an outdoors girl

Interview with Jeannie

Jeannie and baby-to-come, rejoicing in God's goodness

How did you first hear about YLCF? How did you “meet” the other YLCF team members and become one yourself? I don’t really remember how I heard about the YLCF, but I was a reader for several years. I used to write for a few Christian girls’ magazines, and had some “connections” to the original team members that way. Still, I was very surprised when they invited me to join the team in 2006. Although life has prevented me from writing as much as I’d like to, it’s a joy to be a part of what God is doing through this ministry.

When and how did you come to know Jesus? Since I was raised in a Christian home, I can’t remember a time I didn’t know Jesus, but I “asked Him into my heart” at the tender age of four. God has been faithful to sanctify me, and has used many things in my life to grow and mature my faith.

What is your family (faith) background? If they are believers, how do you encourage each other? If not, how do you handle the faith issue? My immediate family members are all believers, as are my in-laws… a tremendous blessing! It’s so nice not to have “issues” about faith, and to have people who love you that you can ask for prayer. Some of the most encouraging times are when we spend time together talking about what God is doing in our lives.

What is your approach to sharing your faith with nonbelievers? My personality isn’t the type to do street preaching, hand out tracks, or share the Four Spiritual Laws with the grocery store cashier; I find it important to have a real relationship with the person first. When they know that I genuinely care about them as a person, they tend to be more open to hearing about my faith.

What are your favorite recipes? Do you have a signature dish that you love to make? My favorite recipes tend to change often, but one that I’m “famous” for is my gingersnaps. My favorite recipe is posted here.

What’s your favorite book you’re reading right now (or read this year)? What books remain your favorite over the years? What is your most-remembered, favorite childhood story/book? It’s always hard to pick a favorite anything, but one of the best books I read this year was Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung. Perennial favorites include Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliot, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, and Song of Years by Bess Streeter Aldrich. I think I’d have to pick the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder as my favorite childhood stories.

How many siblings do you have, and where do you fall in the birth order? I’m the oldest of eight — five boys and three girls — and the first one to leave the nest.

What’s your preferred form of exercise? I love skiing, ice skating, biking, and hiking, but walking is the form of exercise I employ most often. I also enjoyed running before I was pregnant, and look forward to resuming that after the baby arrives.

If someone met you in person, what’s one thing they’d learn about you that your online friends might not know? How much I love to laugh. That’s something that doesn’t really come across online, despite the use of “LOL” and emoticons!

What is your favorite pair of shoes? That depends entirely on what I am doing. My sweet husband bought me an amazing pair of mountaineering boots which I love for long hikes. On the other end of the spectrum, I love my high-heeled strappy sandals in the summer. Right now my favorites are a comfortable pair of slip-ons that I don’t have to tie (a seven-month pregnant belly makes bending over difficult!).

Are you a morning person or a night owl or neither? I’m a daytime person… how’s that? I like and need my sleep, so I prefer to get up at a reasonable hour (like 6 or 7) and go to bed by ten. I feel the best if I can stick to that. Thankfully that schedule works well with my husband’s job. I’m curious how it will change when the baby comes.

Outside of immediate family, who had the most impact on your life? That’s hard to say. So many people have helped shape me into the person I am today. God has blessed me with wonderful friends, pastors and teachers, mentors, and role models over the years. Sometimes I feel sad that I don’t keep up with all of them anymore, but life changes. I’m thankful for the impact they have all had!

Your favorite spot in nature? Just about anywhere! I’m an outdoors girl. I’d probably choose a place with trees, though. Living in the Midwest most of my life, I’d never had the opportunity to spend time in the mountains until I married Evan, so that has been a new joy (we lived in his homeland of southern California for nine months before moving to the Midwest again). I look forward to becoming more intimate with mountain environments!

Where you hear or feel God’s presence the most? Sometimes in a group of believers, especially when we’re singing. But my most precious times in His presence have been alone in a secluded spot outside, usually in the woods.

If you could vacation anywhere, where would it be? That’s hard to choose, but assuming money and time were no object, I think I’d go to the mountains of Switzerland with my husband. England would be a good possibility, too.

If you could travel to any one place, what would it be? That one is so hard to answer! I had a dream come true when my dad and I spent ten days in England last summer, and I’d love to go back. I’d also love to see more of Europe, and New Zealand fascinates me. There are still many places in Canada and the U.S. that I’d love to visit, as well.

If you could describe yourself using a book character, which one would it be? I’m a lot like Abbie Deal in A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich, but since many of you probably haven’t read that book, I’ll pick a combination of Meg and Jo from Little Women. I’m domestic like Meg, but a bit of a troublemaker like Jo. And I love boys…I can see myself having a place like Plumfield.

Where are you reading in the Scriptures just now? What is your favorite book of the Bible? We’re in Genesis right now. I always enjoy going right back to the beginning and seeing all over again the immensity of God’s creative work, and the plan He had for our salvation from the start. I can’t choose a favorite book of the Bible, though…they’re all there for a reason and have spoken to me at different times in my life.

What did you like about your education and what do you wish you and/or your parents had done differently? I loved being homeschooled and can’t wait to teach my own children! My mom didn’t really do “unit studies,” so that’s something I want to try. If I was doing it over again for myself, I think I’d like to have a “continued study” plan after highschool. There are a lot of things I still want to learn. Thankfully I can keep learning for my whole lifetime!

How have “real life women” influenced and encouraged you over the years? My mom has been the most constant influence through my life, but I’ve also been blessed to know many other godly women. They have taught me to love God, to value marriage and children, to treat my husband with love and honor, and to focus on eternal priorities. Some has been taught directly, but far more has been learned by simply watching the way they live.

If you’re married, what are some ways you’ve worked through conflict with your spouse? We honestly haven’t had any real conflict yet. There are many factors for this, including the fact that we’ve only been married for about a year, but I think one of the most helpful things was deciding even before we were married that we weren’t going to “make an issue” out of things that really aren’t important. One of my closest friends gave me this advice shortly before our wedding: “I decided that nothing was as important as my relationship with my husband. No ‘thing’ or issue was worth holding on to over my happiness with Keith.” She’s been married eight years and still hasn’t had an argument with her husband, and they’ve been through some very deep waters together. That’s the way I look at my marriage, too.

If you’re married, did you ever question that your spouse was “the one for you” early on? Nope. Honestly, after waiting as long as I did (I was 29), I am so grateful that God brought us together! Evan isn’t perfect, of course, but when your heart is full of gratitude and love, it’s very easy to overlook and forgive each other’s faults. What I do question is how in the world this ever happened, and why God chose to bless us with this tremendous gift.

Where do you see yourself in ten years time compared to where you are today? Lord willing, I’ll have a handful of little people running around. My husband and I will be more “one” than ever. Our house will be nearly paid off! I pray I’ll be more like Jesus. Beyond that, who knows? I’m excited to see the plans God has for me!