Incredible Woman #43 - Becky Rainer. Goals and Happiness secrets...

KARA: "What kinds of things do you do that help you to improve yourself? Do you have a goal you are working toward?"

BECKY: "The thing I find myself doing daily to improve, is repent. I’m a two steps forward, one backward kind of gal. Some of my goals are to go to the Vancouver and Gila Valley LDS temples this year, take my grandchildren on a trip, even if it’s just camping out in my backyard, serve a mission, study French and Italian, and do some de-junking. I should say exercise more and lose weight, but that would be a downer."


KARA: "Tell us your beauty secrets - what do you do to stay healthy and happy?"

BECKY: "Beauty secrets—I have none. Obviously. Healthy and happy? Enjoy what you eat, play with kids, don’t feel guilty sitting down to a good book or a conversation with a friend, and forgive and repent quickly."

Thanks goes to Becky for the interview this week. Becky is a neighbor of mine, and I've admired her for several years. I hope you enjoyed getting to know her. The interview will be on the blog in it's entirety all day Saturday and Sunday. See you next week - have a great weekend!

Incredible Woman #43 - Becky Rainer. Books and Being a Grandma...

KARA: "You are an avid reader - just like me! I believe you belong to a book club, right? Share with us some of your all time favorite books. Which authors do you love? What role have books played in your life?"

BECKY: "Yes, yes and yes! Books are my escape, and they also teach and inspire me. As a child, I lived in Scotland, and because of the cold, damp weather, was often sick. Reading became such an enjoyable pastime and companion! I read everything. I have too many favorites to single out one or two. About nineteen years ago, I joined a book club, and six of us are still going strong! My book club, loosely termed, has doubled as an out-patient therapy group for almost two decades now. We gather monthly to discuss politics, religion, our children, review movies and restaurants, buoy one another up, eat, and yes, discuss books as well. A few favorite authors are: Maeve Binchy, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Sandra Dallas, Celia Rees, Rosamund Pilcher, Gerald Lund, Taylor Caldwell, Katherine Paterson and M. Catherine Thomas. I’ve kept tracked of the 750 plus books I have read since being in book club and am always ready to recommend! My granddaughter loves to come to my house to check out books from my library, and then we talk about them."


KARA: "You've raised some really great kids, and now you are a grandma. How is being a grandma different from being a mom? What lessons are you learning as you watch your grandchildren grow? What is the best thing about being a grandma?"

BECKY: "These three questions about being a grandma can all be answered the same way: less is more! Less exhaustion, less fuming and less worry and MORE fun, MORE amazement, and MORE blessings (and not just because I have more of them than I do children now!) I see how this rising generation are power-packed spirits anxious and READY to experience their mortality. I’m straining to keep up! So bright, so curious, so kind, so sensitive, so talented! If I had known being grandma was this great, I would’ve skipped children and gone straight to them! JK, any of my children who might read this. It’s due to their parenting skills and insights that my nine grandchildren are so wonderful."

Don't miss out tomorrow - it's our last day with Becky, and she'll tell us what goal she's working toward, and her beauty secrets!

Incredible Woman #43 - Becky Rainer. Trials and Faith.

KARA: "Everyone goes through trials - can you share with us a few of the trials you've been through - how did those trials mold you into the person you are today? What valuable lessons have you learned from your trials?"

BECKY: "Hmmm…let’s just say we have learned to put the fun back into dysfunctional! My biggest trial has been getting myself to where I want to be."


KARA: "How has faith played an important role in your life?"

BECKY: "Faith has been my lodestar in life. I credit my Catholic upbringing for teaching me about faith, my mother for reinforcing it through her example, and my children for making sure I don’t let it lie fallow. Oh, and most certainly, faith is what led me to the truth and to join the Church."

Please stop by tomorrow - Becky will share her love of books, and thoughts about being a grandma.

Incredible Woman #43 - Becky Rainer. Service and Art.

KARA: "You do quite a bit of humanitarian work. Can you describe what you're involved in? Which project has made the biggest impact on you? What have you learned through service?"

BECKY: "What little I do for humanitarian has brought unequal reward and blessings. Little efforts done here and there have brought our whole family joy and have involved the grandchildren as well. I miss the days of assembling hygiene, newborn and school kits. The most fun was gathering items for an orphanage in Haiti a few years ago. Now I mostly knit newborn hats and tropical sores’ bandages, and color ABC books and print flash cards to teach English."

KARA: "If I remember right, you and your husband are collectors of art. Describe some of your collection. Which pieces do you love?"

BECKY: "Our home is an eclectic mix of European and southwest influences, some early marriage and a few great finds! My favorite oil is the one in our entry way and it features an elderly couple by the fire, he reading the Bible out loud while she sits quietly knitting. That’s us in our old age; (about ten years from now!)"

Join us tomorrow, as we continue the interview with Becky. I'll ask her about trials and faith.

Incredible Woman #43 - Becky Rainer. Self and Family.

KARA: "Tell us about yourself. What makes you an incredible woman?"

BECKY: "What I love to do is talk with my children, read, travel, dance, (more watching than doing now,) try new foods, expose myself to different cultures and languages, love studying the Gospel, home décor, making new friends and hangin’ out with “old” ones; Two hobbies that have brought me joy are having my own aerobic dance business and chasing down my ancestors through some creative sleuthing; I involved my children with both of these activities. Then a new focus took hold about 5-6 years ago: a desire to go to all the LDS Temples on the North American continent and perform ordinances for relatives. What a joy these Temple trips have been! Dislikes: getting up and going to bed early, hot weather, and canned peas."


KARA: "Tell us about your family - describe each one, and tell us something each has taught you."

BECKY: "About my family: My three sibling brothers taught me it’s not cool to tattle, and even thought we had great times together, I always wished I had had a sister.

My children: Sean, 33, my beautiful “Gerber” baby taught me the absolute joy of a first baby after 9 miscarriages; he is strong, resilient and resourceful. When he was six months old, I was in a horseback riding accident, and had to have a complex surgery which put me in the hospital for a few days. It was so hard being away from him and I was still nursing; on top of that, they put me in the youth ward (imagine, a 26 year old mother!) so my twelve year old roommate got an early education on nursing babies! When I was finally released, Sean stayed curled up next to me on the bed for hours and wouldn’t move a muscle, so content and so careful not to bump me. Sara, 32, is a wise, old soul; I knew that the minute she was born and looked me straight in the eyes with such a knowing. She is a sweet and caring person, and a great mother. She listens with her heart and never makes a judgment, and gives me great counsel. She is always doing for others and not enough for herself. Summer, 30, has four children, and is immensely savvy and perceptive like her dad; she also helps me put things in perspective, makes me laugh, and we have shared many a life experience. Both my girls are my soul sisters. Spencer, 28, is the gift that keeps on giving, gentle, caring, utterly honest and reliable and attuned to others’ needs, he is both loving and kind. There isn’t a day that goes by that he hasn’t served me and made me feel appreciated. He is a joy to be around. Shane, 18, was our family’s love child, and a miracle baby after two more miscarriages; he is how I celebrated turning forty! He has taught me so much. Because of him, I am more patient, more honest and more empathetic; I laugh more and cry more and feel more alive. He may be my greatest teacher yet. He has a zest for life, a tender heart, and a forgiving nature. My husband, Howard is my rock, my prince and my eternal partner. Ever ready to explore and enjoy life, he has taught me to savor the moment, and if possible, capture it on film!"

Thanks for joining us as we introduce Becky! As always, each day this week we'll post 2 questions and answers for the interview we Becky. Please return each day to learn more about this Incredible woman!