Actually, first of all, Happy Father’s Day!!
On Mother’s Day, I REALLY wanted to do a post about our Mothers. It didn’t happen. For Father’s Day, I determined to do a post about our Fathers… but I couldn’t say much about our Dad’s without saying something about our Mom’s. So… THIS is a Happy Parent’s Day post. I hope the ‘Dad’s’ in our lives don’t feel jipped for having to share a holiday with their wives, even if that holiday is a fictional one invented for this post only. TO ALL OF OUR PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS: Thank you. We owe you everything and will love you always.
Oscar Morales
Starting with my Dad. Everyone ‘back East’ probably knows him as President Morales. Even on my wedding day, at the reception, Nate asked him: ‘So, can I call you Dad now?’ He replied: ‘Uh. No. Why don’t you just stick to President?’ Sigh. He’s come a long way since then.
As a child, I remember that he loved to work on his Bonsai and used to have an extensive collection. He LOVED to dance back in the day, but now uses his ‘knees’ or his ‘back’ as excuses to get him off the dance floor. He has a special relationship with his granddaughter ‘Brooka.’ She adores him. He LOVES long hair, as is the tradition in the Hispanic culture. When I was about 7, being the tomboy that I was, I decided to cut my own hair into a short Bob. Since then, he’s called me ‘Bobbie.’ My father taught me how to be responsible. He taught me about punctuality and hard work. He taught me about ‘tough love.’
These are some words from the song that we danced to at my wedding:
“I knew you’d be along, my faith in you was strong, you led me home. And with each changing season I would grow a little stronger, rising up to touch the open sky, and if I gave you a reason not to hold me any longer, you gave me a thousand reasons why. You are my steady oak, standing tall and strong, protecting me with everything you have. And I know deep inside, I would not have survived without you by my side.
Oh and I…. I love you Dad.”
Sheri Morales
My mom is a saint. I owe her my testimony and love of the gospel. She is a hard worker… a do it yourself woman. She is a nurturer. She serves selflessly and compassion comes to her naturally. She’s a witch doctor of sorts and doesn’t usually trust the diagnosis of pediatricians. She sets her mind to find herbal remedies and natural medicines herself. She’s a party girl and loves to laugh and dance. Often times, she’s fearless. Once, on a visit to Utah when she came to see me out at college, I arranged to take her horse back riding. Walking along the trail, suddenly, she breezes by me and is galloping up the mountain side, urging that poor horse faster and faster. Probably one of my fondest ‘childhood’ memories I have of her, is whenever I would get hurt, she would always say: ‘If I could take the pain for you, I would.’ That’s my Mom.
Ken Perkes
Dad happens to be one of the sweetest men I know. He adores his grandchildren, and in turn receives their adoration. He’s said before: ‘It’s probably a good thing I didn’t have any daughters, because I would have spoiled them shamelessly.’ Having five sons, he is always up to anything his sons put him up to. They aren’t usually very kind. But Dad is always happy and excited and smiling and optimistic. He is TRULY his children’s biggest fan. He works in Law, but I think if he had a choice, he would be a florist full time. He LOVES botany.
He is determined to be healthy and is currently very dedicated to a ‘Raw’ diet. Not to betray his age, but when he was 52 years old, he RAN the St. George Marathon. During that event, Dad had a little goal for himself that I think describes him as a whole. He promised himself that he would not ‘walk’ one step of the marathon. And he didn’t.
TO BOTH OUR FATHERS: Thank you for treating our mothers so well.
Jen Perkes
It takes a special kind of woman to raise 5 boys. She is strong and knows how to drive a crowd. She was raised on a farm and knows how to work. She is a photographer which is where Nate gets it, but she got it from her Dad. She loves to read and she loves dark chocolate. I can always count on her for the best hugs in the world. Probably my favorite thing about her is that she believes in you. The song she danced to with Nate at our wedding was: ‘I Hope You Dance.’ She has taught her boys to reach their goals in life…. she has taught them that they can do anything.
LaMon & Anna Jean Perkes- Nate’s Paternal Grandparents
Don Bernardo Morales- Abuelo- My Paternal Grandfather
Melroy & Lois Ballard- Nate’s Maternal Grandparents

Doña Olga Morales- Abuela- My Paternal Grandmother
Patricia Storti- My Maternal Grandmother
My ‘Grampy Ron’ Storti passed away in October 1996, 13 years ago. In memory of him, I wrote this to my family in an email:
“Yanni always makes me think of him. That and fresh garden tomatoes…. anchovies on pizza… homemade cheese raviolis… fried frog legs…. the time Bandit caught on fire when Mom and he were trying to ‘blow torch’ the ticks out of his ears…. I think of the time he had to chase the skunk down the street so it wouldn’t ruin Mom’s serenade the night before her wedding. I remember Mom trimming his ear hair… and the rhyme he always used to say: ‘Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart… etc.’
I remember once he told me to put gum behind my ear to save it till after dinner. I told him that was gross and he said it was only gross if I forgot to clean behind my ears that morning.”

