Sharon's Bio
I didn't call myself a writer until 2007, and it was my husband who named me one initially. Writing has been my passion since childhood, though I never dreamed of being able to publish anything until my 40s. I published on my own site and in a local paper, but had never written anything for pay until 2008. Now, it is a critical element of my job and it remains my passion.
I am a middle-aged, happily married woman. I have a teen age son and two step children in their 20s. My parents call me their "flower child", though my friends consider me relatively conservative. I live in Great Falls, VA with our menagerie of cats and dogs and neighboring wildlife. I vacation in New Mexico and Florida at every possible opportunity.
I was born in El Paso, Texas, but was raised just a few miles from where I live now from age 7 until I attended college at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA. I taught middle and high school English for a few years, moved to Okinawa, Japan for a few years during a short first marriage. I earned my M.Ed. in Counseling & Personnel Services from University of Maryland, then taught a few more years, then married my current husband.
I worked with Jeffrey for 12 years as co-owner of a remodeling company, and then I started myNeighborsNetwork.com in 2000. In 2003, I turned my hobby into a business and have been running it ever since.
I am an introvert, shy by nature. I love to read, knit, needlepoint, pet my cats, and of course, write.
Pray Pray Pray
From Courtney's mom today:
Very emotional morning..Courtney VERY weak and slipping when I got here. . .asking for a priest. Moments after sacrament of the sick, we got word she tested postivie for C-diff, an serious intestinal disorder. They have started antibiotics for that and we hope it is not too late. KEEP UP THE PRAYERS....I feel it was through all the praying that we got this news . She is still not out of the woods yet but she is FIGHTING harder than ever. PRAY PRAY PRAY. Joanne
I don't think there is anything I can say except please pass this on to anyone you know who prays and believes in the power of prayer.
Background on Courtney:
Courtney is a former employee of myNeighborsNetwork, working for us on her summer and holiday breaks while she attended the University of Virginia.
She is also Joe Schilling’s sister. Joe worked for myNeighborsNetwork for seven years, coming in just after we officially opened as a business in 2003.
June, 2009 - Courtney finished up her year of teaching at Forest Edge Elementary thinking she had a bad cold. On July 15th, 2009, Courtney had major surgery and was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer. She has been in and out of the hospital since.
Courtney is 24 years old. She is a University of Virginia graduate, is a Phi Mu (college sorority) alumna. She is shy around people she doesn’t know. She is funny and loves to laugh. She is a teacher.
Courtney and her family are also deeply religious (Catholic). They are asking for prayers, always.
