A Wee Bit About Myself

I would like to share a little about me since you have graciously dropped in to visit a bit in my world. Probably the two most defining things in my life are my faith and my family. My faith exemplifies who I am and how I choose to live my life. I firmly believe in John 3:16

I am a Christian. I am sometimes hesitant to say this as it often brings up connotations of snobbishness and holier than thou mentality. Striving to model oneself after Jesus Christ is truly the farthest thing from that. Do I feel taking on the label of Christian lifts me up and away from those ‘sinners’ around me? Surely not for I too am a sinner, howbeit I am a forgiven one. Through the blood of my savior Jesus Christ my sins are wiped away. I am set free. I now have an advocate with the Father. A bridge if you will for this sinner, fallen from grace, to gain access back to my Creator. How liberating it is for me to know that I cannot be ‘bad’ enough that my Heavenly Father will not forgive me and welcome me home

My Family

This brings me to the second most defining thing about me, my love of my family. Here in the mountains family ties are everything. I want my family to know the same unconditional love that God shows to me. No matter what, I will love them. I may get angry, I may get hurt, I may cry and shout but I will never, ever turn my back on them. Unconditional love means just that. You are part of me and me of you now and forever, no matter what.
My family is my greatest joy. When you come into our family we welcome you with open arms and you become one of us. We take care of our own and you will always know that we have your back.


Friends
Another facet of my life that is very important to me are my friends. I have lifelong friends that have been my friends for years. Now their children are adults and they are my friends also. Once in a conversation with a person who was debating that your friends never really stay your friends my very wise daughter replied, "Well I really can't say that because some of my friends are second generation friends. My mom and their mom were friends for years and now I am friends with their children."



The Animal Lady

For years I earned the reputation as 'the animal lady'. I cannot see an animal hurt or suffering without I try to intercede. This habit of taking in orphaned, hurt animals quickly grew into a full time job. Our local game warden finally sent off and got a rehab permit for me and began to call me whenever there were animals to be cared for. Over the years we have taken in numerous deer, 50 raccoons, opossums, foxes, rabbits, squirrels, ground hogs, bobcats, turtles, and even snakes. Our life was truly a zoo. Domestic animals included dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, chinchillas, ferrits, guina pigs, birds, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys to name a few. We have finally began to downsize as the expense became too much as did the daily care as we grow older. Our two little mules and our sulcatta tortoise and our blind dog Freeway is all we have for now. Both our boys are wildlife biologists and we often think that their upbringing played a part in their career choice.

My Work:

Finally, a bit about my work. My job title is Student Program Advisor, I help my students find the program they want to be in and aid them in choosing the best path to get there. I truly enjoy this job. I also teach literature and this is undoubtedly my passion in life. I love teaching. I love my students, I love touching their lives, I love seeing them grasp an idea or theme for the first time. I simply love to teach. I am employed at a little community college in Williamson, WV. We are on the Ky border and in the heart of the coal fields. My college is Southern WV Community and Technical College. We are small enough that I am on a first name basis with all of my students. I give them my personal phone number and email address and I love to hear from them. This job is ideal for me.

My Office

Southern WV Community College