Forget my face, my words, my voice.  Only remember the hope I carry inside...

 I spent the first twelve years in Ohio. My mom comes from a large family. She has four sisters and two brothers. They all had a part in my upbringing. My parents met in the early sixties and presumably sparks flew before compatability was confirmed. So they found themselves with two small children three years later and a divorce on the horizon.

My grandparents stepped up to support my then single mom. She worked as a nurse frequently at night. My brother and I were quite the handful. Think sleeping mom awoken by piles of hair in her giggling kids hands! So my aunts and uncles were vital to our early upbringing. Mom met my second dad by the time I was three. They married and gave us a little brother! Meanwhile my first dad married a woman who had a daughter and they gave us another baby brother. Is your head spinning yet? Back in the late sixties this was quite a story to explain to outsiders now I'm afraid it's all too common.

Here is my picture at 5 years old, my mom and my grandma made almost all of my clothing!

7 & 8 years old:

At twelve we relocated to New Mexico.  I think I went kicking and screaming the whole way. I swore to my parents that when I turned eighteen I was out of there! I stayed in NM until I was 38.

Sweet Sixteen:

That's only because I met this guy and he stopped me in my tracks!  Seriously, I had a contract up in the Northwest and I was leaving!  I found a job in my field a year after I graduated from UNM. But my guy melted my hardened heart and made me laugh like no one could! When he took me dancing the whole world faded away. He found me after the maddness of this world's cruelity and carelessness had punched a slew of holes into my soul and I was just beginning to heal. Seventeen years later we have endured and enjoyed beyond our imagination.  This year I can definately say he is deserved of much better than I have given!

"A mother is meant to be left"

This is Josh the first of our living three children. I do not own my children therefore they are not mine to keep but to raise up and spring forth!

This is the most current of my photos:

Guatemala medical clinics: WOW! Go to a poor country and serve! You learn so much about what kind of fortune you have. My relationship with God was at it's peak during this time. Lately I've become like the Isarealites: "Sea, what Red Sea?" Sad but true! Although very very recently grace without measure has been poured out on me, my marriage and children. Interesting how many of you have "hit" that picture perhaps wanting more knowledge of my time spent there. There are so many stories from that trip perhaps I should start a "Residing at Songs of Joy" page dedicated to just that?

This is the end of each my days. In my daughter's room getting ready to read to her. Yes, mom, her floor needs to be picked up and her shelves dusted and any time you want to come over to help with that would be great!

Content

Picture of me in a Porsche 911 Turbo...

Picture of me in a Bikini this summer (with a 6 pack) ...

Picture of me on top of Mt. Ranier (I want to be 80 when I last ascend it) ...