Three new District Presidents have joined the Women's Ministries Team since our last national gathering. Here's a glimpse into their lives.

Pacific Northwest
My name is Michelle Aandahl and I am honored to represent the lovely ladies of the Pacific NW District. I live in Everett, Washington and am a member of Word of Life LBC in Marysville, Washington. My husband, Howard, and I have been married for twenty-one years and we have one daughter, Lydia Joy, age twelve. I home school my daughter and we really love our time together; she is a delight. Howard is a carpenter and serves as an elder for our congregation.

I love to read and enjoy the bliss of a summer's afternoon, curled up in the hammock with a good book and a glass of iced tea! I love being a part of Bible Study Fellowship, and adore our Wednesday night ladies' study group - we've been working our way through the book of Acts this year. I also love music and am a part of our worship team. I wish I played an instrument. Well, I shake the tambourine, but I wish I knew how to play something lovely like the cello! I also enjoy gardening and smile as my husband laughs over my obsession with collecting more varieties of pink roses for the yard. If you are on Facebook, feel free to look me up!

Central District
I am Sue Patterson, a new member as of September ‘08. I live in Iowa and have been married for thirty-eight years to my wonderful husband, Duane! We have three children. Chad, married to Cheryl; Angela, married to Craig; and Erin, who is still looking for "Mr. Right." It is great being a Grandma to five adorable grandchildren. Those little ones just love you unconditionally!

I just retired in January after twenty-four years as a Pharmacy Technician. I still been help out occasionally when needed, but it is nice to not be a scheduled worker. I love to read Karen Kingsbury books and I am trying to learn to quilt. I made a quilt top three years ago and planned to hand-quilt it when I retired. Well, I have only two of the blocks done, and it is a queen-size quilt, so I haven't made much progress yet.

I love the Lord and have a special interest in the youth of our church and also the Women's ministries. We have a great group that meets once a month with between twelve and eighteen in attendance each time. We do a Bible Study and have great fellowship.

Western District
My name is Lisa (Gundersen) Salvesen. I have been married to Rick for fifteen years this August. Rick is a contractor. We have four children: Brett is twelve; Holly is eleven; Eric is nine; and Ingrid is seven. We are also licensed foster parents. We have lived in Cooperstown, North Dakota almost one year. We moved here from Ft. Myers, Florida, where we were for three years. Before that, we lived in the Minneapolis area for about nine years.

I used to say I was a stay-at-home mom, but that's not really true when you have a family is it? So, some of the things that bring me joy are; a good night's sleep, decorating and painting rooms, gardening and flower arrangements, knitting, Tuesday Bible study, Women's Sunday School class, morning coffee at Mom's, reading Karen Kingsbury (I have read all of her books and need some suggestions on other Christian authors), Sunday afternoon naps, being invited over to other people's homes for dinner, having a house full of kids and their friends, a really good haircut, watching our boys' baseballs and basketball games, listening to the kids practice their instruments (this too shall pass), having a party just for fun, field trips, short-term mission trips, and taking the dog for a walk (with a plastic bag in hand of course). I'm blessed!

By Cheryl Olsen

Cheryl Olsen (pictured with her husband Stan) serves as the secretary of Women's Ministries of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. (www.wmclb.com)

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