DH and Me: Married 23 years this year and proud parents of four wonderful boys and one amazing daughter. DH was a full time pastor for 20+ years and is now a consultant and coach with churches and nonprofits around the country through his own company. I am a literacy coach, author, and teacher who works in our local public school system. I also travel around the country presenting literacy workshops for teachers. We are SO BLESSED! Our marriage has been a journey of faith and love that I could not have imagined.

DS 1: Our soldier! He is 22 years old and a member of the Army National Guard. DS 1 finished his basic and AIT training last year and is an Army Medic. He is living at home currently and planning to deploy at some point. He enjoys sports, shooting, ultimate frisbee, cycling, and the outdoors. A very talented musician and all around wonderful young man. I'm so proud of him.

DS 2: The actor and model. 21 years old in September and a student at the University of South Florida. An Ultimate Frisbee player, soccer player, drummer, and "loves-to-laugh" kind of guy who's always up for a good party with friends and food! He was featured in a film called "The Tobacco Club" that will be shown in more than 50 middle and high schools in our area. He's firmly rooted and grounded in his faith and loves to be on the mission field.  I fully expect him to find a home in a jungle somewhere and be just as happy as can be!

DS 3: 16 yo and a sophomore in high school. This year he is the junior class president. I lovingly call him my own "Alex P. Keaton"! He is also extremely focused on his passion--flying. Watching him develop his passion has been pure joy! He cares deeply about many issues and causes. He's dependable and intellectual--both qualities that will serve him well as he grows. I think he, too, is drawn to missions and mission field.  Recently, though, he's also drawn to journalism as the Editor-in-Chief for the high school paper.

DS 4: Our fisherman and outdoor guy! He's 11 and in the 6th grade. DS 4 loves every minute of his life. He is our own "personal" Tigger...he's bouncy and fun! He enjoys music, sports, skateboarding, being outdoors and, of course, fishing. He also has a HUGE heart for animals. We can count on him to keep things light, fun, and ever-changing around our house!

And LG, who came to our family in 2009.  She's 9 years old and a pure joy to us.  It's been very interesting infusing "PINK" into our very "BLUE" world.  She's a girlie girl if there ever was one.  We are hoping her adoption will be finalized very soon in the new year.  While she didn't start out in our family, we feel like she's been here forever.  And boy does she ever belong!  

Most importantly, I'm a child of God. I am also, however, a wife, mother of four sons, teacher, learner, author, speaker, scrapbooker, and friend. I love to read and write. This is why I enjoy blogging so much!

I also enjoy travel, although I don't like flying so much. But I do it because I know if I didn't, I'd miss SO MANY wonderful places.

I love spending time with my family and friends and basking in all the joy they bring to me.

The name of my blog pretty much sums up who I am and who I always want to be: a learner. I am constantly looking at things through the lens of the learner. I want to acquire new knowledge and experience new things each and everyday. And when I can't see anything new, I want to be able to do as Proust suggests: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."

100 Things About Me