My Ideal Person:
My ideal match would be a man with good sense of humor who likes to have fun but who is also interested in deeper matters of faith. He would love nature, have a heart for missions, like to travel (short-term mission trips?). He would enjoy meeting new people and having new experiences, but not be a total extrovert. He would enjoy quiet evenings, taking walks, holding hands, watching a sunset....

Since I love to cook and be creative in the kitchen, I would like a man who appreciates good, healthy food and is willing to try new things.

Favorite films: Recently: Mamma Mia!

Favorite musicians or bands: Too many to list

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Please describe your faith. How important is your faith to you?
My faith is who I am. My walk is a daily walk. I believe Jesus meant what He said and, although I fall short, my goal is to obey Him and grow in Him. I used to be afraid that would mean losing "me". Now I know that submitting to His lordship means becoming the best "me"-the me I was created to be.

Which Scripture verses are most important to you?
So many and different ones at different times in my life. Jer 29:11 was one I held onto after my marriage ended. James 1:2-8 has also been one I have clung to over the years. 1 Jn1:7 is a critical verse to evaluate my walk and relationship with God and others. 2 Cor 5:19 has been a key verse for me and also for counseling new believers. Verses that speak of God's faithfulness and grace, his abiding love, his forgiveness are all ones that minister peace and joy to me and give me hope in difficult situations. 2 Cor 12:9 has helped me understand grace in new ways and my need to depend on his strengtth. Jn 15 reminds me that abiding is key and that without him I can do nothing (v 5). I love the Psalms. Gal 5:22-23 is my prayer-that the Spirit will control me and produce His fruit in me.

Why is a Christian relationship so important to you?
I is hard to imagine a relationship that is truly intimate and fulfilling without the Lord being the center of it. I was married to a non-believer and the stronger my faith grew the greater the gulf between us grew. It became his mission to destroy me and my faith. Jesus didn't give us the command to not be unequally yoked to limit our pleasure and fulfillment, but to protect us and bring us true intimacy and fulfillment.

Where did you grow up? Where have you traveled? What are some of your favorite places to visit?
I was born in rural B.C., Canada and spent my early years there. My family spent a year in Alaska before moving to California where I have lived the majority of my life. I lived a year in Singapore, where I graduated from the S'pore American School, before returning to CA for college. Besides SoEast Asia, I have traveled in Europe and Africa (Nigeria), Mexico, Guatemala, and Brazil. I recently lived in Oregon for 3 1/2 years. I have enjoyed every place I have visited with the exception of Nigeria. I would like to visit Kenya. Probably my favorite place to visit is Hawaii. I would also like to return to Europe, particularly Italy and France.

What are your favorite activities both at Church and outside?
Missions has been my passion for years although I have taken a break from serving on the board this year. I love to teach and lead a women's small group and am study leader for my Women's Fellowship group. I am presently serving on the Bereavement Committee. I enjoy the fellowship and stimulation of these activities as well as the worship services. Beyond church, I love to garden, cook, entertain and do things with friends--movies, lunch/dinner, walks, etc. I love to travel. One of my favorite quick getaways is the coast. I love to go by myself or with a friend and just spend the day. Another place I like to go is to Mt Hermon (Christian Conference Center). And I love Filoli gardens, especially in the Spring! I like to do projects in the yard and house-painting, decorating, landscaping.

What is your day like? Describe your daily routine.
Since retiring, my life is much more slow paced. My day starts with breakfast and my quiet time for BS and prayer. After that I usually make some phone calls, run errands, do chores (laundry, cleaning, etc). Some mornings I have meetings or appointments including my small group meeting Thurs morning, or meet a friend for a visit or lunch. During the summer I swim almost every day. I put in a fairly extensive vegetable garden and flower garden in the Spring/Summer. Since moving back to CA from Oregon, I have been working on projects in my house and yard (renters left things in pretty bad condition!) to try to get it restored and upgraded so I try to do something every week. My social life is not that great-which is why I decided to try BigChurch! Most of my previously single friends have remarried or moved so it is always a challenge to make new friends to do things with.

What are some of your personal and spiritual goals?
I have decided that my house and yard are too big for me. They would be a fulltime job for a young couple and I want to do other things so I am hoping to downsize this next year. I have prayed about this for some time and believe this is the direction God would have me go. Since this has been my home for most of my adult life this is a big decision and is truly a walk of faith. I don't know what God has planned next, but I would like to be free to do more volunteer work (Hospice?) and to travel. My ultimate goal is to grow in my faith, trust and obedience to God and to be transformed into the image of His Son-to become all that He created me to be.