Anena Tilt

Anena (named after her grandmother who was Welch) was born in Provo and raised in West Valley City. At the time she was growing up, West Valley was the up and coming part of Salt Lake. The homes were brand new and very big for the time's standards. It was very expensive to live there. She attended Cyprus High School and lived at home until she was married at age 20.

During her growing up years Anena kept herself very busy by playing the violin. She started in Elementary school and played all the way through high school. Her favorite part was playing for the high school musicals. She was quite good and was requested to begin playing for the musicals while she was still in 9^th grade. She continued to play violin after graduating for the Utah Youth Symphony for two more years, clear until she was pregnant with her first child.

After graduating from Cyprus, she enrolled in cosmetology school. While doing her training she met a girl who wanted to know why she wasn't dating any boys (Anena says she was a very late bloomer). She couldn't believe Anena had never gone on a date, received flowers from a boy, or even gone to Prom. Anena told her she didn't have time to date, that she was busy working and going to school. This gal decided this was unacceptable and convinced a very nice looking young man named Tom Tilt to send her flowers. Well, he didn't just send flowers, he sent a dozen yellow roses. He asked her out and they went on their first date on the 4^th of July.

Tom was smitten with Anena right from the first. After that date he came over and picked her up right after she was done with school and they would eat dinner together. He would say to her, "You're not going to date any other boys are you?" She replied that she would. He wanted to know why. She said, "Because I don't have a ring on my left finger saying I belong to you." Well, he knew how to fix that, so on July 10^th just 6 days after their first date, he proposed and they became engaged. He had even asked her parents permission. Later her mother told her that she knew the minute Tom picked her up for their first date that he was the one for Anena.

Tom knew Anena wanted to be married in the temple, but Tom had not been active in the church up to that point. He had decided, however, before he met Anena, that he wanted to go back to church. So with the goal in mind of being married in the temple, they were engaged for 13 months. This allowed them time to get things in spiritual order for the rest of their lives together. They gained many experiences and really got to know one another during this time. Although Anena wouldn't recommend to anyone that they have that long of an engagement, they really got to know each other. She was able to see that Tom was a great man of honesty and integrity. She says he truly is her soul mate and they have had a wonderful marriage with each other.

Becoming a cosmetologist was a great blessing in Anena's life. It has allowed her the freedom to work and bring home extra money for their family while providing wiggle room in her schedule to be available for her 4 children and now grandchildren. When her kids were little, she was able to work at home. As they got older she either worked for a salon or booth rented. It gave her flexibility to take weeks off at a time to help her adult children out when they had babies.

For awhile, she and a partner were able to own their own salon. They rented the place and charged booth rental to other cosmetologists. She enjoyed it but two years after beginning the business she fell and tore her shoulder, so she had to give up the business. She says her favorite place she's ever worked is where she works right now. She works at a retirement center in South Jordan. She loves it because she is providing a service to older people who couldn't really afford cosmetology services otherwise. She also enjoys the kindness they give and the more laid back pace.

Throughout their married life Tom and Anena have seen many good things, hard things and miracles happen. One of the hard miracles they have gone through is having their daughter, at the young age of 16, develop Crohn's disease (polys and cysts in the stomach and bowels). For five years they tried to figure out what was wrong it was very draining on them. Finally, a friend of theirs offered to pay for their gas and the first appointment if they would go meet with a homeopathic doctor they knew of in Ogden. So they gave it a shot. When they met the doctor he said to their daughter, "I've been waiting for you to come." He had known she was coming to see him for healing. After working with him, there daughter has a very normal life with 3 beautiful children. She only has minor flare ups now and only once in a while.

Now they are experiencing another blessing, being able to live with their daughter Cynthia Page and their son-in-law, Nathan. During the past year Anena has been dealing with some health problems. Cynthia has been a calming influence while Anena has had to face some very scary situations. She is so grateful for Cynthia and Nate and the warmth and kindness they have extended. Currently, the Tilt's are looking to move back to South Jordan, but they will always have a warm spot in their hearts for the time they have been able to spend living here.

If you get the opportunity to visit with Anena, you will be richly rewarded. She is a very open and peaceful person. I'm so grateful she made time to meet with me.