My Claim to Fame

For as long as I can think back through childhood memories I have known the names John Solomon Fullmer and Gene Fullmer.  I always felt that I had a little spark of famous in me because of these men and the way the older generations revered them.

John Solomon Fullmer is my greatgreatgreatetc grandfather.

As recorded in church and family history:

"John was elected Treasurer of the City of Nauvoo and became a close friend of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum Smith, accompanying them to Carthage Jail. He spent the day and night before the martyrdom with them there. On the morning of the day they were assassinated, June 27th, he was sent by Joseph on an errand to find witnesses for the upcoming trial.  He left his gun with Joseph, which Hyrum used to defend himself later that day. After leaving the jail, he was not allowed to return, or he may have been present when the Prophet and Hyrum were martyred. "

Gene Fullmer gained his fame in a completely different arena as the world's boxing middleweight champion in 1957.

Fame came to my own generation when my cousin Robyn married Kody and became a TLC star.

I admire her for living what she believes even with the face of criticism staring her down.  

My cousin Charity started writing for Glamour, Fitness, Ladies Home Journal and Garden Design

and then she wrote a book that has had great reviews, including mine.  I've admired Charity since we were small 

and her book is proof that she is just as beautiful and witty as an adult as she was as a child.

Then I became famous.  Well, at least my hands did.

Nathan and I were asked to do a hand pose for a book cover.  Having read the book I considered it an honor. The experience held so much meaning and emotion as Nathan and I discussed what the book was about and why we were posing at the piano with an IV in my hand and what the little pink ribbon represented.

I'm also famously known as "LeRoy's wife".  I've been getting that for almost 23 years now.  I'm known as Levi, Erika, Vivien, Derek, Justin, Nathan or Hyrum's Mom by those who recognize me as such but usually they have no idea what my name is.  Every week at church I have a handful of kids who greet me with big smiles, hugs, and a "hi, Sister Edwards".  

I am very proud of these little claims to fame.  

But,

there is one claim to fame that absolutely makes every day worth living.  

It's why I love being LeRoy's wife and Mom to those kids and Sister Edwards to the Hibbard 5th Ward Primary.

I know that I am a Child of God. I know that every one of the famous relatives listed here are also Children of God and I know that LeRoy, Levi, Bret, Erika, Vivien, Derek, Justin, Nathan and Hyrum and all of those little primary kids are all children of our loving Heavenly Father, our God.