1. God is first in my life. He kicks my butt almost daily and I deserve it. If I would learn to keep my hands off of the steering wheel I would be better off.
2. I was born twelve hours after my twin brother. We are nothing alike but very competitive.
3. I survived spinal meningitis when I was seven months old. My survival has always made me feel God has a special calling for me in my life. It has been my life’s work to answer that call.
4. Serving God though my vocation and my daily living is the focus of everything I do. Answering God’s call to serve him has been a life-long process which will never be completed while I am here on earth.
5. I ended my marriage of twenty-seven years to follow God’s call for me. She just couldn’t be part of this kind of faith and I could not, not be part of it.
6. Following God’s call is the hardest thing I have ever done. Patience is not my strong suit! It is also the most satisfying.
7. I have been told I can talk for twenty minutes and not know the subject. To the surprise of many I am generally quiet in social situations. But put me in front of a group of people (10-10,000) and I can talk for hours.
8. Writing has become a source of therapy and growth for me. I journal often and enjoy writing a great deal. I am working on my first book. (My high school English teacher, Mrs. Morgan would be shocked to read this. I hated grammar and couldn’t diagram a sentence to save my soul)
9. I love my kids (a daughter 20 and a son 15) and am very proud of them both. They are growing into great young adults. Both are well-grounded, faithful and intelligent. I believe God has great things in store for both of them.
10. I once entered our district Cub Scout pinewood derby as “John” Friedlein much to the surprise of my parents. As an eight year old boy I took a great deal of heat for having the name Stacey.
11. Being named Stacey (for which my parents have never been able to give me a believable reason) has been one of the best things they could have done. I have found it has challenged me to get past the perception and has made me more memorable to those I meet.
12. My brother and I own a cabin on timber ground once owned by our grandfather. It is very primitive and remote. The cabin has become a great sanctuary for clearing my head and sorting out my thoughts.
13. I have been in Boy Scouts for more than forty years. I am an Eagle Scout and am proudly watching my son complete his Eagle Scout requirements. He will be the first legacy Eagle in our troop.
14. I was the meanest kid in my junior high. I spent so much time in the principal’s office he had to attach a note card to my rolodex file to keep track of my visits.
15. Boy Scouts changed my life. I was unfocused and frustrated about life as an adolescent. Scouting gave me a sense of purpose and direction. It allowed me to grow as a person and utilize my leadership skills in a positive way. Part of my life’s work is to give back to the program which gave me so much.
16. My business is a direct answer to God’s call. It took me more than six years to complete the business plan. But now I know it was on God’s time.
17. I am very community service oriented. I have been president of nearly every local organization from Kiwanis to the Chamber of Commerce. Leadership and organization are some of my gifts. Or it may I just like to be the boss. There are some who wish I would not use me gifts so often.
18. I have cooked more pancakes, sausage and pork chops over the past twenty-five years than I care to count. I love to cook but can’t cook fewer than fifty pork chops at a time. I have developed a ‘secret seasoning’ recipe for pork chops which only I know.
19. I take an afternoon nap almost every day. Why should such a luxury be assigned only to the very young and very old?
20. Making life changing decisions at nearly fifty can really suck at times. I never dreamt my life would be like it is. Finding a new path to follow and a new lifestyle can be frightening. I trust God is in this and reveal his plan to me in his time.
21. I am reminded often of Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” , all in God’s time.
22. Giving a great speech or making a difference in a client’s life gives me a sense of euphoria. There is not better feeling for me than to walk of the platform after making a presentation and realizing how well I connected with my audience.
23. I have a very squirrelly sense of humor. I like to tease and have good natured fun with people. I love to make people laugh. I also like to tell stories from real life which are funny and serve a purpose.
24. I am blessed with a wonderful family. My parents are both living and have been great support for me through my impending divorce. I also have wonderful siblings and have found great comfort from all of them in these trying days.
25. God loves me and you! Enough said.
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