My husband of 17 years, Larry, and I are adoptive and foster parents, as well as respite providers. We have been parenting children with special needs since 1999.

We found support on the Internet when there were no resources available in our rural Wisconsin town. A friend told me about "the zebra website," www.radzebra.org, and I began posting to the Little Zebras listserve I became a member of the Attachment Disorder Network, and also joined the staff as the Administrative Assistant.

I have attended many seminars for foster and adoptive parents, and have become a national speaker on various issues. I recently became a contributing author to the EMK Press book, Adoption Parenting: Creating a Toolbox, Building Connections and collaborated with Adoption.com Media to create the e-book, The Adoption.com Guide to Adopting from Foster Care.

When I’m not working with families, I can usually be found with knitting needles and yarn in hand. I am also a Sunday school teacher, and am attending the United Church of Christ Lay Academy to become a licensed Lay Minister.