a track meet, a softball game to a dance and early morning drives to get to Seminary well before school.  It was a common experience for Brenda and Bonnie to always be out and about involved in some club or group.  Brenda also learned how to manage her time as she worked for two years at the Oakwood Lake Resort in Manteca as a lifeguard and then for another two years at United Rentals before graduating from High School.

Brenda has always had a streak of  Tom-Boy in her (she refers to this as just being one of the guys.)  When Brenda's little Sister Julie (A successful Freshman at UC Santa Barbara and the High School's Homecoming Queen her Senior year) was born, Brenda was so upset that Julie wasn't a boy that she cried and cried demanding her parents take Julie back and exchange her for a boy.  Brenda eventually lamented and loved Julie as only an older Sister could and celebrated in all of Julie's achievements with her.  Perhaps in an effort to try and make up for the lack of a boy in the family, Brenda could often be found playing outside with no shirt on while she was still young.  Many of these scenes were captured on film and eventually used for Bonnie's wedding in January of 2001.  Because Bonnie's in-laws saw all of these pictures well before ever meeting Brenda, they affectionately refer to her as "Naked Brenda."  Luckily Brenda grew out of this habit and has grown into a beautiful and lovely woman. 

Brenda graduated with the highest weighted G.P.A. in her class at Escalon High School where she successfully competed on the Volleyball, Basketball, Softball and Track teams.  There Brenda was popular with everyone because of her smile and commitment to her high standards.  Brenda was lucky enough to have many friends who shared her ideals and morals for which they were respected and revered.  With this background it seemed to fit well when she was accepted to Brigham Young University.  She knew that she wanted to go into Pharmacy and focused and studied to earn her  ticket.  On top of this she dated frequently and found time to break many hearts.  Brenda was also a member of many clubs and organizations related to the medical field.  It was while Brenda was at BYU that she found out that the University of Utah had an excellent College of Pharmacy.  So she applied there and to a few other schools.  To the retrospective jubilation of Jon, she was accepted and chose to attend the University of Utah.  Since entering Pharmacy School in the Fall of 2000, Brenda has worked as an intern for the Rite Aid Chain of pharmacies spending most of her time in their Holladay store where she has admired and learned from all of the pharmacists she has worked with there.  She also found a great set of roommates while in Pharmacy school as well.  After her first Semester she moved into an apartment of all Pharmacy Students in the same year of Study.  Living with Makala, Heather and Jen has mad studying easier and fun as they continually quiz one another about different drugs and symptoms.  They all mesh together well and love one another.  This is probably one of the biggest things Brenda does not want to let go of since I am not nearly as helpful when studying medicines.  We have offered to have her roommates move in when we get married but none of them think much of that idea.  Who knows, maybe someday we can all be neighbors.

When I met Brenda I was immediately taken by her smile and love for life.  She is so caring for all those she knows and always is there with a patient hand to help others whenever it is needed.  Brenda is also deeply spiritual and has found solace and strength in that time and time again.  She also has a wonderful family.  I was fortunate enough to start dating Brenda just before the Family Reunion season.  One of my favorite moments was attending one here in Utah.  Somehow they had found out I was coming and prepared a nametag for me (even spelling my name correctly without the "h" in Jon, this is a rarity) which had the name "Clair" written on the side to denote whose family you belong to.  I felt so at home at a family reunion with my Dad's name on my chest.  The "Clair" was actually for Brenda's Grandpa Clair but I still hold that as a wonderfully ironic experience.  The highlight had to have been when we arrived.  Brenda has always made fun that we can't go anywhere without running into an old friend of mine.  So when I saw Scott Callister, one of my Institute Instructors from Snow College, at her reunion before she saw anyone that she recognized, she didn't know what to think.  Not much later we had the opportunity to go to Lake Oroville for a reunion of Brenda's more immediate Family.  Brenda's Aunt and Uncle, Brent and Sue from Granite Bay, California, host this each summer on their houseboat.  My family was a little confused about how Brenda and I really met since I had served both in Oroville and Granite Bay while on an L.D.S. mission in California.  I did enjoy driving some of the roads from such a memorable time in my life. I was also able to meet pretty much all of Brenda's aunts, uncles and grandparents from her mother's side and was blown away by their hospitality towards me and for going out of their way to make me feel comfortable. I have also since been able to meet her Father's side of the family and was equally impressed by their interest in and kindness towards me.  It must run in the genes.

Everyone who has ever been acquainted with Brenda loves her and knows how wonderful she is.  The first time my family met her, suggestions like "Hold on to her" and "Whatever you do, don't let go of this one" seemed to abound from all corners.  .  After we were engaged I had the opportunity of attending Brenda's home ward in Modesto.  Everyone that came up to me told me how lucky I was and issued a brief and informal interview to see if I met the standards of dating Brenda.  I hope I passed.

I am still amazed that she loves me and agreed to be marry me. (I promise, I'll try not to get too mushy here.)  She is so amazing in so many ways.  She is able to make a friend immediately without effort.  She is able to go after any goal and find a way to accomplish it while leading others and helping them to do their best.  Brenda seems to have the Midas Touch because every task that bear her fingerprints always turns out to be a success.  Along with her beautiful brown hair, hazel blue eyes and stunning smile is a personality that is so magnetic that all seem to be drawn to her.  I love her and even though this biography may be long, it still does her no justice, but I hope it will suffice.