Our Family

Ritchell

Ritchell was born and raised in the southern Philippines.  She is the oldest of 5 children in her family born to Reynaldo and Ethel Gabriel.  She has 4 younger brothers and sisters--Rhea, Deon Rey, Reggie, and Rowena. 

Ritchell and her family converted to the Mormon faith when she was 14 years old.  Today, she still attends and participates in church services and activities.  Ritchell went to school at Southern Mindanao University and earned a degree in marketing there.  Upon finishing her studies, she decided to serve a 1.5 year mission for the LDS church and was assigned to the Quezon City, Philippines mission.  She was a very dedicated missionary and many people were converted with her help.  While serving her mission she met her husband, Dan.  Ritchell started receiving emails and phone calls from Dan soon after she returned home from her mission.  Ritchell was quite surprised when Dan asked her to marry him.  She said yes, but didn't truly believe it until Dan came to visit her a few months later.  Dan & Ritchell were married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 6, 2003.  Ritchell left her family and friends in the Philippines to be with Dan in the United States and start her own family.  Ritchell has worked for the past several years as a seamstress to help support her family.  In 2007, Ritchell gave birth to AnaBelle Joyce.  In 2009, she had her second child, Vanessa May.  Ritchell enjoys being a mother to her two "girlies."  In 2011, she had her third child, a boy!  Jordan Gabriel.  She's excited to finally have a boy.

Dan

Dan was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri.  He is the youngest of 6 children in his family and the only son born to Jerry and Caron Steinmetz.  He has 5 older sisters--Heidi, Camille, Angela, Melanie, and Kristie.  He was raised in the Mormon church and today still attends and participates in church services and activities.  When Dan was 19, he left St. Louis and moved to Provo, Utah, where he started his undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University. 

 Later that same year, Dan went on a two year mission for the LDS church to Quezon City, Philippines.  During his 2 year stay in the Philippines, he learned to write and speak Tagalog.  He met a lot of wonderful people while in the Philippines.  One of those wonderful persons was his wife, Ritchell.  Dan and Ritchell became good friends while serving their missions in the Philippines.  Soon after returning from his mission, Dan started to write to Ritchell.  Writing eventually turned into phone calls.  Dan asked Ritchell to marry him via email in October of 2002.  Less than a year later, on September 6, 2003, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple.  Dan and Ritchell moved to Provo, Utah after a few months in St. Louis.  Dan returned to school at BYU and earned his degree in construction management in 2007.  He has worked for several different companies since graduating.  He has felt the impact first hand of the weak economy in recent years with multiple periods of unemployment.  He is currently employed and loves his work.  He is optimistic and hopeful for a brighter future for he and his family.  Dan will never forget the day he became a daddy in 2007 with the birth of his first daughter, AnaBelle Joyce.  In 2009, he became a daddy again.  This time to Vanessa May.  Dan enjoys being daddy to his two princesses.  In 2011, he became a daddy again.  This time to a baby boy, Jordan Gabriel.  He is excited to have a son!

AnaBelle

AnaBelle Joyce is 5 years old.  She is the first born to Dan and Ritchell.  AnaBelle is a very sweet girl.  She is very smart, loving, fun, and beautiful.  She loves her mommy, daddy, sister, baby brother, cousins and teddy very much.  She rarely goes anywhere without her teddy.  She is a daddy's girl.  She always wants to play with daddy, who she calls her "prince."  AnaBelle is a very mature 5 year old.  She loves to read books with daddy, watch movies, be an artist and go the the park to play.  She is always melting hearts by saying "I love you" to everyone in the family.

Vanessa

Vanessa May is 3 years old.  She is the second born to Dan and Ritchell.  Vanessa is sweet when she wants to be and also sour when she wants to be.  She is extremely cute and knows it.  She knows how to get her way with mommy and daddy.  She used to be a mommy's girl, but has since converted to being a daddy's girl---but still loves "mamma."  Vanessa likes to explore and likes creating mischief.  She learned to walk much sooner than Anabelle.  She is learning more and more everyday.  She surprises mommy and daddy with random hugs and kisses when she is in the mood.  Her favorite color is "yayow."  :) 

Jordan

Jordan Gabriel is our newest addition.  He is a year old.  He shares his birthday with AnaBelle, born exactly 4 years later.  Jordan is a happy boy who loves to smile and play.  He is almost walking and very curious.  He loves to follow mommy and daddy around the house.  He also loves to play with his sisters.