1. Tell us about you! Who you married, where you live, how long you’ve been married, where did you go on a honeymoon, how many kids and ages if you want. 

Perry and I met in Ames, Iowa back in the day.  We were married August 13, 1988.  We really enjoyed our San Diego honeymoon though for August it wasn’t as warm as we would have liked.  We have lived in Fort Collins since 2014.  We have 3 married children and 4 grandchildren.  Nathan (son) and Brittany live in Charlotte, NC and have 4 year old Avery.  Aaron (son) and Jill live in Austin. Ben and Abby (daughter) and their 3 children, Kara (almost 6), Isla (almost 2) and Micah (2 months) live in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. We miss them dearly.  

2. What are your hobbies? How did you get started on them?

Sad to say, I suppose, that I don’t really have any major hobbies.  I like to putt around in our yard tending flowers, be hospitable (cook and bake), enjoy time in the Colorado outdoors, and have always been a fan of football and more recently hockey:)

3. Who has been an influential person in your life? Would you tell us about them?

One person who has had an impact on my life is my friend, Marsha.  She is a prayer warrior.  Though she has had many very difficult trials in her life, Marsha has tenaciously pursued the Lord in prayer.  She reminds me of Hannah who prayed so fervently for a son that Eli thought she was drunk.  She has faithfully prayed for Perry and me and our family for 25 years.  I want to be that devoted to prayer because it reflects a heart that believes that God hears prayers and will answer them.

4. What is something the Lord has been teaching you recently?

He has been teaching me that life is short and that I need to number my days so that I can present to Him a heart of wisdom.  A longtime friend from Ames, Iowa, was hit by a car while taking an evening stroll and went home to be with the Lord.  He called her home.  Her work here for Him was done.  She was 59.  It is incredibly sad for all of us, but especially for her husband, children, and grandchildren and it is also a sobering reminder that we won’t always have a tomorrow.  I am just beginning to process all of this but I’m reminded to keep short accounts, value relationships, appreciate the Saint-they are precious, appreciate my husband, and remember that I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for (his) good works.  Dawn was a passionate servant of the Lord who blessed the church in Ames since her college days.  I want to follow her example.

5. What can we be praying for you this month?

Please pray for Dawn’s family and friends.  Pray for the things I wrote about in the previous section.