Douglas County women are blogging about their lives as moms, wives, sisters, friends and women. Meet them. And follow their stories.
Brittany Arnold
Age: 26
Family: Husband, Chris; daughter, Audrey, 2; and a baby, Evelyn.
Occupation: Stay-at-home mom and wife, writer and blogger
About: From fashion shows, concerts, Blackberries, little black dresses, fine dining and everything else the city life offers to packaging hunted elk meat, shooting guns, casserole dishes, endless laundry and an SUV, join her on this journey from city shaker to green acres.
Brittany is the wife of a logging administrator and mother of a toddler with another one coming in June. She dedicates herself to staying at home but also writes a monthly column, My ABC Soup, for The News-Review, is the publicity leader for Sutherlin's Mothers-of-Preschoolers and is active at her church and in the community. Her blog can be viewed at www.myabcsoup.wordpress.com.
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Anne Creighton Blodgett
Age: 25
Family: Husband, John; a son, who is younger than 1; a stepson, who is 10
Occupation: Photographer
About: Anne has been married for a little over a year to John, her super supportive and ruggedly handsome husband. She is a journalist turned photographer and mom and is also a lover of dachshunds and a "collector of clothing," which to her sounds slightly more polished than saying "shop-o-holic." Follow her personal blog at aviewfromthefrontpack.com.
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Jill Fay
Age: 34
Family: Husband, Jeremy; 10-year-old son, Jacob; 5-year-old daughter, Jenna
Occupation: Cake designer/licensed in-home bakery owner, mom and wife
About: A life-long resident of Douglas County, Jill is a wife of 12 years to a very handsome, loving, supportive and hard-working man who owns and operates his own business. She is also a mother of two very active children who keep her hopping from several activities including school, sports and dance. Jill loves being a part of a wonderful church family, being creative, decorating home and cakes, riding atvs, camping, shopping, spending time with family and friends, entertaining and crossfitting. Most importantly, she loves Jesus.
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Jayne Gautreau
Age: 30 something
Family: Husband, Sabin; sons, Ethan, 9, Micah, 7, and Zakiah, younger than 1
Occupation: Stay-at-home mom
About: Born and raised in Northern Ireland, Jayne has lived in Douglas County since 2007. She met her husband at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago when she came over to study as an exchange student in 1998. They married in Northern Ireland in December 2000 but have made their home in the United States ever since.
Jayne is a tea-drinking, chocolate-loving mama, which helps her to “keep calm and carry on.” Being a mom has brought some challenges her way, but it is also shaping her into the person she was created to be, as she learns and grows along the way.
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Kristen James
Age: 33
Family: Married with six kids, ages 9 to 17.
Occupation: Author, freelance writer and publisher
About: I'm a wife, mother and author, and I enjoy creative projects and outdoor activities. My husband and I each run our own business and love involving the kids. I worked with two of the kids on a children's book called "Even Animals Get Their Own Room," which they illustrated. My writing website is www.writerkristenjames.com.
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Marla Smart
Age: 42
Family: Husband, Jerry; two daughters, ages 19 and 13, one son, age 17
Occupation: Part-time children's pastor, full-time wife and mom
About: A local pastor's wife, Marla Smart stays busy with her family of five and her church. She is a children's pastor at her church, mentor mom for Winston's Mothers of Preschoolers, and she also assists coaching UVC's volleyball teams, as well as mothering her three (now teenage) children and loving her amazing husband, Jerry.
Being a mom has challenged her since the very first day of her oldest daughter's life. She lives by Michelangelo's quote "Ancora Imparo," or "I am still learning." Check out her personal blog at marlasmart.wordpress.com.
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Jemelene Wilson
Age: 50
Occupation: Substitute Instructional Assistant Roseburg School District
Family: Married with two daughters, ages 21 and 13, and one son-in-law
About: I don't believe in acting my age or taking life for granted. When the FedEx man walked through my office door almost 25 years ago, I told myself I was going to marry him. We are in the middle of our “Happily Ever After” with a married daughter and a 13-year-old. Our youngest was born with a rare genetic disorder recently named Emanuel Syndrome. When I'm not taking care of my home and family, I'm busy teaching children how to read. Writing for me is therapeutic and I feel comfortable at my keyboard. My family says I don't have a filter. Much of what I think ends up here in my little corner of the blogosphere named "Finding Hope."
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Hayley Ziebart
Age: 33
Family: Husband, Aaron; sons Grayson, 6, and Lincoln, 3
Occupation: K-12 Certified Music Teacher / Owner of Studio Z.
About: I married the love of my life in July 2002. I have two awesome sons, two male dogs and one male fish... Three words: I AM QUEEN. I LOVE God...He is KING! I am a daughter, sister, wife, mom, friend... currently fighting breast cancer to continue living THIS life as honorably and as fruitfully as I can, being as imperfect as I am. Read my personal blog at lifesprom.blogspot.com.
