I was the 5th child (1st girl) in a family with 10 children. When I was about 2 years old my folks moved from Coos Bay, Oregon to Enterprise, Oregon. I grew up in Enterprise, a very small community located in North Eastern Oregon. Often called "God's Country" or "Little Switzerland", Enterprise is set in the heart of Wallowa County, & commands a beautiful view of the surrounding Wallowa Mountains. It is only a few miles to Joseph, Oregon and Wallowa Lake. Each week, on Thursday - the local newspaper - The Wallowa County Chieftain is published and via the internet is read all over the world.

In 1966 I graduated Enterprise High & moved to Corvallis, Oregon to attend Oregon State University. I graduated with a BS in Elementary Education and after graduation I continued to live in Corvallis until mid June of 1999 at which time I moved to Hartland, Michigan to live with my new husband Paul.

Paul & I met *on-line* in November 1998, and face to face Valentines weekend in 1999 when he flew to Portland to meet me. Our Wedding was June 18, 1999 and was delightful. We are a living proof that God still works miracles!

Paul is dad to a son named Scott and three lovely daughters named Jenni, Julie and Jaci. In 2000 Scott married Cheryl, so Scott is now a *Family Man* & step-father to 6 children & 3 grandchildren.  Also, in 2000, Jenni married Ken Bobicz. Ken & Jeni both received their Masters Degrees honors from Eastern Michigan University in 2003.   Julie & Drew Bond married in 1999. They now have 3 children; Clayton, Carter and Evie.  Paul's youngest, Jaci, is a 2006 Graduate from Western Michigan University in Kalamamazoo and has found her niche as a Paul himself comes from a great family with three brothers and one sister. They, along with his wonderful mother Blanche, have all made me feel at home.

I am *mom* to two wonderful children. My daughter Melissa Rose, graduated from Oregon State University June 1997 and in July 1997, she married Mat LaCrosse. In May of 1999, Mat graduated Western Oregon University in Law Enforcement and is now a Police Officer in Oregon. (I think this means I might not have to pay parking tickets anymore but I am not positive.) Melissa & Mat have blessed me with 2 lovely grandchildren, Mason & Madeleine Rose. They make being a Grandma such a joy and they're cute to boot!

My son is called 'Will'. He used to be 13 and loved Soccer, bugs, music, *forts* in the woods and drawing weird things like *G Funk*. Then he was 14 and liked to catch fish. He is quite a fisherman also and caught a nice pike during an Easter vacation when we visited Paul in Michigan. At 17 he was into *aggressive* roller blade skating. He was pretty good and liked to be called "Air Man" by the *SK8* people. After High School Graduation, he spent a summer fighting Wildland forest fires with his dad. Like his sister before him he really enjoyed it. Will married Renea in August of 2007 and they now live in Jefferson, Oregon. Renea has two children; Mason Riley & Mackenzie Renea. When they come to *Grandma's* they get to wash dishes & bake stuff. They are well loved around here.

Melissa & Will are no longer interested in fighting forest fires so they are selling their dad's Wildland Brush Fire Engine. The link is http://sofinesjoyfulmoments.com/WildlandFire/ForSale/BrushRig.htm.

Over the years, I was involved in different business ventures with my first husband. These included Commercial Fishing and manufacturing Steel Products & fighting Wildland fires. I sold Tupperware as both a Dealer and Manager. I was a professional crafter for 12 years and had my own home-based business. I sold lovely dust catchers and marketed my own line of Specialty Fragrance Oils at many juried craft shows in Oregon.