This picture above was taken at his baptism. My Grammy Pat waited a LONG time for him to join the church. He is on the top right and I am on the bottom right!


One last thing!
As you can see from the pictures above, not only does Nate LOVE children but he has a knack for caring for and entertaining them. He is going to make the best father and that is one of the reasons I married him.
Dear Nate,
Thank you for fostering that ‘inner child’ that is in you and for ‘keeping me young.’ I can’t wait for you to someday be a Dad. You will be a wonder to watch. I can’t wait for you to teach our girls how to throw a ball and be tough like boys. And I can’t wait for you to teach our boys to be kind, gentle and respectful with the ladies, just like you are with me. Happy Fathers Day, my darling.
Love always, The Mother of Your Children
show hide 10 comments
Belinda - Wow! I just can't believe you did that. How amazing. I take it this is just the beginning. At least you are starting young. I have a friend who is 45 years old and ran her first Marathon. She just wanted to prove to herself that she could do it! And she did it! And you did it! Congrats!
P.S. Nice calf muscles!
Maritza Lastres - miRA.. ahora eres una atleta..nadadora y ciclista..ejale..! como cambia la vida.. ja jaja!.me gustan las fotos… y tu premio.. ja un helado eso es perfecto.! ja ja ja!.. te echo de menos amiga
te amo mucho!.. y espero poder saber pronto de ti!.. !
chau besitos…y un abrazo de oso
..Juntas para Siempre!…
Shannon - That is amazing. I am so proud of how much work you put into the triathlon, and I'm sure you are proud of the rewards. It's true. You have never been an athletic one, but with determination and hard work look at how far you have come. What an inspiration!!!! Love you so much.
PS. How did you not chafe wearing a wet bathing suit while biking. lolol
The Perkes Family - Luisa!
Congratulations… what an accomplishment! Under the the circumstances for which you trained in such short notice, I was worried about you, but never once doubted you. I new you could do it, thats the kind of person you are, you get something in your mind and no matter how hard, you will do it. Despite the hardness of the race, you had some very memorable moments… I LOVE the Cow pie part.. that was so funny, I could imagine the whole thing. Anywho, what a great thing you have done, and now the addiction has started for you too… you'll never be the same.. There is something so amazing about finishing something so hard, and pushing your body farther then you ever thought it could go. There are no limits now, anything is possible. We have so many athletes in the family now! We need to do a family race, and a vacation afterwards…wouldn't that be so cool?
Can't wait for the next race..
Love Ya!
Josh - Wowzerowzers!!! You are awesome. What an amazing accomplishment. Having completed two much shorter (whimpy in comparison) triathlons, I can only say I am so impressed. I know too well the absolute exhaustion that comes from multiple events in the same race and in addition, your terrain certainly didn't sound all that level. Since when do boulders, bridges, and stairs belong in a triathlon? Us Midwesterners really like our flat courses…oh wait, that's all we have available. Regardless, we are so impressed. You rock!
Bree - Like I said earlier…you are AWESOME!!!!!! What an accomplishment…and I still can't believe you'll be doing another one next month! So impressive Miss Luisa!! And so funny about the tractor with manure…way to overcome the poo! haha!! See you soon!
Ken and Jen Perkes - I smiled, then I LAUGHED, then I just sat there in AWE! Luisa, you are truly worthy of being called a hero on so many levels!!!
Since reading this blog entry, I have marvelled again at how blessed you and Nate are to have found each other. You both have this amazing ability to draw SO much more out of life than most of us do.
You are truly an inspiration to me!
With great love and admiration,
–Dad
P.S. I ALWAYS love your statistics! You are a delightful writer.
Mandy - Luisa! Oh my goodness, I am SO proud of you! You are amazing! I KNEW you could do this, but I was scared about that heat! I'm never complaining again:) You know, a lot of people in the world just won't get off their butts and be healthy, but you've inspired me to keep going with my workouts and MAYBE I'll do a marathon some day too:) It looks like SO much fun! What an accomplishment! I love you sista! Love-M
The Irons - #1 you are my hero
but i WILL do it!! how are you? we need to talk and catch up on things. I LOVE YOU!! have a beautiful day!
#2 HOLY MAJOLLY you're awesome!!!
#3 i MISS YOU like crazy
woman you are soo cool! that's so amazing that you were in a triathlon! i've always wanted to do one…but like you, i have the "knees issue".
Jen Perkes - WOW!!!! I am so PROUD of you!! My goodness. The pictures of you at the end of your race reminded me of when Dad and Katie ran the marathon a couple of years ago…I actually teared up as I remembered the amazing flood of emotions that hit the runners as they finished the race. It was so humbling to witness. I can't even imagine all that it takes out of you to do something like that. I stand in awe! What a woman!!
Hugs and love,
Mom