As a child growing up, I always remember loving Jesus.  My childhood was a happy one, filled with swings, playboxes, treehouses, bikes, roller skates in the spring, summer and fall, and sleds, snow and snow disks in the winter time.  I'll always remember the days that mom read to us.  One story I loved.  I grew up with "Arch Books".  John, the Shepherd Boy was my favorite.  I had always seen Jesus as the "Good Shepherd" and I guess that is how I still see Him.  After Mom read that to me and Mary Beth, I remember wanting Jesus to "find" me.  I felt like I was that "one lost sheep".  So I prayed and got saved.  When I was 5, I was baptized in Lake Chicamauga, in Tennessee.  Till I was 13, I coasted, loving Jesus, being convicted of things, learning how to live as a young Christian girl. 

Growing up, I always wondered, "Where are the young people reaching out to me?"  I purposed to give my youth to help lead as many people to Jesus as I could, to show them how much Jesus loved them, and to encourage them to dream.  Beginning at 12 years old  I began, helping on Wednesday nights with 3-6th graders, helping teach 2nd grade boy's Sunday school,  serving with Missionettes for 2 years, being a listener and Olympic assistant coach in AWANA for 3 years, living at Indy (at 20) working with court assigned young people for 2 1/2 years, and teaching at our school for 3 years,  my life has been full of fulfilling this purpose.  I have thoroughly loved my girls.  I feel like each one of them has been sent into my life for a reason.  Over those 14 years, my faith was encouraged, learning to know what I believed and why I believed it.  Working with kids during that time forced me to learn to have an answer for what I believed and know how to explain it.  

  When I was 19, I went to  Indianapolis with Cori, to work in the kitchen of ministry that works with "court assigned juveniles".  Until this time I was very quiet, never saying much except to my siblings.  I am naturally shy, so unless I get to know a person, I am very comfortable with not talking to anyone.  During this time, my goal was to be able to learn how to reach out to people I didn't know.  During this day in time, so many Christians walk through life, without affecting other's lives for the Gospel.  It's a shame because we will be held accountable for the lack of heart for the souls of the ones God places in our lives.  At 29, I look back to when I was 19 and 20 (at Indianapolis) and wonder at what I was like.  I have matured so, since then and learned ever so much.  Though, I still am a bit shy, I am not afraid to talk to the people around me, especially about what matters.  

When I was 24, I was diagnosed with Chronic Ulcerated Colitis.  These 4 years have made it necessary to  to relax and slow down.  I have struggled with "episodes", 3-4 a year, which include many flu-like symptoms and worse.   In July 2003, I began an episode which lasted so long I  was forced to quit teaching.  My doctor said that I couldn't have contact with kids.  I trust the Lord, though.  I see the good that is coming from it, and the lessons that I am learning are worth it.  I have now (March 2006) been in remission for 2 years now.  

I desire to become "easy-going", not worried about the cares of this world.  That is the position that the Lord has placed me into.  This being so, I am now working in the bakery, helping Dad with the baked goods side of the business.  I love baking, so I enjoy it.  I work with the business end of the bakery and the school, doing much computer work.  I also am the business manager for Sarah's sewing business.  And of course, I love putting together the websites that I have done.

I firmly believe that as I spend time daily with the Lord, I learn the fruits of the Spirit. Right now, I tend to meditate on "gentleness and kindness".  Looking at a stressful situation or a stressed out person, and learning to be gentle and kind through it and to them has helped me.  

As to the future, marriage or not, my life has been fulfilling.  I am very  loyal to my family, so taking care of them and making sure that they are happy is a goal that I love to achieve daily.  Every dream that I have dreamed has come true in my life.  So, I always say to my girls, "Dream as big as you want.  If your life is right with God,  He will fulfill your dreams.  I am living proof of this.  "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."