About

About me . . . where to begin. I am happily married to my husband of 9+ years, Thom, who is a retired letter carrier with a talent for writing, singing, and performing music. God has blessed me with a wonderful son (Jim), a superb daughter-in-law (Becka), and four awesome grandchildren (Hannah, Miriam, Simone, and Levi). Blending my family with Thom’s, I also have two great step sons (David and Craig), a great step daughter-in-law (Joy), and two more awesome grandchildren (Davey and Katey).

I work as the Administrative Services Manager at the Apple Valley Fire Protection District where I’ve been for nearly 14 years. As much as I love working at the Fire District and as close as I am to the people there, I hope to retire in May 2011. Once I retire, Thom and I plan to sell our home here in Hesperia, California, and move to Oregon.

When we settle in Oregon, I hope to be a very involved and active grandmother. I look forward to babysitting; and I want to be there to watch the grandchildren grow and participate in the important events in their lives. Now, we visit Oregon at least three times a year. Once we move, we’ll be reversing our current process and traveling south to visit family in California and Arizona a few times each year; and having them come up to Oregon to visit us.

I enjoy reading (Stephen King/Dean Koontz type stuff, romance, true crime), music (country, rock ‘n roll, pop), and vacationing. I have a new hobby that I get a real kick out of - playing games on the Wii system. What a cool invention that is! The most important focus in my life is my family - all of them. The joy that the grandchildren bring to life is overwhelming. Seeing the awe and wonder in their eyes, watching the joy and excitement in their actions, and hearing the honesty in their words makes the world about me so much brighter. Giving love and support to all my family - husband, parents, in-laws, children, grandchildren, friends - and receiving the same back; that is what makes my world so happy.

I have been blessed by God in so many ways; and I thank Him often. I see His hand everywhere in my life and in the world around me. He was there when I made poor choices in my life; and He guided me back to the right path and provided better choices for me. Some people say you can’t see, touch, or hear God . . . I say I see Him every day in the sunrise, flowers, moon glow, the smile on a stranger’s face; I feel His touch when my son gives me a hug, a grandchild takes my hand, or a cool breeze caresses my face; and I hear Him in the birds’ songs, the whisper of the wind through the trees, and in the laughter of children at play.

This blog was a gift from my son and I hope to make it an enjoyable place to visit - for myself, for my family, and for my friends. So, thank you, Jim, for giving me this new adventure to explore. Welcome to any and all who come here to visit. You will be my companions on this new adventure and I look forward to sharing, listening, and learning.

This blog was created by Luann’s son, Jim Goings. Jim hopes that she will share a piece of her life with the world.