Happy Birthday Debbie!

Happy Birthday, Debbie, we love you! Debbie, of course, was our first child so we didn't know quite what to do. However, she made it pretty easy for us. She was a happy, easy baby and I guess that is pretty much what we expected after that.

I had been working at Lunt Motor Co. in Cedar City before she was born, doing bookkeeping and payroll. It seems like the baby was due on Feb. 11 and I worked through the end of January, maybe even Feb. 1 and thought I would have at least a week before the baby was born. But I only had a day or two. She was born right before midnight on Feb. 3 and weighed 6 lbs.. 4 oz. She was a cutie and had a lot of dark hair - but not as much as Carissa.

We were young and dumb and didn't realize that a baby blessing could be a wonderful and fun family affair. We just took her to church on April 3 and Gary and Marv Hyer and the bishop gave her a blessing. But we really didn't invite any family. Grandma Christensen had made her a beautiful quilt that was white satin leftover from my wedding dress on one side and a dark pink satin leftover from a prom dress. We also used the quilt on blessing days for some of the other girls - the only problem was that you had to be really careful because the baby would just slide out.

She was always quite "advanced". She walked at 9 months and had started talking early. She would always, especially in church, point her finger at something and say "Wha-sa" meaning "what's that". She had such a mop of hair that pretty early I started cutting it short because it was so hard to take care of. She was a joy to us then and certainly is now. She is a wonderful person with lots of talent and is an especially great Mom to the Carlson kids.

~Love, Mom and Dad

I chose wisely. 23 years ago I was dating a girl who was an aerobics instructor at 24hr fitness. I dropped her to date Debbie. As I look back it was one of the best things I ever did in my life. I think of my three great kids, which if they didn't have such a great mom that stayed home with them, taught them the gospel and cared for them, they might not have turned our as great as they are. Thanks for being a (genetically superior) great Mom!

Times like these remind me of what my Dad used to say when we were kids "we don't have much but we sure eat good". She has been patient with me through THICKER and thinner times, for better and worst, for richer and POORER. She has been tolerant of me for the 23 years we have known each other. It hasn't always been easy, Thanks for your patience!

When I have clients or church meetings and I'm not home for dinner she is understanding. When we scratch to pay bills she is tolerant, When I don't cleanup or forget to do something for her she is forgiving. Seems like she is the one always doing something for me. Thanks for all you do!

If I had one wish, I would Wish that you had a lamp you could rub, and get your three wishes . . . but that would take all the fun out of it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

~Randy

I can't believe my mom is turning 32, she's hardly aged at all! haha :) I am so grateful for my mommy and for her willingness to be a stay at home mom and raise all of us kids. She didn't do too bad of a job, eh? Always knowing that we had a parent at home definitely kept us more in line than we probably would have been. Well... me at least. I don't know about those 2 other little angels. =p Teaching about families on my mission has really brought me to a remembrance of all the great teachings that I have received through that sacred unit and it is great to know that we will be together forever. I hope and pray that I can continue to be close with the whole family because I have enjoyed so much the many times that we have all spent together. Even if Grandpa Evans is a grump sometimes. haha Love you. ;) Mother I love you, mother I do. Father in Heaven sent me to you. Thank you! <3>

~Kyle

My mom is the best! I love her so much. Some of my favorite times were just sitting on the couch talking to her. She has been a big support with me being in college. I call her almost every week to ask how to do a recipe! You would think she would get annoyed by now, but she is always really helpful. As kids, we used to get to do the coolest things like going to cool museums, making fun things out of food (like toothpick towers with marshmallows), play dates, playing in the sandbox, setting up a slip-n-slide in the backyard, lemonade stands, and so many other things. Our mom let us do the coolest things and our house has always been the "hang out". Even in high school, our house was the happening place! I would have friends come over all the time after school and sometimes she would have cookies made or she would make us lunch. Our friends loved coming over to our house. And she always kept the house so clean (and smelling good as many people would comment). She is very social and loves her family very much. She has a fun sense of humor and I am glad that we have had such a good relationship. I miss her and I am so grateful that she is my mom. I love you Mom!!

