About
As a way of introducing myself, I offer you a verbal scrapbook of some of the things I love the most— Jesus, family, people, travel, the church, and stories.
That vintage yellow formica-topped table in my mom’s storage unit is more than just a cool relic from a bygone era. It’s where our family of seven ate dinner together every night during our growing up. Whatever the day had held for any of us, we could talk about it at the dinner table, and we’d all know that we mattered. And there was laughter, lots of laughter.
Despite anything we didn’t have, we had Jesus. Mom and Dad loved him and introduced us to him when we were all toddlers. They nurtured us in our tender faith, sent us to youth camp, and were the best mentors we ever had. In those early days Jesus won my heart, thanks in part to my parents’ example.
I always wanted to “go somewhere and do something.” Meeting missionaries and hearing their amazing stories opened my mind to the world. So did my friendships with exchange students at school. So anxious was I to go somewhere that I begged my parents to let me take a semester of college through World Campus Afloat (something that no claustrophobic girl without sea legs would have actually enjoyed). Wisely, they said no.
Instead, at 28, I finally went somewhere (to Japan) where I did something (spent three years as a short-term missionary, teaching English and Bible in private classes and helping in a house church). I lived in a different city each year and met time with wonderful people. I even got to be involved in planting a church!
Eventually I moved to Seattle to work with international students. See that big smile on my face? What I loved about those six years was meeting students; teaching Bible classes and hosting events; and matching the students with friendship partners who helped them settle in, invited them over for a meal, took them shopping, and shared Jesus with them.
I married Tom when I was 38. Three years later, with our two little boys, we headed to New York State where we lived on the Kauffman family homestead, next door to Tom’s parents. When our plans for work didn’t pan out we started a magazine called Family Scrapbook: The Magazine For, By, and About Christian Families. It was an amazing three-year adventure.
For the last 25 years we’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest where Tom and I both grew up. Our family has been my main focus and even today our sons continue to stretch and delight me on a regular basis, even though they are grown and on their own.
Since Tom retired in 2019 we’ve had time to take day trips to explore the Northwest’s beauty and occasionally take longer trips to visit family or see the world. Last year we traveled with a group from our church to India for the dedication of two rural churches.
And now I’m here with you. I see good things in our futures as we adventure together.