Passions

Power Walking
Every weekday morning I rise early and meet my walking pals Shelley and Andrea for a brisk power walk. I used to be a runner, but bad knees ended that hobby. I never thought walking could be good exercise until I started power walking and now I love it. I have competed in the Portland to Coast race [our Sole Sisters were number one women’s team] and I just completed my fourth Portland Marathon.

 

[Left photo] 2005 Portland Marathon - my five kids join me at mile 23
[Right photo] 2006 Portland Marathon with Mickael-Josef and Augustin near the finish.

Giving Back
* Somalia/Sudan/Rwanda Refugees
We have so much in our comfortable suburban lives while there are so many who have so little. Recently, after visiting Imago Dei church, I heard about a Black and White outreach event at Urban Grind coffee shop. When my daughter Rachel and her friend Chels and I attended the event, we met Sue B., who is reaching out to refugees from Somalia and Sudan. One family with 7 children has been living in an apartment with no beds for their children.

 

[Left photo] Photo of child at a Monday art class for refugees at a Beaverton low income apartment.
[Right photo] My daughter Rachel helping at the Monday art class.

* Giving Blood
It is the easiest thing we can do and one of the most important gifts.



Here I am giving blood at a Rolling Hills Community Church Red Cross Blood Drive. * Youth Ministry
As a volunteer high school youth leader at our place of worship, Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin, I co-lead an 11th grade girls small group Bible study at Wednesday night’s Bridge, and greet high schoolers on Sunday mornings at Amplify. I also lend a hand at youth camps and retreats, and am on the planning committee for Summer 2007’s Collision, the high school ministry’s mission trip/camp to Pascagoula, Mississippi. I love the honesty and freshness of young people, and their willingness to serve. On Thanksgiving, we made 130 sandwiches in my kitchen and delivered them to homeless people under the Burnside Bridge in Portland.

* Missions
In January of 2006, my high school daughter Rachel and I joined a team from Rolling Hills in Torreon, Mexico to assist in the work of Tony Gomez, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Biblica de la Gracia. Highlights of the trip included tutoring developmentally delayed children and adults at Sammy’s Friends School and meeting village children at the church our team constructed a roof for.

* Volunteering in schools
Over the years I have spent many hours in my children’s classrooms assisting with school work – especially writing assignments -- and chaperoning field trips. I delight in being asked to speak to school groups and other organizations about a career in freelance journalism and nurturing the love of writing.

Family Adventures/Traveling
One of my favorite things to do is go on adventures with my family. Outdoors in God’s beautiful creation. Traveling together. Bicycle riding. Exploring.