This week I’m hosting Jolene Navarro with Lone Star Holiday and Deborah Raney with Silver Bells. If you want to enter the drawings for the books, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (Oct. 13th) evening.
Interview with the hero from Lone Star Holiday by Jolene Navarro:
1. Pastor John Levi, tell me the most interesting thing about you. “Well, that would be my girls. Rachel, eleven, has a soul older than the hills. With each year passing she reminds me of Carol, her mother. Always trying to take care of everyone around her. Celeste, my five year old, is going to give me a head full of grey hair or cause it to all fall out, but one look at her smile and your heart totally melts. She’s full of laughter and questions. The other day she…Oh, sorry. What was the question? Oh yeah, my girls, they are the best thing about me.”
2. What do you do for fun? “Why does everyone keep asking me that question? I have plenty of fun. Really I do. Raising the girls, serving the congregation, the committees, fundraising for the youth center it just keeps me busy. I use to write and play music but, it’s not an option anymore. I’m fine really, I’m good. Next question?”
3. What do you put off doing because you dread it? “Honestly? Counseling married couples. It makes me feel like a hypocrite. I cringe whenever I’m approached by a coupling seeking help with their marriage. I send them to a professional, it’s better for them.”
4. What are you afraid of most in life? “My girls being hurt. Tragedy happens without warning, a simple shift of the wind and your life is forever changed. If I could I would keep the girls in bubble wrap and with me all of the time, I would.”
5. What do you want out of life? “For my daughters to know the joy of God’s love. For every person I meet to see the love of Christ in me.”
6. What is the most important thing to you? “Ha, you might have figured that out by now. My girls, I make all of my current decisions based on what they need. I wasn’t there for them when they were babies, now I’m all they have.”
7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book? “I enjoy biographies, stories of faith overcoming incredible obstacles. Since Carol’s death, I have found I also love the bedtime story routine, from bible stories to Chica-Chica Boom Boom. I’m going to miss that when they get older.”
8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? “I would have been a better husband to Carol when I had the chance.”
9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet? “No pets. Celeste has been driving me crazy, but we don’t have the time or space right now. I told her to be happy with her grandpa’s horses for now. I think she actually named one of the bass in the river below our cabin. Poor kid, but she is just going to have to deal with it until we get our own place.”
10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why? “Boy, that’s tough. The first place I go to in my mind is the night of Carol’s accident. I can’t change what happened but I could have said or been…Oh look at the time. I’m sorry. I promised the girls I’d pick them up today. It’s been a pleasure to meet you. Hope to see you at the Christmas pageant.”
