A little about me!

Howdy!

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I don't have as near a dramatic story to tell as Bob.  I basically grew up in the central valley of California in the small community of Woodlake.  Woodlake is an agricultural area in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas.  It is known mostly for its rodeo that is held each Mother's Day weekend.  I benefited from attending a small school that gave me the opportunity to be involved in just about anything I desired (except baseball.)  I swam on the swim team (and coached later on), was in both band and choir, and many of the musicals put on by the high school choir.  (I really didn't sing that well- I just wanted to be in them.)

 

After graduating from high school, I attended the local junior college and went on to Point Loma College (now Point Loma Nazarene University) where I majored in Physical Education as well as picking up a few math classes just for good measure.  Unfortunately during that time I also injured my knee and had two surgeries within eleven months.  Not a great prospect for a future P.E. teacher!  In fact, when I visited the surgeon for the second surgery he asked if I had thought of changing my major.  Alas, I was to graduate in 4 months and just didn't want to start over at that point.

 

Well, 4 months later I did graduate, cast and all, and had my cast removed the next day.  I was fortunate enough to get a teaching position at Woodlake.  It was a little strange having former teachers as colleagues, but after more than 25 years, I am now one of the “old timers” at Woodlake.  Through the years I have taught middle school P.E. and math as well as third and fifth grade classrooms.  I was able teach in the first new school built in Woodlake in probably 35 years.  I am now back at the middle school teaching Algebra and Pre-Algebra to seventh and eighth grade students.  It has been a time of renewing and forging relationships with colleagues.

I still play the clarinet in the church orchestra, but finally upgraded to a new one.  (Actually, I think Bob was feeling guilty about getting a new truck so he made sure I got a new clarinet.)

 

In April of 2002 we experienced the devastating loss of our son and two of his friends as well as another friend who was piloting the boys on a plane ride to celebrate Bobby’s (our son) sixteenth birthday.  While our lives have been dramatically changed as we learn to live with this loss, it has also been an amazing time of experiencing God’s love through his people and presence in our lives.

In my lifetime I have had 2 beautiful children (their grandmother and I both agree on this), 5 more knee surgeries (including a knee replacement,) and have been married to Bob for over 27 years.  Its rather amazing to me that I have lived through so many technological advances from color television, to men landing on the moon, and on to the world wide web.  I can't imagine what God has in store for us, but can only wait to be amazed by the next new discovery that will become so common that it will almost be obsolete in just a few short years.

 

My life verse continues to be Isaiah 40:31, only now I have also added verse 30.  I guess being over 50 has given me some respect for that verse.  Originally it had special meaning to me just because of the mere physical aspects that someone who has had knee surgery can appreciate.  Now more than ever though, I am learning to understand how God can show me joy in every journey I am on if I choose to wait upon Him, my source of strength.

"Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run, and not grow weary;

they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:30-31