2. Town where you live - Polk City
3. Where did you grow up? My father worked road construction, so my early years were spent moving around Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. When I started school, we moved to the family farm in the northeast corner of Iowa. We lived in a small rural community called Waucoma.
4. What is (or was) your occupation? I am the executive director for Amanda the Panda. We are a nonprofit grief center that provides services to grieving children, teens and adults who have experienced the death of a loved one due to accident, illness, homicide, suicide or war. Services include weekend grief camps three times a year, support groups, school visits, "fun days" and holiday support. For more information, go to www.amandathepanda.org.
5. Who is your favorite singer or music group? Too many to list! Music is such a wonderful way to express yourself, and my favorite genre depends on the moment, mood or occasion. I am blessed to have the opportunity to sing with some amazing women, and anytime we can harmonize together, I am in heaven!
6. What is your favorite TV Show? My family's schedule leaves little time for watching TV, but I must confess if there is a Cardinal baseball game televised it's on in our house.
7. What word best describes your personality? Outgoing
8. If you could live in any other state, which state would you live in and why? Arizona! Most of my family lives there, and we have many cousins in the Valley. I love sunshine and hot weather - give me 120 over minus 30 wind chill any day. I love the desert landscape and mountains.
9. What's your favorite holiday and why? Christmas. It is a beautiful season, with the lights and trees all decorated. I look forward to hearing and singing Christmas music, but most of all celebrating the birth of our Savior.
10. Do you have a favorite board game or card game? Cribbage. My mother taught me the game when I was younger to help with adding in my head. We played a lot, and now my kids and I play too.
11. What meal do you like best at suppertime? It is a treat to enjoy four courses and great conversation. For an appetizer, stuffed mushrooms or spinach and artichoke dip. A salad loaded with tomatoes and cucumbers or French onion soup. Entrée would be steamed crab legs and/or medium rare steak with potatoes. Finish it off with the maple blonde brownie from Applebee's!
12. What hobbies or pastimes do you enjoy most? Singing is my favorite hobby, especially when it brings joy to those who listen to me. It is especially wonderful to have my husband and children be proud of me and my performances. At home, I enjoy sewing and scrapbooking for my children.
13. What's your favorite color and why? Green - it is a very soothing color. Plus when those first crocus leaves pop through the snow and then the trees begin to bud, I feel alive again too.
14. Would you rather live in a very old house with lots of character or a new house where everything worked perfectly? New house! I have had the fortune to live in both in my lifetime. I love the character and the history in the older homes but building a new home, picking everything out, and having everything work perfectly is such a treat.
15. What's the best book you've read in the past few years? I have not sat down with a book to read in years because once I start it - I can't set it down! However, one book that was given to me in 1994 when my first child was born and one that my youngest still likes to have me read to her is "I'll Love You Forever." This verse is stated numerous times in the book and holds a special place in my heart: "I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."
16. What things do you like best about Iowa? The change in seasons, the friendly people and it's a wonderful place to raise a family.
17. Who are the members of your family? Ron, my husband is a strategic account sales manager with IKON Office Solutions. We have five children - Jessica, Lindsey, Mackenzie, Alec and Aubrie. Jess lives on her own and works at a bank in downtown Des Moines. Lindsey is attending her freshman year at Barton College in Great Bend, Kan. Mackenzie is a freshman at North Polk High School. Alec is in sixth grade at Central Elementary. Aubrie is a vivacious 3-year-old who keeps us all hopping!
18. What's your favorite thing to eat with chocolate in it? Bunny Tracks Ice Cream or Dove Bars
19. What was the best present you ever received as a child? My first thought was when my brother gave me a young colt named Beau. He was a beautiful quarter horse that was born in the spring to his mare. I was in high school and blown away by my brother's thoughtfulness. However, I can honestly say that each Christmas my parents always had an amazing way to fill that time with joy. No matter the finances we received the best presents ever - purchased or handmade.
20. What actor/actress/television personality always makes you laugh? Will Ferrell
21. What place in the world have you not visited, but would most like to visit? Italy - the scenery and history of the country is rich.
22. Did you ever learn to play a musical instrument? Yes, trumpet in marching, jazz and concert band. In college, I took piano lessons.
23. Do you collect anything? I am not a serious collector, but I do have a number of Willowtree figurines.
24. What's one of your fondest childhood memories? My mother and I are very close. We bonded early when my older sister and brother were in elementary but I was home with her all day. Even as a teenager we would hang out, and we did sewing projects together. We had a little shop in our home called "Sew What?" Many evenings we would light candles, turn on some music and talk about everything - the week's events to our dreams and goals. We called it "atmosphering."
25. What are you looking forward to about spring? Having color back in our landscape and having the rain wash away all the sand and dirty snow. Spring is such a great time of year, because the neighbors start coming outside again and the kids are playing outside.
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