I thought it might be nice for you to know about me: the person writing this blog.  So, let me introduce myself.

My name is Donna and I’m 72 years old.  I recently retired and am trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

I live in Phoenix, Arizona.  Yes, we do survive summers here, relying on air conditioning and pools, using pot holders to hold onto our steering wheels and making sure we don’t leave nail polish in our car because it WILL explode.  Our seat belts can burn us and when we go shopping we make sure ice cream is at the end of our list and the grocery store is less than 5 blocks from our house.  (I speak from experience.)

I’ve worked for the past 23 years on the staff of 2 churches: one in Flagstaff, (in the beautiful mountains of Northern Arizona) and the other in the Phoenix area.  I loved what I did and the people I worked with.  Leaving each job broke my heart.  But, I’m grateful that it was difficult to leave because it means I loved what I did – and I especially loved the people I worked with.

I’ve been married to the love of my life (Bill) for 53 years and counting.  I met him when I was 14 and we married when I was 18.

He is the quintessential DIY’er (Do-It-Yourselfer).  I mean, who binge-watches “Barn Builders”, “Fixer Upper”, “Building Off the Grid”, anything that includes the name “Holmes” … well, you get the picture.  Our garage will NOT fit a car in it.  Let’s just say that when we moved, we needed 2 trucks:  one for the house furnishings and the other for the garage/shop.

He’s the master builder; I’m the “Go-Fer”.  I’ve helped him do everything from laying 9,000 pavers on our side yard to dangling out of a 2^nd story window, hanging siding in a 30 mph wind, in 22 degree weather.  We’ve done concrete work, tiling, windows, doors, landscaping, roofing, electrical, plumbing, carpentry – you name it.  I swear, he can do anything – and brings me along for the ride.

…and life just wouldn’t be complete without our dog.  Augie is our 6-year old cardigan corgi mix.  We have no idea what the “mix’ is but he is a clown and keeps us laughing.  We spent our summer on a 2-month road trip to Alaska (more about that later) and he was in dog heaven, peeing on everything between Arizona and Alaska and back – and when you’re a dog, life doesn’t get better than that.

The rest of our family consists of our two grown children who are both happily married with children of their own.  They have given us 3 grandchildren, and are working on a 4^th.  (Again, more on that later.)

The most important component of our life, however, is our Christian faith.  How do two opposite people stay married for 53 years?  How do you survive the challenges life throws at you?  How do you survive life-altering illness and financial hardship?  I cannot ascribe any other solution than Jesus Christ.  It will never be my intention to be “preachy” but it’s impossible to separate my life from my faith so it will certainly show up now and then.

Thank you for reading this.  I do hope you come back and join me again.