We live on the coast of North Carolina.  It is only ten minutes to the beach though we seldom have the time to get there.    In addition to having full-time jobs, we have a part-time home-based business, which involves the entire family from time to time.  We attend the local Lutheran church regularly.  It is the same church that John and I were married in.  The congregation has watched our daughter grow up.  As a family we are members of the local Arts Council, the NC Aquarium Society and the Friends of Fort Branch, a Civil War restoration group.  We have a membership at the nearby fitness club where we use the swimming pool some and the fitness facilities not enough.

     My name is Karen.  I am the chemist in a water quality laboratory.  I take care of all analyses for potable water and wastewater.  In essence, I am the laboratory manager, chemist and lab technician all rolled into one.  When I'm not working, I am the family chauffeur, schedule keeper and homemaker.  The homemaking part is actually my weakest point.  I am also a part-time fine art photographer.  I have a darkroom at home where I can enlarge my favorite images and I do my own matting and framing.  My images are exhibited in six to nine art and photography shows a year.  And I am even selling one or two each year.  It's not enough to make a living but it pays for my supplies.  I volunteer at my daughter's school as much as I can.  This year I found a niche I can do well in.  I am the school newsletter editor.  It may become my job for life.  I am a born and raised Green Bay Packer fan and our house shows it every football season.  I also collect pelicans.  They have filled my living room and are spilling out into the dining room and the yard.

     This is our daughter Stephanie.  She is in middle school at a local private Christian school.  She is also a photographer like her mother.  She started when she was five years old.  Her photos are exhibited two to three times a year.  One year she even won first place in color photography.  Her mother only got an honorable mention.  Most of the time she is the youngest photographer in the exhibitions.  She is also studying dance; jazz, ballet and pointe.  She works very hard and is hoping to become a member of a performing dance troupe this year.  Stephanie collects Beanie Babies and they are crowding her out of her room.  She loves animals, especially horses and cats.  We have a cat named Stormy.  But she can't stand spiders.