Question 1: When did you not speak up when you should have?
Many years ago when my daughters were making some wrong choices. Eventually, those choices resulted in both daughters’ lives being put at risk on several occasions. I should have spoken up and taken action myself in their very early years as teenagers. Fortunately, my husband has always been the strong one, while I was the permissive one. I can’t count the number of times he has protected and preserved all our lives over the years. But I can celebrate today because I am much less a wimp and have seen my girls grow up, own their choices and actions to become two awesome, mature adults.
Question 2: What is your favorite quote?
My favorite quote is a bible verse . . . Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” This verse and promise sustain my daily life for my family.
Question 3: Where or who do you turn to when you need good advice?
When pondering this question, here’s another one. “Do your children turn to you for advice?” In my earlier parenting years when my daughters were very young, they did come to me. Things changed when they hit puberty. I know I was the same way during my teen years. Today, after my daughters grew to adulthood, I started getting more phone call from them to vent and ask for my input. For myself, I turn to my husband and my sister, Paula. I also call my best friend, Carolyn. She always knows how to keep me on track and put things into perspective.
Question 4: Who or what is the greatest enemy of mankind?
I consider myself potentially the greatest enemy of mankind. You may wonder why. I am the only one who can make the right choices for myself and avoid becoming part of our world’s problems. For those of faith, we all know ultimately the enemy of mankind is Satan, who constantly attempts to steal, kill, and destroy. And if he can do that easily, he starts with doubt with some pride thrown in to get us on the wrong path.
Question 5: What’s a quick decision you once made that changed your life?
With this question, I asked myself, “What do you consider a quick decision?” For me, making quick decision does not come easily. I tend to keep myself on “pause” for quite a while. But if a couple months is included in the definition of a quick decision, then I have one. My life forever changed when I said yes to my husband to-be back in early 1964!
Question 6: What was the last thing you furiously argued about with someone?
I am trying to remember when I furiously argued with someone. Yet, I am not one to go that direction. I tend to simply either be silent or walk away from that temptation to be furious. That degree of anger only exhausts me. Angry tantrums have never done me any good both physically and emotionally. Yet, I do admit I have gotten furiously frustrated at times but kept it to myself until I calmed down.
Question 7: When in your life have you been a victim of stereotyping?
In this world today, to be a conservative, Christian, and a Republican has gotten me stereotyped by many more liberal friends and foe alike. For my liberal friends, I am fortunate they still consider me a friend and try to agree to disagree. For my foes, my hope is they will someday see some good parts of being conservative, Christian, and Republican. I am determined to Celebrate “Vive la Difference!