Grew up in Seward Park neighborhood in Seattle. Went to Whitworth Elementary and Sharples Jr High. I had my first son & got married at 16yrs. 2nd son at 18, 3rd at 25 & 4th at 28. At 30 I really got my life in order, drug problem in my 20's, graduated Business College w/3.86 GPA. First got hired at Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, then Dept of Transportation at District Three in Tumwater, then promoted to Dept of Natural Resources when I promoted 3 times in 2 yrs to the Office Manager of the Engineering Div where I stayed for 13 yrs, 10 of which I was on the State Fire Team (Team Four) going out on forest fires as a timekeeper. In 1996, I founded a nonprofit opening a home for 18-21 yr old single homeless mothers, and a boys & girls type of club for high risk youth. Ran The Moms' Houes/YUP! until 2003 when my health issues from breathing all the forest fire smoke caught up with me. In July 2004, my #3 son was killed by a drunk driver. Since I have been helping raise his son born 3 months after the crash. I now live with son #4, his girlfriend & her 2 yr old AND my grandson most days. I have belonged to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Olympia, WA since June 1986. I am a conservative liberal, usually vote Democrat. I am a giver and have two quotes I like to use: I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY OWN DESTINY and "If I can get these kids to be "GIVERS" then my job is done."