After graduating from Lynden Christian High School, I attended Calvin College, eventually graduating with a degree in English Education. I enjoyed teaching middle and high school level language arts for a number of years at Christian schools in both the states and overseas. In 2003 I earned a Masters in Counseling from Western New Mexico University and later that year returned to Lynden with my husband, Jeff, and our three boys.

I consider it a privilege to work at the middle school level. Grades five through eight represent a time of such enormous growth and change, one can almost see it happening. Working with middle schoolers is similar to watching sunflowers grow: one day they’re shyly nudging the underside of your nose and seemingly the next they’re looking you full in the face. In the blink of an eye you’re craning your neck to get a view. Sunflower stalks can be fragile and middle school weather isn’t always ideal, but it is awesome to watch God at work!

It is my desire that Paul’s words to the Philippians reflect my prayers for the middle schoolers: “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:3-6

God has a plan. He is persistent, and He is infinitely creative. What a blessing to work with parents, teachers, and staff in this gloriously varying garden of tender and stalwart, shy and bold, gangly and beautiful Sonflowers.