Susan Wall - Valley View Ward

I am the oldest child of 7 and was raised by great parents that were stalwart members of the church. My mother was a professional musician (piano) and a 2nd grade teacher later in life after my youngest brother was in school. My father was a third grade teacher and a trained soloist (vocal). My father met my mother before one of his music classes at BYU. He went in early and sat down to eat his lunch before class. My mother was accompanying someone else at the time. He fell in love with her style of playing and said to himself, "I am going to marry that woman" and set out on his quest. As you can imagine, our home was filled with lots of music. My mom also had perfect pitch and even though she could play intense classical music, she could hear something on the radio and sit down and play it flawlessly. She could transpose on the fly and so was the favorite accompanist for many soloists that frequently graced our living room. However, she made her money playing in jazz trios and quartets. My parents were usually in leadership positions in the church and were very busy and gone a lot. I was given a lot of responsibility very young and as a result, I grew up with confidence that my parents trusted me and depended on me to do many things. I also earned money babysitting many hours for a neighbor. (I feel like I raised their kids and took them with me to my high school football games etc.)

I went to BYU after high school and lasted 1 semester before moving back home, getting married in the Oakland temple, moving from Sacramento to So Cal and needing to work full-time.  (I didn't meet my husband at BYU, he was a neighbor from Sacramento). I gave birth to five wonderful children with twenty years between my oldest and youngest (10 years between the two youngest!). I was able to stay home for about 10 years with my little ones but have worked full-time teaching computer classes to adults at the El Monte-Rosemead Adult School for the last 23-24 years. I love teaching students skills that will help them to improve their lives! It's been an interesting challenge during this pandemic, but we have done pretty good. It has been therapeutic to go outside and work in our garden and we have had the best garden ever during the pandemic. I also have 8 amazing grandchildren that I adore and love spending time with.

I have been taking classes for the last 8 years through BYU Idaho and finally got my Bachelor's Degree in July last year. During the last 4 years or so, I also suffered several major losses. The one that impacted me the most was the loss of my son. Between my education and these sad events, I have changed. That's why I posted the picture that I did. That is a commemoration of organ donors that I was able to attend in Salt Lake City with two of my daughters. It's during these times that you hold on tight to your testimony and it sustained me through these hard things. I felt peace among the tragedies and I knew that things would be sad, but okay. I am so grateful for my knowledge of the Atonement and the Plan of Salvation. I gained a deeper love for my Savior and my temple blessings, and deeper reverence for the Sacrament. My love and compassion for other people has also changed. I have been involved in several projects for the needy and homeless and have done 4 different walks for mental health awareness and suicide prevention as well as reach out to students and classmates with significant burdens. I have been blessed with a grateful and resilient heart. I know we are happier when we focus on those things that we are grateful for rather than on what we wish were different in our lives. I also love Primary, children and Primary songs. I love 3rd Nephi 17 when the Savior blessed the children. I'm so grateful for the love that my Heavenly Father and Jesus have for me and for all of you.