1. What tips would you give to someone who is young and looking for the right partner?

I remember as a 24 year old who looked for “love” in all the wrong places – telling God, “I quit!”! I never want to date again, I’m disappointed in men and most of all I’m disappointed with myself.   I’ll stay single. Interestingly enough, I met my husband Mark 6 weeks later!  Knowing what I know now,  and as a Christian, I believe that God is sovereignly working in all areas of our lives. If God intends for a person to be married, He will bring it about. So I would say while you’re waiting, trust in the Lord. Work on yourself. And know that if God has you on “hold”, it’s for your good – trust Him.

2. How can newlyweds balance building a life together while maintaining individual growth? I’ve found marriage  to be more give and take than “balance”!  Hopefully, you’ve discovered a lot about your spouse before you said, “I do”.  You know their likes and dislikes, their interests, how they handle finances, and you’ve had your first disagreement!  So with all of that information, you pray, and then you develop a system that allows both people to grow, to flourish and use their gifts and abilities to the glory of God. Our spiritual growth never ends until we reach Heaven. In the marriage relationship, each person should not only allow the other’s relationship with God to be first, they should nurture each other in their relationship with God. That’s how we learn to love, to put our spouse’s needs before our own, and to do it in love.  (still working on that!)

3. What are some effective parenting strategies for different stages of your child’s development? Children have different personalities, abilities and interests, but they all need structure. Helping your child develop habits in every stage of life will serve them their entire life. Discipline is a loving way to teach your child that action or inaction has consequences and reward.  Mark and my desire for our children was to know that home was a safe place. There were rules that kept them safe. There was space for learning, and acceptance for their interests, hobbies, talent and abilities. But most of all, we taught our children about the God who loved them. The God that wanted a relationship with them and had a plan to bring that about.

4. How can parents create an engaging and effective homeschool environment for their children? Every homeschool is different!  For our family, we made everything a learning experience. You can teach math, science and history in cooking, baking, sewing, music, travel and art, so we did. Each child has a different learning style, so as parents we have to observe and discover how to use our child learning style to help them learn throughout their lives. Yes, the basics in each grade need to be learned, but it can be fun!  

5. How can parents support their children through the transition from high school to college or career?  Supporting your children into adulthood starts before they are born. Each child is given to their parents and entrusted to them by God. We, as parents, have a limited amount of time to love, teach and discipline our children with the end goal of having adult children that love God and love others.

6. What are some tips for re-entering the workforce, and how can one stay confident and updated with current trends? Well, going back to work after being a full time stay at home Mom that homeschooled her children was the furthest thing from my mind! But the Lord has another idea! God used an unexpected series of events and a move back Orlando, so that I’d be in the perfect place to volunteer at Z88.3!  I never expected where this road would take me!

7. What is the best part of becoming a grandparent? Everyone tells you that having a Grandchild is the best and most wonderful thing that can happen to you. But until you experience it – you just can’t imagine. Our sweet grandson is the best – of course!

8. How do you maintain passion and energy for your work and ministry over the years? I sound like a “broken record” but the answer is in knowing that God has directed you to the job/ministry that you are in!  And let’s understand that in the life of a  Christian – everything you are doing is your ministry.    Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

9. What are the key factors that have contributed to the longevity and success of your marriage over 43 years?   Understand that loving your spouse is a decision you make daily.  Pray for your spouse. If there’s an issue, or a decision, or a bad habit that is driving you nuts – PRAY.  Prayer is our greatest defense against the enemy that would love to destroy our marriage and our family. Prayer changes everything – starting with our own heart and attitudes.  And live in Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,  for those who are called according to his purpose.

     I lived my way for many years. And for many years I was an angry and broken person who was not pleasant to be around!  So if I sound like someone who can’t do anything without checking with God first – praise the Lord!  Because I can’t, and I don’t want to!  He is my life, my breath and my being!    

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,  to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.  Jude 24-25