Heather Gingerich

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