~Carissa

Hey puddles! I love you so much and im thankful for all of the things that you do for me! I don't know what dad and i would do without you. I know you think i don't notice all the small things that you do around the house, but i really do and i love you even more for them. Thanks for always being there for me and loving me, Happy Happy!

~Cam

Hi Everyone,

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEBBIE", The first grandchild of Russell and Katherine Christensen, how many years ago, I have forgotten how to count!!! The first time that we went over to the Hospital to see her, I think it was a Sunday because as we stood at the window looking in at that beautiful little baby girl, there were two men we found out were some of the Bishopric from there Ward, one said that looks like a little Indian Baby, she had a lot of dark hair. You know how first grandparents are!!! And her Grandfather Russell thought she was the only one in the world. But along comes many more, Julie next, those two spent a lot of time at our house when they were young.

Debbie is a fun loving person with many talents. A wonderful mother for her kids along with their father Randy. She has a beautiful singing voice, Has she ever told you of the time at BYU. and she was on the second floor of the Wilkenson building and started belting out some song? Deb is a great cook, and likes just perfect, and great at the scrap book hobby. Is a great Leader in the LDS Church.

Deb I love you and pray that the coming year will be a better one for you and your family. Remember that the most precious things in life are not things but our families. Again Happy Birthday.

~Love Grandma Christensen

I love that no matter how old I get Debbie is always older... hee hee! Deb is a great sister. She loves when everyone is close and likes getting together for family gatherings. She is pretty, smart, sensitive, fun, talented, loyal, dedicated and faithful. I'm always blown away at her memory and all the little details that she remembers (I can't even remember what I ate for breakfast this morning). She is such a great wife and mother to Randy and the kids.... what would they do without her? Debbie stands up for what is right and has a strong testimony. I'm impressed that she is teaching Gospel Doctrine!

Debbie has always teased me because my second toes are as long as my big toes and she says that it means I'm BOSSY. I'm here to tell you that she was the bossy one growing up! We had our share of differences and sibling rivalry, but it's fun now that we're "grown-ups" being friends more than anything. I know I can call Debbie about anything and she will listen to me. She's helped me through some rough times. Happy Birthday, Deb!

~Love ya, Snick

Debbie is very talented, crafty and creative. I'm sure she is a wonderful Stampin' Up demonstrator and I miss scrapbooking with her. She's a great mom and an excellent cook and baker. She always has fun ideas for holidays and birthdays and any kind of church activity.. I'm always asking her for ideas or suggestions. Debbie is definitely a perfectionist! She goes all out on everything she does whether it's cooking something for a family party, scrapbooking family memories or fulfilling her church calling. She's fun and silly and loves her family so much. Poor Deb was devastated when I told her we'd be moving away. I didn't really know how to break it to her because I knew she'd be crushed. She has always loved having the whole family together and is truly happy when we are. She has a firm testimony of the gospel and is a great example to me. Happy Birthday Deb! We love you and miss you lots!!!

~Suzy

I remember as a kid how much I adored my big sister and how she was so beautiful and amazing. I remember how popular she was with the boys, because of her pretty hair and her long nails (although, I do remember being scratched by those nails). I also loved watching her in "7 Brides For 7 Brothers" because it showcased her beauty and talents! Years later, I still adore my big sister and I think she is still beautiful and amazing! I think Debbie is really good at a lot of things. Of course, she has a wonderful talent when it comes to scrapbooking and making cards, but she is also a really good cook, she has a beautiful voice and she is an outstanding mother! Kyle, Carissa and Cameron are all such great kids and I think Randy and Debbie have done such a good job raising them. Also, Debbie has always been so good at any calling she's had in the church. Mostly because she is a devoted servant and puts her whole heart into it. Watching her over the years has helped me to understand what is means to magnify a calling! Deb, we hope you have a wonderful birthday, we love you very much!!

~Vicki & family

Deb can be such a witch sometimes.... but I love that warty, crooked nose and those sexy, bushy eyebrows! Her freshly-scrubbed "olive" complexion is a lovely accent to the long, wavy, ebony locks of hair cascading down her back (as well as the hair on her head). She's a brilliant witch and great at spelling!

~Anonymous

Click Here to read the spotlight about Debbie in the April 2003 newsletter. Go to the second page and click on it to make it large enough to read.