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I was born in Jefferson, Iowa, and raised in Grand Junction, northwest of Des Moines. Except for a short time, I've lived my entire life in Iowa and love to promote the quality of life in our state. I grew up walking beans and running in the cornfields, sorting pigs and all that goes with having a father who farmed. He was a part-time farmer, however, who made and repaired much of his equipment in his blacksmith shop, Delp Welding. My mother worked hard taking care of my three sisters and me. It became harder when I was four. My sister, six, was diagnosed a juvenile diabetic. We had lots of diabetes in our family tree.

As early as the fourth grade, teachers gave me top grades in reading, writing, spelling and grammar. I learned to play clarinet, then moved on to alto and tenor sax. For Marching Band, I twirled baton and still remember freezing at football games in those short skirts and low-cut boots. In the school's vocal music program, I soloed, and sang in small groups. Church youth group, Pep Club and Future Homemakers of America completed my educational program.

Entering the Queen Contest for the Greene County Fair wasn't my idea. I was waiting tables at Larry's Café by then, and Larry talked me into it. My talent was to sing “The Impossible Dream.” My knees trembled and my voice shook, but it was exciting to be center stage on the grandstand singing at night to a crowd. That's me, third from the right.

The week before our wedding, John played softball and needed to see the ball up real close. He had to have stitches, had a black eye, and I married “my pirate” anyway. He wore dark sunglasses with a white tuxedo for the service and put on an eye patch for the reception. We were married at a church in Ames, Iowa, where John was a graduate student and I worked at ISU Veterinary Clinics as a medical records librarian. I earned my first by-line while working there!

A few years later, he became a John Deere electrical engineer and I continued taking college classes, working toward a Bachelor's Degree from Augustana College, and a Master's Degree in English (Expository Writing) from the University of Iowa.

For our 25 th Wedding Anniversary, we passed on a cruise, and, instead, flew to China where we adopted a two-year old and named her Samantha. She began a good program learning to speak English, reading lots of books, and caught up with her peers. Years later, we still try to attend the reunions with our China Children's Tour Group. Her sister, Stephanie, is a great role model. Both girls are dancers, and sing in church choirs.

Always, along the journey of life, the writer in me keeps emerging. I helped pay for college classes as a newspaper correspondent and freelance magazine writer. The photography was always fun and still is. Teaching writing is rewarding and a great joy! I'm a very lucky author!