December 5th, 2009 by Kristi Stephens

Today I’d like to introduce you to another one of my blogging buddies – Brooke from A Life in Need of Change! Enjoy her interview, and then hop over to her blog and say hi!

1. Tell us about yourself in 3 sentences or less!

Sometimes I wonder how my head stays on! I’m the wife of a public servant, mother of two rambunctious little boys born just 23 months apart, part-time Director of Clinical Services at a local Pregnancy Care Ministry and Virginia Tech Hokie lover extraordinaire! Oh…and did I mention that I love to write (feeds my soul)?

2. Flashback: you’re a senior in high school and you’re wearing your favorite outfit today. Describe your “look.”

Bootleg Calvin Kline light wash jeans, Peace Frogs or Virginia Tech t-shirt tucked in with a belt, long, long beautiful hair curled painstakingly with hot rollers (almost touching my waist…why oh why did I ever cut it?) and a little bit of make-up (I’ve always been a “less is more” kind of girl).

3. What is your favorite “fun” thing to do?

I LOVE to go to Virginia Tech home football games, but that doesn’t happen much with two little ones…money just has to go somewhere else. Sinking into a good movie, or better yet, a good book is a sure way to take me to a happy place! I’ve been known to get totally lost in a book, neglecting friends and family until my husband is compelled to come peck on the back of the book to get my attention! It’s bad…I have to watch myself.

4. What is your most dreaded household task and why?

TOILETS! I truly hate to clean toilets. But I’ll tell you a secret. I can’t remember ever cleaning a toilet since I’ve been married (eight years this summer)! My husband knows my (not so) secret dread of this task and he does it every time. Love him! Another secret about me?? I would rather throw away something that is yucky dirty and buy a new one than clean it. I just hate all things yucky!

5. What is your favorite thing to do with your kids?

Hold them. I know, I know…there are so many other things to do with children to make memories, teach them or train them. But holding them close and smelling their sweet heads, feeling them reach up and grab my hair to play with it…those are the things I will treasure forever and I can’t get enough of them. They’re growing up so fast.

6. You have babysitting for the whole day on a Saturday – what will you and your husband do?

Sleep as long as we want to (although I’m not sure how long I actually can sleep now days…it’s been so long….am I drooling?) Then drive to Blacksburg, VA and take a stroll holding hands around the beautiful campus of Virginia Tech pausing on the gazebo at the Duckpond where my hubby proposed to me. We’d go to the dining hall that was near my dorm and grab a smoothie (there are no smoothies around that compare to these) and slurp it watching the students play volleyball or touch football. Then we’d walk by the Virginia Tech tragedy memorials and linger a bit as we passed the stone for our friend who was killed. And to top off the evening we’d go to Macado’s for sandwiches followed by a movie at the local theater. Blacksburg is where we spent most of our time before we were married so we love to go back anytime we can. {that is so cool!}

7. What are three other blogs that you enjoy reading, and why?

I love to read your blog! But in addition to that I guess my favorites would have to be Pleasing to You, Argyle and Apricots, and Heart for Him.

Oh, but then there’s Closing Time and Exemplify. Ahhh…I just can’t limit it to three (please don’t kick me out!) {we’ll forgive you!} :)

8. How long have you been blogging, and what motivated you to start blogging?

I started blogging a little over two years ago, but didn’t really get serious about it until August of this year. On a whim I wrote an article called Trivial Pursuit and the response from my family and friends was so positive that I just kept writing. I’ve always enjoyed writing. I’m a closet journaler (is that a word?). But I was unprepared for how much writing would reach a place deep in my soul. I find that I’m looking for God with expectation each day in a way I never have before. It’s been a wonderful journey.

9. What five words would you use to describe your blog?

Real, relatable, challenging, uplifting and mildly humorous (I hope…at least these are the things I want it to be).

10. Freebie: anything about yourself or your blog that you want to share!

I truly believe that many women today are in a voluntary state of depression. We believe that the problems or heartaches we have are unique. When our children act out we believe it’s because there’s something wrong with them (or worse, us). When our marriage isn’t all we dreamed it would be we believe no one has experienced our heartache before. So we choose to keep silent…and give the enemy of our souls ample ammunition with which to beat us down. As I look back on my life I can easily see that the people who have made the greatest impact on me have been those who were willing to be real with me. To let me into their chaos…and thus provide me with an opportunity to know that I’m not alone. That’s my heart for my writing. That women would read about my everyday experiences and find a place to let out a deep breath as they realize this person understands what’s deep in their heart and desires to point them to the One who can bring them peace.

**I love Brooke’s heart for women and her faithful service to those who desperately need to see God’s grace in action. Thanks for sharing with us, friend!