A Challenge

A process that is necessary in writing drama scripts is to craft character descriptions for the benefit of those who will eventually be portraying the “people” in the story to be told. In the process of preparing for the 2008 Christmas Drama, my co-director/co-writer and I discovered just how valuable this tool was in regards to several key characters in the drama “Unto the Least of These”. Upon providing basic, bare-bones character attributes, we asked several characters (and employed the process ourselves) to write a description of who their character was. The change in portrayal was immediate and beneficial in making that ‘person” come alive within the story. I was recently challenged to create an attribute list description of who I am by utilizing at least 50 descriptive elements. This endeavor was proved to be an exercise in reflection.
Chi mi sono?

• An American living in what is called Amish Country in Pennsylvania
• Of Austrian, English, Irish, German, Scottish, and Welsh descent
• Accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior one month after starting to attend the Montana State University
• Employed by Life Change Ministries International as the USA Office Administrator and Donor Relations Associate
• Favorite books of the Bible – John and Philippians
• Favorite Authors - Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Pearl S. Buck, Nathanael Hawthorne, Dee Henderson, C.S. Lewis, Max Lucado, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mark Twain
• Favorite Musicians – Robin Mark, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Ray Boltz
• Favorite Book – Jane Eyre
• Favorite Movie – Swiss Family Robinson
• Enjoy reading the “Classics”, history, historical fiction, Inspirational, cookbooks
• Studying 1 Corinthians with my Small Group Bible Study
• Currently engaged in co-writing the Christmas 2009 drama script with Larry
• In rehearsal mode for EBFC On the Road Drama (mixture of scripted an improvisational drama)
• Favorite hot beverage – Irish Breakfast tea or chai
• Favorite food – fruits (peaches and melons are the all time favorites)
• Favorite snacks – dried fruits (Cherries and Cranberries)
• Favorite past-time – writing (mostly script work) and historical research
• Creative
• Reflective
• “Irish” temper
• Spiritual Gifts – hospitality, service/helps, encouragement, giving/mercy
• Enjoy cooking and baking – like to try new recipes
• Director of Drama Ministries at EBFC
• Write full-length drama scripts for the Annual Christmas Production
• Learned to use a miter saw and power drill and “forced” to conquer fear of heights (on a ladder) during the process of designing and building drama sets (thanks to my Stage Construction Director, Matthew)
• Member of the Worship Committee at EBFC
• Enjoy camping with my husband and children – especially at French Creek State Park
• Tutor at Reamstown Elementary School
• Born in the state of Montana - raised in a stable home by both parents with one brother
• Educated in public schools – preferring the language arts, history, and the social sciences
• Studied Tae Kwon Do for 7 years reaching the highest rank prior to 1st degree black belt
• Sang with the concert choir in High School and participated in the annual musical (a required part of choir)
• Currently reading The House of the Seven Gables by Nathanael Hawthorne, Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Ephesians
• Played the violin for 4 years
• Read voraciously
• Enjoyed creative writing while in school
• Taught to sew, embroider, and bake by my maternal grandmother
• Studied Latin, French, and Italian.
• Attended Montana State University immediately upon graduation from high school
• Studied Sociology: Criminal Justice emphasis while attending MSU
• Met my husband at a Navigators meeting while attending MSU
• Married on the first day of Spring Break during my Sophomore year at MSU
• Moved to Detroit two weeks after my husband graduated as an Engineer from Montana State University (3 months after we married)
• Moved to Pennsylvania 3 months prior to our first wedding anniversary
• Completed University degree at Millersville University
• Graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology: Research Emphasis
• Graduated with Departmental Honors upon completion of the thesis – “LEMA Perceptions of Behavior During Disaster: The Degree of Subscription to Disaster Mythology Among Local Emergency Management Directors Across the Urban-Rural Spectrum”
• My daughter was born 7 months after graduation from the University
• Lived in Imola, Italy for 2 ½ years due to my husband’s job
• Studied Italian through the Berlitz and the Inlingua language schools
• Attended a missionary church in Bologna, Italy
• Visited Switzerland and Austria while living in Italy
• Toured Rome, Florence, Verona, Rimini, Ravenna, Bologna, Faenza, Pisa, Venice, Vatican City, San Marino, and the Italian Alps while living in Italy.
• Returned to the USA for the birth of my first son (returned to Italy after his birth for the remaining three months of my husband’s overseas assignment)My 2nd son was born 3 ½ years after we returned to the United States.
• My 2nd son was born 3 ½ years after we returned to the United States