May I Introduce Myself? 

I was born on a hot July first day in Chicago, Illinois in 1940. My birth, to Roy and Margaret Johnson, was much anticipated as I was to be the first grandchild to my Grandma Johnson and the first niece to my Dad’s sisters, Alice and Ethel, and to their husbands, Ernest and Bill. On top of that, although my mother’s parents lived in Council Bluffs, Iowa and couldn’t be there to greet me, I was their favorite too because my two year older cousin lived in California.

At any rate, when I made my appearance my mother named me Barbara Jean. My earliest memories are being surrounded by loving family and yes, I will admit, being spoiled beyond belief.

We lived in Chicago until I was five then we moved to – of all places – the small town of Grand Island, Nebraska so Dad could manage the only jewelry store in the town. My poor father, who was a big city guy, really had culture shock. But life was good in Grand Island. I loved going to Dodge Grammar School, made lots of friends, was a Brownie  Girl Scout and since the town was small and the times much safer then, I could walk to my favorite destination – the library.

There was, however, something seriously missing in my little girl life. It was so significant that I prayed every night for one and at Christmas asked Santa to bring me one. You see, for nine and a half years I was the typical lonely only child and I desperately wanted a brother or sister. And then miracles of miracles – my prayers and wishes came true! On March 27, 1950 Gary Richard was born.

As I am now in my eightieth year I need only to close my eyes and I can still see the little girl that was me seeing him for the first time. How full my heart felt and how eagerly my skinny little arms grabbed him. That was when I discovered what it was to love someone so much that it actually hurt. My life was totally transformed! I would run home from school to get to him faster and I must confess that often I would “play sick” so I could stay home with him all day. Because of my devotion to him, I was very special to him too and that close bond of love stayed with us until he died suddenly in 2013. Before then, I had experienced several hard losses but I can honestly say that none has hit me as hard as his death. I still miss – and always will – my Cowboy Man (a childhood nickname) so much.

My religious experience started as a little child in the Lutheran Church. When I was twelve I began my confirmation classes and all went well until the minister explained the importance of infant baptism. I can still hear his words: “If a baby dies before it is baptized it will burn in the fires of hell!” Yes those were the exact words he used.

Thinking of Gary who by then had been baptized but was an innocent and most precious baby, I immediately questioned him. And that really upset him.  “Well,” I said. “If God would do that to a sweet, innocent baby then I want no part of him!”

The minister then became so angry that he called my father and when I got home the law was laid down by a very irate Dad. “Barbara Jean Johnson,” he yelled. “You will go to confirmation, keep your mouth and opinions shut and be nice to the reverend.” And so I did but the damage was done.

For the next thirty-eight years of my life, I pretty much kept God at a distance. Most of the time I never even thought of that mean old God. That all changed when I married my beloved Harvey in 1977. He was a born again Christian, which was the only thing I didn’t like about him. However,   very gently and lovingly he introduced me to the God I now love and serve. The God who loved me – and everyone – so much that He allowed His only begotten son Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins so that, if we believe in him, we will have eternal life in Heaven. 

When I finally made that commitment to Christ, God put me on an intense study course and turned me into a Bible Scholar who creates and teaches Bible Studies and writes Christian books. And along that way, I have also been an inspirational speaker, hosted radio shows interviewing pastors and served many churches. And may I add – I’m enjoying it all greatly and do not intend to slow down.

Getting back to my childhood, when I was a freshman in high school we moved from North Platte, Neb. after leaving Grand Island, and relocated to Chicago. The move was very hard for me as I left a lot of friends including my first boyfriend. Calumet Highschool was huge and at first I hated it. But eventually I did make friends. When I graduated in May 1958 I did what a lot of young girls in that era did ---- I got married!

He was handsome and devoted to me. And yes, to my brother also! Since my grandparents had moved to California, we moved there too and my parents and Gary followed us three months later.

Within the first year of our marriage, I had Linda Lee. She was a smart little girl full of energy and charm, who could and still does light up every room she enters. Two years another little girl joined our family. Laurie Ann was cuddly and very easy to take care of. She was so beautiful that the doctor and nurses in the delivery room even commented on it.  In high school, she was homecoming queen and is still a beauty. Laurie was helpful, obedient and trustworthy. As a little girl and even now as a grown woman with a large family, she is the one who always helps and fixes whatever anyone needs.

In 1963, while I was enjoying married life as a stay at home Mom, my husband left us. Abandoned us is a more accurate explanation. This catapulted me into the business world. I immediately got a job in a leading department store, first as a clerk then eventually became an assistant buyer.

During that time I met and married my second husband who was a good man. He gave me the stability I needed for my children and myself. In fact, he adopted Linda and Laurie. Together we had Paul Robert who was and is a joy to us all. In fact his sisters refer to him as their little prince. He was very athletic and a great scholar and now he teaches high school English and is a devout Christian.

While Hubby Number 2 was a nice man, unfortunately we were poorly matched with absolutely nothing in common but our children. While that might have been and should have been enough, it wasn’t and we divorced ten years later. Then, because we no longer had to live together, we remained good friends and co-parented our children well.

Since 1963 I had been a working woman and that led me into an active  career life, mostly in sales and marketing. I managed hundreds of people, teaching them how to sell and being that “pioneer woman” busting through many male dominated industies. I was also a director of tourism for a mountain community, which is the foundation for my novels Tourist Town Mysteries.

During one of my positions as a sales manager for a food broker, I finally did meet my “soul mate”, Harvey Witcher. While he was twenty-two years older than I, he was so youthful and fun that I used to say I was the adult of our twosome. We had so much in common, from selling (he was the better salesperson), cooking (the winner is still up for debate), loving books, animals (we had an absolute menagerie of dogs and cats), entertaining and of course my children. How he loved and enjoyed them. Because of his grace, he welcomed their father into our home for every kid and holiday event. In fact they were good friends. And as I mentioned earlier, thanks to Harvey my children and I discovered Christ. Unfortunately ill health finally took is toll and my Darling died in 2002.

So much for my past! What does my life look like now? My oldest, Linda, is moving back here from Massachusetts after raising her two now very grown up and independent sons. She will be starting a new real estate business here.

Laurie has five daughters. They are all married and three of them have provided me with great grandchildren – two boys and one girl. And I know, and am looking forward, to getting more. They all keep Laurie and her husband busy grandparenting! 

Paul and his wife are both teachers and gifted me with two grandaughters who are in college (although one graduates this year and will go on to medical school) and one very tall grandson who is a freshman in high school. So 3 kids, 10 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and 12 grand dogs and 1 grand cat do keep me busy. Add to that my one twenty- year-old lady cat who I call “The Dictator” and I am seldom bored.

Then of course there is my writing and Bible teachings which are my great passions, reading, quilting and making felt Christmas stockings and keeping up with old friends and hoping to make new ones when the clubs resume in this lovely 55+ community I moved into a year ago. And that includes finding a church home.

And now, of course, there’s YOU! Please, fill in the contact page so we can become friends. Thanks for visiting and God Bless!