User:Djheaven

Hi there! My name is Denise Jan Penrod Beaman. I am the 9th child of 13 all from the same mom and dad (Yes I get asked that all the time). There were 7 boys and 6 girls. My husband is the 4th of 10 children, so yes family get togethers are a challenge. We broke the mold and had 3 children, 1 boy and 2 girls. They have all grown up and moved on with their lives and we have 8 beautiful grandchildren (7 girls and 1 very lonely boy). My family is my life!

I got into genealogy at about 20 years old. There was a mention of it in my patriarchal blessing that always stood out in my mind and I have had the bug since day one. I now have over 40,000 names on my family tree that I am trying to prove/disprove/source/etc. Luckily for me my oldest brother took an interest when he retired and he has taken up the cause with me. He serves as a missionary for Familysearch in the products division. I thought I knew everything there was to know about genealogy until I had to ask a question and found a whole new world of research sources I had never heard of. Now the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know much at all!!

My favorite part of family history is the stories. I can tie my family to the Mayflower, to many other of the early Pilgrims, the early days of the church, and countless countries. I have a 3rd great grandfather who was a body guard for Joseph Smith, a 2nd great grandfather who came across the plains with the Martin handcart company, a 3rd great grandmother that was said to have delivered a baby at each of the various church historical sites from New York to Utah. I find stories of courage, great trials, testimony, and above all love of family.

I have been a stay at home mom for the most part. I did various things over the years to help make ends meet like selling Avon, in home daycare, or Substitute teaching. In high school I did some basic data entry and accounting. After my mother passed away in 2008 I went back to school to keep my mind off of things and took 2 years of American Sign Language and basic Interpreting. I decided it wasn't a career I would excel in but I loved it. My newest thought is to take classes to become a genealogist and get paid to do what I love (but I would probably so it all for free anyway).

I have served in almost every organization of the church except of course the priesthood. I have taught primary, activity days, nursery, been in 2 different Primary Presidencies, Young women's presidency once, taught Relief Society, choir director, ward & primary chorister, various positions on the scout committee, and a member of the activities committee. Currently I am teaching course 14 in Sunday School. I think my favorite calling is whichever one I'm currently doing at the time. I had the opportunity in 2009 to sing with the women's choir for the General Women's Conference in the conference center and I have to say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Being called to serve this mission was an honor. I never thought of myself as "missionary material". It was quite humbling and inspiring at the same time.

My hobbies include genealogy, crafts of all kinds, music, camping, atv's, snowmobiling, motorcycles, gardening, and anything to do with nature.

Oh, I was born in Ogden, Utah and spent most of my life there until my husband and I moved to West Point, Utah in 1991. I did have the opportunity to live in South Korea from age 11 to 13 when my dad worked there for the government as a civilian with the military. Another high light of life for me!