My Family:

Gary (husband), Audrey Kate (daughter)

My Story:

I grew up in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, a land of beauty, seasons and tall trees with both mountains and beaches within a two hour drive. My parents raised me to be forthright, hard working, self- reliant and fiercely independent. I went to college intent on living my own life without their old-fashioned confines and pursuing my dreams of being wealthy and having a successful corporate career building my kingdom of one.

My freshman year at the University of Delaware began by the Lord allowing me to have a front seat to the radical transformation of a dorm-mate from a life of self-seeking arrogance and debauchery, to an honorable life of humility and honesty.

This intrigued me because growing up, Jesus was just a word used between other words that were not intended to bring Him honor or praise. I mocked and belittled people who read the Bible as weak and needing a crutch, and saw God as a moral policeman in the sky.

The Holy Spirit opened my ears to actually hear the gospel in September, 1991 as Dennis Blondo shared his testimony. He explained that Jesus first came as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world, but was coming back as a Lion. And that God provided a way for me to have a relationship with Him through the Cross of Christ. Conviction of my sin overwhelmed me and that day, for the first time I was broken over my sin and was born again.

Since then, God has been faithful to begin the long journey of sanctification, rooting out my selfishness, materialism, pride, codependency, fear of man, idolatry, workaholism and desire for control by helping me to learn what it means to be His child, sustained daily by the Bread of Life . I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. And also have walked through many dark valleys including addiction, adultery and abandonment of a spouse, divorce, grief and the death of my father. During each of these seasons I have been led by the Good Shepherd, Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace. Life has not always been good, but God has always been Faithful.

Something Most People Don’t Know:

We have 6 Dwarf Nigerian Dairy Goats that we raise in our back yard.

My Trademark Expression:

You will never know Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.

Besides the Bible, my recommended reading would be:

Trusting God by Jerry Bridges, Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, When People are Big and God is small by Ed Welch, Foxes Book of Martyrs, Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis, Autobiography of George Muller, What did you expect by Paul David Tripp, When Life and Beliefs Collide by Carolyn Custis James, Abbas Child by Brennan Manning, The Bondage Breaker by Neil T Anderson, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, Waking the Dead by John Eldredge, Captivating by Stasi Eldredge, Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas, 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller, More than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell, It’s not supposed to be this way by Lisa Terheurst, Leadership and Self Deception by the Arbinger Institute

I’m most excited about:

Sharing my faith/encouraging others in their faith, seeing God answer prayers, singing worship songs, being involved in the community, small group, local missions, international missions

My Favorite TV Shows:

Not a big fan of TV. The only two shows I watch somewhat regularly are This is Us and Dr. Pol

In my free time I usually:

I can be found outdoors. Weeding or Gardening, visiting with neighbors, baking, taking a walk with my Black Lab, swimming or riding my bike.