I am a 60-year-old woman with 3 children, 8 grandchildren, two ridiculous boxer dogs and my 89-year-old father.  We live in western Michigan, a lovely green area on a short drive from sand dunes and Lake Michigan to the west and rich farmland to the east.  My mother died of Alzheimer's Disease in May, 2008.  My father remains in the family home they bought in 1946. 

The journey of my mother's illness forced me to seek a greater strength than my own.  When it became evident there was NOTHING I could do that made a difference, I had to choose among losing my mind, breaking my heart or asking for help.  I asked and the Holy Spirit reached out to me.  I joined a Unity church after 40 years of avoiding churches.  I had become greedy for the warmth and wonder of walking with God and wanted to learn more, grow more and gather with others who felt as I feel.  I am amazed at the wisdom and grace and love God made available to me.  Nothing has been more exciting.  Nothing.  I want this beauty to engulf me and keep my in its light forever.  Despite great sorrows, I have never been happier.

I love my husband, our children, their spouses and our grandchildren.  We enjoy turning family gatherings into parties with lots of laughter and play.  We have a motorhome and love to travel the USA.  When my husband retires I want to use our motorhome to explore every single state in North America as well as Canada and Mexico.  (Let's hope gas prices at least stabilize!)  Our happiest vacations are simple ones where we stay at Michigan state parks while one or more or our children join us with their family.  We cook over campfires.  We go for hikes.  We swim and sail in my husband's tiny sailboat.  I absolutely believe that one of life's objectives is to create a wonderful book of memories to page through whenever life seems a bit disappointing or just boring.  I want every page to be full.