"A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what ships were made for."

For whatever reason, God wired me with a passion for people, adventure, learning, and cultures.  After high school, I jumped at the chance to join a short-term mission trip overseas. That trip led to a five-year stint with Youth with a Mission in the Netherlands that ended with a few lovely additions to my life: A husband, Barry, and two boys, Isaac and Michael. That was 1985.

I  was a college hopper for a while, but I eventually graduated from Eckerd College with a degree in Literature and a fire in my belly to save the world.  But alas and alack! I soon learned that my high school students cared considerably less about Shakespeare than I did.  I loved them anyway, and I taught for seven years, doing my best to help them write a freshman essay that actually said something.  In 2002, I joined Florida Virtual School, where I served at various times as a teacher, an e-Learning Manager, a Marketing Manager, and a Communications Liaison.

Today, I own a small marketing business, and I work as a freelance writer. Besides writing, I love—

• Barry, 27 years and counting       
• Isaac, Mr. Assistant Sous Chef and oldest son, and Michael, Mr. "OOORAH" Marine and youngest. Both are stunningly handsome, of course, and single.
• God: Father, Redeemer, Counselor, Comforter, Savior, Friend, Healer, Provider. Don't you wish I could hyperlink you to HIM?
• My Family—ALL of them, even the annoying ones (you know who you are!)
• Dexter (little dog) and Schroeder (big dog)
• Italy, Italians, Italian food, Italian wine, Italian cheese, and Italian friends, especially the ones who cook. Notice a theme here?
• Yoga
• My bed
• A good book and a rainy day
• A nice long walk
• Crossword puzzles, Word Warp, and Scramble. Yes, I'm a word weenie.
• Breakfast at C'est la Vie in Sarasota.
• Singing, in the car, in the shower, in church, anywhere
• Chocolate, of course
• Wine, of course
• Lingering over a table with friends
• Laughter
• Great stories, of course!