Biography
Sandi Suarez was born in the mid-60’s and raised in Fontana, California, by two very loving and devoted parents who greatly influenced her life for good. Sandi has two brothers, and two sisters, who she considers her best friends. In 1999 her older brother, Chris, died in a car accident. This was devastating for her. However, it became a turning point in her life that inspired her to live more intentionally every day and to appreciate what matters most in life: family.
Sandi is married to Vivian Suarez. They have four wonderful children together and two bonus sons-in-law. Sandi considers her seven beautiful grandchildren to be some of her greatest treasures. Sandi loves cooking food that makes people say, “Wow!” Sandi also loves working with her daughter Nikki for her food blog. Sandi’s greatest desire is to walk every day in her Savior’s footsteps.
Read her 3-minute speech on “What Being A Mother Means to Me”
Parenting Philosophy
I consider motherhood to be one of the greatest privileges and honors of my life. Because we live in a world that is increasingly moving away from traditional family values, I feel strongly that now, more than ever, children need parents who are involved in their lives and who will teach them what moral values look like and that it is okay to stand alone for what is right and true. I believe parents should teach their children what it means to have integrity in all their dealings, even when no one is looking. I believe it is important for parents to show their children the importance of being involved in their neighborhoods and communities in positive ways.
Many children today grow up with a sense of entitlement. As parents it is tempting to give our children everything they want because we think it will make them happy. However, I believe it is important to teach children they need to work for what they want. College is not cheap; cars are not cheap; clothes are not cheap. I believe that when children learn to save and work for these things, it will help them be more responsible adults. There is no blueprint for raising children. Each child is different and come with unique gifts and challenges. As parents we do our best, but the truth is we make lots of mistakes. I am sure my children would be the first to say that I am not the perfect parent, but at the end of the day, I hope they know I love them as perfectly as is possible.
Sandi Suarez displays items that represent what is important to her
Motherhood and Community
I believe everyone has gifts and talents that are meant to be shared to bless the lives of other. When my children were younger I liked helping in their schools and classrooms. Over the years I observed many children in heartbreaking and difficult circumstances. These children have tugged at my heartstrings. I have a special place in my heart for these children and a desire to find ways to help them. Several years ago I heard about the CASA program, (Court-appointed special advocate) from a friend and decided to look into it. CASA volunteers provide a judge with objective information, he or she gathers about the abused and neglected children they have been assigned to mentor. This information helps the court make a more informed decision about what is in the best interest of the child’s future. After several weeks of training, I was sworn in as a CASA volunteer. This work was very difficult at times, but very fulfilling. I was grateful for the opportunity to make a difference. Unfortunately, I had to discontinue my volunteer work with CASA because of pressing family issues, but I hope to be able to pick it up again in the near future.
I also had the opportunity to volunteer at GiGi’s playhouse. GiGi’s is a learning center for Down Syndrome children and young adults. I had great fun helping out with the cooking classes. We taught them how to hold sharp knives, chop vegetables, meat, and all sorts of things. We taught them how to cook and how to get around better in the kitchen. We taught them how to follow simple recipes that they could make for themselves and their families. I absolutely fell in love with my special friends at GiGi’s.
One of the most consistent things I do to volunteer is serve in my church. I have enjoyed organizing women’s retreats, girls’ youth camps, Christmas parties, teaching Sunday lessons, and all sorts of things that have required me to stretch beyond my comfort zone. Serving is what I do, it is what I love, it is what makes me happy!
Letter of Recommendation
Sandi’s sister Patti Olsen wrote the following:
Sandi encouraged her children to build strong academic minds as well as strong bodies. She taught her children to have faith in a loving God, and showed them what a life devoted to Godly pursuits looks like. One of Sandi’s particular gifts is cooking and baking. She used this gift to draw her children and their friends to her home. This kept her children close and allowed her to extend her influence to other children in her community.
As a grandmother, Sandi has continued to use her influence to build confident, happy , strong grandchildren who look forward to “grammy days.”