By Julie Overholt
Hi ladies! I trust you’ve had some time
to rest and recuperate from any busyness over the holidays? While you’re
resting, grab something hot to drink and listen in as I interview another woman
of worth at SGC. Hopefully you’ll get to know her enough that you’ll feel
comfortable saying “Hi” next time you see her…
Heather Gingerich, her husband Donovan, and their
four children have been at Sugar Grove for about a year and a half. At the time
they found SGC, they were searching for a church that had both an established
youth group where their oldest daughter Isabella would feel comfortable
plugging in, as well as a pastor who spoke truth and wasn’t afraid to step on
toes. Sugar Grove was the answer for them, and they’ve found several ways to
become plugged in and put the jersey on. Donovan is a Crossfire Chaos small
group leader and Heather will soon start helping in the café downstairs. Their
family is also co-leading a Life Group that will be starting this week.
Donovan and Heather just celebrated
fifteen years of marriage this past week (Congratulations!) and are blessed
with two boys and two girls: Isabella (12), Jack (10), William (8), and Suzy
(6). After attending Hesston College
with Donovan, a cousin of Heather was sure that Heather HAD to meet his
friend, “Donny G.” Heather says her first response was, “That sounds like a
name from someone who used to sing for New Kids On The Block…what is he, like
12? No thanks…” But, Donovan and Heather ended up meeting by chance at a later
time by being at the same place at the same time. Heather (in her words) did a
“wooooo-aaaahhh," and decided maybe her cousin was right about this guy. And,
the rest is history! Donovan and Heather work hard to make time on a regular
basis for just the two of them to talk without allowing any interruptions from
the children. It has been one method for keeping love alive for them, and
Heather says, “If we get too busy and don’t connect verbally, I get grouchy.” :)
Heather is currently working at IU
Health Goshen Hospital as a USNA. The "US" stands for “Unit Secretary” and involves
checking in labor patients, taking their insurance information, hooking them
up to the baby monitors, answering the phone, taking doctors' orders, etc.
The "NA" stands for “Nursing Assistant”, which is taking care of the newborn
after birth: baby’s bath, hospital bands, weighing the baby, administering
hearing screens, and snuggling and holding (her absolute favorite part of the
job!.
Heather was born and raised in Sturgis,
Michigan and has been following Jesus since a young age of around five years
old. She says her journey took the long way around for a few years in her late
teens and early twenties. She had come to the place where she lived one kind of
life on Sundays and during the week lived life according to her own way.
A
defining moment in her spiritual walk was when she turned twenty-one. With her roommate and friend, Bobbie, she
headed to Wisconsin for a little weekend trip to see Bobbie's friend, Jael, whom Heather had never met. “During the course of the weekend Jael
called us both out on the way that we were living, our relationship with God
(the lack there-of), as well as some things she saw in our dating lives. Jael
also called Bobbie after we were home from the trip and told her that if she
didn’t make some changes they wouldn’t be able to be friends anymore. My first
response was to wonder how anyone could talk to a friend like that! But then, I
was in awe that Bobbie had someone in her life that loved her enough to tell
her the truth even when she didn’t want to hear it. Bobbie and I both decided
that we did need to change some things and were challenged to live
consistently, not just on Sundays when church friends were watching us.”
Heather recommitted her life to Christ and
found a Jesus that walked her through some pretty lonely times. She had a new
relationship with Someone that guided her into better decisions and choices
rather than a Jesus that she submitted a wish list to every night with a
prayer.
Jael later sent them a letter with
guidelines for dating. Heather’s friend Bobbie dared her to follow them and bet
that she couldn’t, which pushed Heather to take on the challenge! Soon after is
when she met Donovan. “It still cracks me up that he was so impressed that I
wouldn’t kiss on the first date. One of the rules was no kissing until the
fourth date. He leaned in to give me a little peck on the cheek after our third
date and I told him, 'No, I don’t kiss until after the fourth date!' I wish I
had followed better standards in all of my other relationships and dating,
but thankfully Jesus got a hold of my heart before I made some pretty big
decisions on marriage and finding a life partner! I’m also thankful for the
influence of Jael and Bobbie in my life at that time. Bobbie still calls me
out on things when she needs to…some seventeen years later” :)
Heather’s family has now become a big
part of her life and the best part of being a woman for her is being a mama!
“I love getting to nurture these little people that I had the privilege of
carrying for nine months! I love them and am so glad I get to teach my girls
how to bake, paint their nails, shop, and be a lady and am blessed that I can
teach my boys how to love & be kind. (At least I hope I’m doing that…) It
was a privilege to carry them for nine months
- even if pregnancy wasn’t everything I thought it would be – and a
blessing to see them grow.” Her children are a part of what makes Heather laugh
with their sense of humor, and her husband keeps her laughing with his goofy
ways. What else makes her laugh out loud on a regular basis? The television
show, Duck Dynasty!!
In her free time she enjoys shopping,
baking, being with her family, date nights, going to the movies, and going to
the beach whenever possible. Summer is her favorite season when she can be at
the beach often, hang laundry on the line, lie in the sun, water flowers in
pots sitting around the house, roast marshmallows around a campfire, and sip
lemonade on the porch swing with her lovies!
Our time is almost up, so I’m going to
make the most of it with some quick popcorn trivia
Something people may not know about
you? My mom died of cancer when I was 13. My dad got remarried one year later
and had a child with my stepmom. I have an older sister, Melissa (8 years
older) a younger sister, Holly (13 months younger) and, a ½ sister, Michele.
(15 years younger)
Three words to describe yourself?
Spontaneous and fun loving.
Shy or outgoing? Outgoing
Tomboy or princess? Princess,
definitely! Where is my crown???
Coffee or tea? Coffee with lots of
creamer.
Oceanside or mountainside? Oceanside
for sure!
The perfect meal? Carrabba’s! Bread and
dipping spices, Sicilian Chicken Soup, Mezzaluna Carrabba, (with NO
mushrooms)and ending with Canoli.
Worst food ever? Broccoli.
Morning person or night owl? Night owl!
I’d love to travel to: Italy and California.
Read, watch, or listen to learn? Watch
and do.
Favorite Bible character? Esther
Three activities that bring peace to
your life? Reading the Bible. Chatting with a friend (hopefully over coffee!).
And, sleep.
Thank you Heather, for sharing with us
and for allowing us to get to know you a little better. We will join you in
beginning to dream of warm sunny days and beach sand to come as we spend more
time indoors this month watching white snow fall to the ground. (smile)
Blessings to you all as we go forward in a
brand new year. May it be filled with His goodness and grace in every way!
Julie
