HopeChest Editors & Authors

HopeChest’s home is nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Miraculously, God provides the time, energy, and resources to compile each issue. Anne (23) loves children. Besides working as a nanny and housekeeper for several families, she co-leads the 2nd Grade Girls small group at church. Of all the aspects of running a magazine, editing and design are her favorites. Anne is constantly reading and learning, and is always thrilled to add new books to her library. Her newest interest is

digital photography. Laura (19) is in her second semester as a Communications major at nearby Liberty University, and loves singing, drama, and writing. Laura has a passion for missions and is on a team headed for Europe in Summer ‘07. Mom (Carol Anne) juggles working as a nanny and housekeeper, plus being a mom to three lively teens. As a lifelong learner, she continues to grow, teach, and love others for Jesus’ sakes. Stephen (21) works as a building contractor, and recently bought his first house. Stephen and his fiancee, Karrie, are planning a June 2007 wedding. Nathan (16) is a sophmore in high school. He continues to be an avid runner, placing first in his age group in the local four miler. As a beekeeper, he currently has two active hives and plans to acquire more . Hannah (13) is an outgoing eighth grader and excels in Spanish and writing. She recently won first place for her age category in the local Young Authors writing competion with her short story, “Saved by a Friend.” A true blue country girl, she spends her free time training horses and playing with our dogs—Taffy and Marty.

Greetings to all my sisters in Christ! My name is Gabrielle Nicole Gardner, and I have the privilege of being the column editor for HopeChest. I am almost seventeen years old and have been home schooled for eight years. Born in Orlando, Florida, I moved to the beautiful state of Idaho at the age of ten. I am the daughter of Gary and Patti and the sister of Garrett. How thankful I am for this family! Each member plays a big role in my life. Dad is my protector, Mom is my greatest friend, and Garrett is the resident comedian. However, the person who has the greatest impact on me is my Heavenly Father. I became a believer in Jesus Christ when I was four years old. Yet, it has really been in the past couple of years that my faith has taken off and gone to new heights. Through many trials and tears, the Lord has brought me ever closer to His side, showing me how dependant I truly am on Him. He has been there with me through all the highways and byways of life, and I do not know where I would be without His saving grace. Truly, great is His faithfulness!!

Some of my favorite things include playing the piano and burying my nose in a good book, resulting in too many favorites to list! I love baking delicious culinary dishes that the family enjoys. I love to cross-stitch and arrange flowers. (My favorites are roses and lilacs.) I also love to write. I used to dream of becoming a writer, but now, I am waiting on the Lord to show me exactly what to do with the gift He has given me. Lastly, I love to spend time with my family, friends, and church family. My goal in life is a simple one: to please the Lord in all that I do. However, that said, I desire to be a wife and a mother, which I believe is a desire most HopeChest readers have. Until the time comes, or He shows otherwise, I am keeping myself pure and waiting for the person God will bring along.

I look forward to serving you all through HopeChest. May God’s blessings be on you and yours as you read it, and may you see Him high and lifted up through it.

We are thrilled to welcome Gabrielle to the HC staff. As column editor, she will be handling all column submissions, including Little Laughables, Birth Announcements, Daughters of the King, Wisdom for the Journey, etc. She will also be helping us judge writing competition entries. Already, we have been encouraged by her enthusiasm and wonderful help in compiling this issue. To contact Gabrielle or to contribute, write or e-mail her at the addresses above.—The Editors

Fairlight and Claire just retired from active duty as HopeChest Editors. We will miss them greatly!!!. For eleven years, each issue of HopeChest came together, by the grace of God, amidst the happy

chaos known as Meyer home life :). Fairlight (25) did most of the editing during the school year, and Claire (21)-who is in college studying to be a medical missionary- became more actively involved during summer and Christmas breaks. Their father Ed runs a remodeling business, while their mother Vicki keeps busy as a homemaker and homeschooling the little ones. They have five brothers and 2 little sisters...Phil (32) lives in Massachusetts with his wife Elizabeth and little girls Kaitlyn (3) and Meghan (1). Eli (27) is in California working his way towards a Ph.D. in marine biology. Daniel (23) works with the Roanoke City Police Department and lives nearby. Samuel (8), Hannah (7), Joshua (3), and Mercy Rose (1), added to their family through adoption, are admittedly responsible for most of the

aforementioned chaos, but add a significant portion of the happiness too! As the Lord moves them on into another "era" of life, the Meyer girls will continue to keep in touch with HopeChest readers.

I am 23 years old. Life is continually full of all sorts of things, and I find writing, quilting, reading, scrapbooking, and working with children among my joys. My heart is to live, laugh, and love to the fullest. I'm considered somewhat eccentric by some...but what can I say? It runs in the family! Speaking of my family, let me introduce them. There is Daddy and Mother, then my three brothers and one sister: Timothy (20), Shelley (16), Mark (10) and Ryan (7). We love our home situated in the hills of southwest Wisconsin.

Mollie Jo Cassidy, 20, writes from Stillwater, Oklahoma, where she lives with her parents, sister, and five brothers. Her interests include writing and music, though her first passion is to love the Lord with all her heart. Mollie's life verse, Psalm 16:11, expresses her heart's prayer: "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore".

