Bio of James Blumberg

Married to Kim. We have 3 children, Nicholas, 22 living with us and working for a living; Katie, 19 attending Westminster College as a Sophomore this coming fall; & Tonya, 16 attending Kearn High School as a Junior this next fall. Our 3 children are wonderful and they have taught me far more than I could ever teach them, especially in the gospel, not that they are perfect, but they are pure in heart.

Kim and I met on a blind date when she came to California for her cousin's wedding. Her cousin asked if I would be willing to take her out for an evening. We met on a Thursday for a few minutes. On Friday we went miniature golfing and for pizza. Saturday we met at the wedding and went to Kim's aunt's house after the wedding. We lay on the trampoline in the back yard that night to visit. We talked about our future and what we both wanted in life and family and marriage. We went together to Church on Sunday and then to a Fireside and back to the trampoline to talk about kids, family and the future again. She then went back home to Utah on Monday. We wrote letters for a month and again talked about kids, family, each other and marriage. I took my week vacation and came to Utah to visit her. We planned our wedding somewhat during that week again. I proposed, went back to Fresno, Ca and gave my 2 weeks notice, moved to Utah and we got married after we convinced Kim's mother it wasn't too soon. We are almost at 25 years now and I wouldn't trade any of it for anything.

Church: I have had several callings since I have been home. I have served as a Sunday School Teacher, Stake Assistant Sport Director, Stake Sports Director, Counselor in Elders' Quorum Presidency, Elders Quorum President, Ward Mission Leader, One of the Seven Presidents of the Stake Seventy Quorum, Ward Executive Secretary, Stake Executive Secretary and currently as Scout Committee Chairman, not in any particular order. My longest calling has been as Stake Executive Sec. (11 years, 3 Stake Presidents).

Education: I haven't been back to college since I came home from my mission, but I am planning to go back in the fall and start working on an Accounting and Business Degree. Work: Since I have been home I have managed a Pizza Parlor, worked as a commercial door installer, worked as a supervisor in the Aerospace Industry, Managed the Detail shop of a cultural marble company, tried my hand in business for myself moving freight and I am now a Senior Account Manager for Discover Card Financial.

Hobbies: My hobbies still include cooking when I don't have to decide what to cook and as a family, we love to camp and do the family reunion scene, especially on Kim's side of the family. In 25 years we have only missed one of her family reunions. I still enjoy most sports whether or I am very good at them (I still play to WIN, but could care less if we do any more as long as we have fun).

The main story or aspect of my mission that was most meaningful to me was the fact that when I finally turned in my mission call, one week to the day it came back and one month to the day I was due in the Mission Home. This was at a time when everyone else around me was getting their calls back about 3-4 weeks later and having approx. 3 months to prepare. That finally taught me not to procrastinate everything until the last minute that I do. Then to go with that when I entered the mission field in Costa Rica, the first person I spoke with was a lady who happened to be a Sec. to Pres. Eagar. We talked about her daughter and the fact that she wouldn't join the church. I told her that if I had the chance to talk with her I knew I could convert her (new missionary, could do any thing). She said she wished I could visit with her, but I was not assigned to San Jose. Thus I went throughout my mission not ever thinking about that conversation again, until a month before I went home.

My companion and I were tracking and we came to a house where a lady answered the door. When she saw me, she asked if I remembered her. Sadly, I said that I did not. She reminded me of our conversation we had when I entered the mission, then turned the light back on. She said her daughter wasn't home at the time, but could we come back another time. We did and by this time I had learned that I couldn't convert anyone, that the Lord did though the Spirit. My mission ended by the fulfillment of a promise made at the start of mission with the help of the Holy Ghost. Her daughter was the last baptism I had the opportunity to do before I came home. This was a great witness to me that the Lord sends each of us on our missions, through His Prophet, to the locations we need to go and not where we want to go. The gospel is true and I love it and the Lord. I am forever grateful for my mission and the lessons in life it taught me while allowing me to share it with others that I love in Central America.