In 1993 I was honored with the MS Achievement Award by the Orange County Chapter in California of the National MS Society--but it was just because I love helping others. I've been blessed to act as a certified peer counselor since 1984, and continued spokesperson for the MS Society, as well as other health organizations. "I met Jo at an MS150 Bike Tour while I was vice president of the chapter. Jo's courage, perseverance and deep faith are a lesson for us all. I am better for knowing Jo." Katie Croskrey, Executive Director, American Diabetes Association of San Diego, CA        

If you'd like a speaker who motivates doctors, nurses, health organizations or business groups to soar unafraid, becoming all they can be by daring to dream and learning to live fearlessly, I believe I can do that very thing!                                                                              

                                              For Faith-based Audiences:                                                

What are awards anyway? I just want to bring a smile to God's face! It is difficult to write about oneself without sounding too proud or too modest. I love being God's servant, and I feel an awesome responsibility to teach the truth found in the Bible. I speak, write, and sing to inspire others to know Christ intimately so that they may know Him as Daddy Father, living in praise, in order to soar unafraid joyfully in life--no matter what. 

I love challenging listeners to experience God's presence in their life, while developing a deeper level of trust in His powerful love. Through my own transparency and humor women and men alike know I am relating to their own hurts. I teach enthusiastically about God and His Word and am delighted to be asked to return to speak for the same group because, I'm told, I leave the group desiring to hear more.

Others have said my "amazing devotion to the Lord and the remarkable testimony of His grace through difficult circumstances encourages listeners to hunger for a heart which no stress or suffering can wear out." All I can say is, what a privilege to tell what God has done in and through my life! Though I have lived with multiple sclerosis since 1977, and my marriage of fifteen years ended in an unwanted divorce due to my husband's infidelity, God infused my life with His loving presence, while He taught me how to grow and learn to accept responsibility. I've never given up, and I live a life of adventure!  After marrying Ray in 1987 and becoming an "instant mom" to his two young daughters, other physical traumas occurred and difficulties, such as knowing what it's like to have children who stray while you're on your knees praying constantly. Yet, I just want to share God's wondrous work in my life since I came to know Christ in 1972 (thanks to a couple who shared with me at a 5th Dimension concert)! I nearly burst with passion to share God's love with you!

As an author, speaker, songwriter and recording artist, I am appearing on numerous television programs including "Atlanta Live," "By the Book," "Denver Celebration," and radio: "Water through the Word," "Todays Breathing Room," "It's Time to Breathe" as well as upcoming ones. During my presentations I enjoy weaving in songs from my CD, some of which I have written. Prior to my first marriage, I attended the University of Colorado with a voice scholarship while singing in nightclubs. Then I met Jesus and became God's child. I've been sharing my love for Jesus with audiences ever since, though my love for singing shows a broad range of tastes.

My long-awaited and long-requested memoir is now available! 

And I am blessed to be speaking and singing about "S.O.A.R.!" in church services.

Stories of mine appear in a number of books, including: Teatime Stories for Mothers, You Can Bounce Back Too, God's Vitamin "C" for the Hurting Spirit, Stories of God's Abundance for a More Joyful Heart, Heart Stirring Stories of Romance, His Forever, and The One Year Life Verse Devotional. Articles have appeared in such magazines as Decision, as well as others. I've also contributed to The Art of Helping by Lauren Littauer Briggs, Come As You Are by Betty Southard and Marita Littauer, and Tailor-Made Marriage by Marita Littauer and Chuck Noon.

Ray and I serve in our local church in southwest Washington (near Portland, Oregon). We love a life of adventure: jeeping in the Rockies, wildlife viewing, traveling, enjoying friends while doing any of those things or chatting over dinner; as well doing anything with our family of three daughters and four grandchildren! (Yikes--we can't be that old!) 

Ray and I are honored to be featured in Sacred Influence: How God Uses Wives to Shape the Souls of Their Husbands by Gary Thomas, (winner of a 2003 Gold Medallion Award), by Zondervan.