Carol Anne Faidley is a veteran homeschool mother of five and the mother of HopeChest's new editors. As a lifelong learner and teacher of truth, she enjoys learning right along with her children and sharing with them what the Lord is teaching her. With a heart set on pleasing Christ above all things, she loves to help fulfill His grand mission described in Isaiah 61 by comforting hurting people, helping women in crisis, loving children, and pointing others to Jesus, the Living Water and Bread of Life. She seeks to use her gifts and abilities to share the love and truth of Christ with a hurting world. The Lord has drawn her into intimate friendship with Him through a life of chronic illness and pain. She ministers to others not from a position of strength, but of weakness and brokenness, so that Christ will get the glory, honor, and praise. To know Christ and make Him known sums up the essence of her life. Her greatest passion: the smile of her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Hannah Joy Faidley, 11, lives with her family in Monroe, VA. The youngest of five, she has two sisters and two brothers. Hannah is HopeChest's "editor in training" and enjoys helping her big sisters, Anne and Laura, with the magazine. A country girl, Hannah has many interests and hobbies, including babies, animals (especially horses), reading, swimming, skiing, and other outdoor activities. Her favorite Bible verse is "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Hannah welcomes your letters at tulippoplar@juno.com.

Amy Michele Fairbanks (19) is the oldest of ten children. "I live with my family in the small Spokane suburb of Deer Park, Washington, which we've called our home for 12 years now. In 2001, I graduated from home-high school and have since devoted my time and efforts to serving my family and ministering in whatever capacities the Lord provides. I have more interests and hobbies than I care to admit! Some of those include reading wholesome literature, writing inspirational and other non-fiction pieces, playing piano and violin, photography and scrapbooking, gardening with flowers and herbs, experimenting in the kitchen & sewing. Feel free to contact me: singforjoy84@juno.com

Rachel Franklin has been sewing since she was 8, beginning with doll-dress repairs, progressing to basic machine work, and finally pursuing Civil War-era sewing techniques and reproductions. She recently spent a month apprenticing with Mrs. Jennie Chancey, an expert pattern drafter and kindred spirit, where she learned the basics of draping and drafting. Rachel completed her home education in 2000 and lives at home in Hockley, TX, with her parents and nine siblings. If you have comments or sewing-related questions, you can contact her at hcsewing@yahoo.com.

Rebecca Green, 18, lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with her family of six. A home schooled senior, she loves to read great literature, scuba dive at night, jump on horseback, knit huge afghans, play Brazilian piano music, scrawl in leather journals, and study travel photography and the book of Romans.

Mary Beth Jones, 28, lives at home with her family in Pensacola, Florida. She has three sisters, Cori, Tricia, Sarah, and one brother, Daniel. She is a schoolteacher, tutor, baker, and cake engineer. in her spare time, she enjoys curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee, taking a pastel class, and designing websites. She and her sisters work in their family bakery and operate She Maketh Herself Coverings, a headcovering and modest clothing company. She welcomes your thoughts at marybeebzz@aol.com.

I have been blessed to have lived most of my 23 years in the beautiful mountains of California, where I love and learn with my parents and four younger sisters. I have never wanted to be a teacher, but that is what I have been doing off and on since graduating from homeschool high school in 1998—whether it be music, Sunday school, or working in a kindergarten classroom. I have also pursued different college courses through the years, mostly via the internet, expanding my knowledge of the things I love: music, literature, writing, history, archeology, and web design. In my quiet moments, I enjoy reading, sewing, gardening, and experimenting with Italian dishes in the kitchen. I have an abiding interest in missions, and spent some time last year working in Romania with abandoned children. I would love to go back, or anywhere else the Lord may send me.

Rebecca Newton, 22, learned sewing at her mother's knee. Since graduating from home education in 1998, she has run Baker Lane Dressmaking and Design, offering distinctively feminine styles to nursing mothers worldwide. She works and writes from her home in Bartlesville, OK. Visit her website at www.bakerlane.com.

Natalie Nyquist (20) grew up as a homeschooled pastors kid in the Midwest,

graduating from high school in 2002. She is completing her education at Calvary Bible College (www.calvary.edu) and will graduate in May of 2005. She lives with her parents and three teenage brothers in Kansas City, Missouri where her father is president of Avant Ministries (www.avantministries.org), a foreign missions board. Traveling with Avant, Natalie has spent time in Switzerland and Morocco and will be teaching English to students in east China this summer. Currently, Natalie has had over 70 articles published in various print and online publications in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Her first book, Quest for the High Places will be available later this year. She is also co-writer for the Young Ladies Christian Fellowship Heartbeat (www.ylcf.org/heartbeat). Besides writing and editing, Natalie has taught ballet and folk dance to high school girls, loves being a photographer for her church (www.abbc.org) and homeschool community (www.kcnorthknights.org). You can email her at: nataliemarie@ylcf.org or visit her book's website at: www.ylcf.org/maidensquest

Andrea Pratt grew up in the beautiful state of Maine with her 12 siblings. Until Fall 2004, she was a stay-at-home daughter learning under the expertise of her beautiful mother how to run a home. At the age of 23, she embarked on the biggest adventure of her life. She left home and family and church and headed to Pennsylvania to begin an apprenticeship under a highly experienced midwife. Aside from studying the intricate details of pregnancy, labor and delivery, Andrea spends many hours studying herbs and natural medicine. With her training, Andrea hopes to serve the Lord and other women in the ministry of midwifery and natural health as a lay-midwife and professional herbalist.

Ruth Wiechmann writes from Shadehill, SD where she lives with her husband, Benjamin, and two sons, Ezra (2) and Miles (2 mo.) She enjoys helping her husband, being a good mama to her boys, milking cows, gardening, sewing, playing the piano and the organ, reading, writing, and horses. In all things, her daily desire is to seek and serve her Lord, and to grow in Christ-like character.