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Julia Lee Sharplin Ashley
Julie Ashley is a 46-year-old woman with nine children and one hard-working husband. She is one of the many non-traditional students currently attending the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Julie, a native of the region, has many positive and wonderful things to say about being a mom in North Louisiana. "There are so many responsibilities and challenges that mothers face today that I feel it is important for us to support and encourage each other."

Joan Hollis Atwell
My name is Joan Hollis Atwell and I am married to my childhood sweetheart and husband of 37 years, Hal. Hal and I have two grown boys and no grandchildren. Well, we actually do count Nippy, our son’s dog, as a grandchild. Life is busy here on the farm. We have cows and a small saw mill, but I ain’t much at the outside work. Hal says I am just a big ole soft marshmellow who wouldn’t ever go outside if I didn’t have to. He is probably right. But as far as the inside … I love to cook, play my piano and sing, browse on the computer and read. My favorite things to read are about nutritional stuff and Bibical history. I love a good novel, but finding one is hard for me. My mother and step-father live in their home here on the farm part-time and in Hot Springs at their home up there also. She is legally blind but you wouldn’t believe how much work that women can get done without seeing much. I like these things about me: I have a big heart, I love people, I am a good listener, I am teachable and coachable, I am a good friend and I don’t get mad much. I don’t like thise things about me: I am messy, I put things up and forget where I have put them, I am big, I can’t seem to stay on a diet like I use to, I procrastinate and I am too sensitive. But all in all life is good and I am thankful to be alive.

Shelley Barnes
My name is Shelley Barnes and I'm a 38 year old Southern wife and mama. My husband Jim and I have three beautiful daughters: Megan is 17 1/2, Kirsten will be 16 in April and Skylar is 5. We live in West Monroe. I grew up in Rocky Branch and graduated from Farmerville High School and Northeast Louisiana University. I have worked for G.B. Cooley services for 14 years and I'm very proud of the work we do here. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, crafts of just about every type -- especially scrapbooking and cardmaking, photography, watching tv and movies, keeping up with what's going on in the world, reading and cooking. I would dearly love to some day travel all over the U.S. as well as the rest of the world. Wouldn't that be a great scrapbook! I'm one of those crazy people who believes they can do just about anything, until we prove ourselves wrong.

Mindy Bishop
Years ago, I was simply Mindy. Now however, 98 percent of the time I am "Mom" or "Honey". I am a 29-year-old domestic diva and full-time mom to one son who's 5. He and I will soon be embarking on the adventures of home schooling together. When my SuperMom costume is at the cleaners or in the alteration shop, I enjoy cooking, computers, gardening, reading and shopping, not necessarily in that order.

Sherri Ellerman
My name is Sherri Ellerman. I am an Occupational Therapist who chose to give up my career six years ago to stay home with my three children. The year that I started my youngest child in school, I went back into my field to do some part-time contract work. However, at the beginning of last school year, my husband, Jeff, and I made the decision to homeschool our children. We knew that we would be giving up my newly refound income as well as life as we knew it, but we were willing to do it. After discussing it with Madison, Patrick, and Carter, we decided that it was what we all wanted. It has changed our lives. I never try to tell others that it is the right thing for their families, but it was the right thing for ours. We are no longer grasping for whatever precious family time that we can grab on weekends and holidays, but find life to live in every day.

Sharee’ Fuller
My name is Sharee’ Fuller. I’m 31 years old, married with three children, (ages 11, 7, and 3). I am a stay-at-home mom/writer. I consider myself to be a very liberal thinker, which tends to stand out in my conservative surroundings. I am sarcastic and often loudly voice my opinions, which can sometimes turn people off. For this reason, I tend to be a recluse. Not a scary cat lady type of hermit, just a little to myself. I am also biracial. My father is black and my mother is white and I grew up in south Mississippi, hence the sarcastic nature. It was a survival mechanism. I am currently working on a memoir about my experiences, with a humorous twist. I try not to take myself to seriously. My family moved to West Monroe about six years ago for my husband’s job. We are a bit nuts, but completely content.

Katherine High
I was born in Georgia but came to Monroe when I was 5 years old. I grew up in Monroe and most of my family is in Monroe. I graduated from ULM in May 2000 with a degree in Criminal Justice. After graduation I went to work for Progressive Insurance in Shreveport. I was a career girl. I traveled all over and was relocated to Lafayette for a few months and then to Baton Rouge. I moved to Baton Rouge in December of 2002. That’s were I met my husband. He also worked for Progressive. We hit it off immediately and married Sept. 11, 2004. My husband and I resided in Baton Rouge until recently. We knew once we started a family we would want a slower pace and smaller town. We welcomed our first child, Henry Herbert High, Sept. 29, 2006. Two weeks later we were in Monroe. I began my new career … stay-at-home mom.

Juliana Hales Kemp
I am a 66-year-old wife, mother and grandmother – born and raised in Monroe. I graduated from Neville High School and Northeast Louisiana University – now ULM. Having majored in music, I now spend time as a volunteer with Northeast Regional Hospice, playing the piano and entertaining the residents in nursing homes and assisted living centers. I also ac-company Joyful Praise, the Senior Adult Choir at First Baptist Church, West Monroe.

Leslie Lamb
I am the proud mother of two semi-sweet little girls (depending on the moment), aged 4 and 6. My family is very active in the church, and I know that I wouldn’t be who I am today without my faith. I like to write and hope that I can actually impact the world with the lessons I've learned.

Cindy McKinney
Cindy McKinney is a 40-something year-old wife and mother of one child. A ULM graduate in Communication Arts, (BBA, 83 and MA, 90) Cindy works full-time as a computer software support analyst and spends most of her free time re-living her childhood & exploring the wonders of the world with her 4 year-old daughter. Well, mostly she just tries to keep up! Cindy is a musician and an active community volunteer. She and her husband Randy also enjoy traveling, cooking and getting together with friends and family as often as possible. Favorite Quote: "You see things and you say "Why?", but I dream things that never were and say "Why not?" -- George Bernard Shaw

Delia McLaughlin
My name is Delia McLaughlin -- call me Dee. My husband and I have been together 25 years and have two sons, Thomas Noah (19) and Aaron Matthew (13). We are very active members of Lea Joyner Memorial UMC where I lead a weight loss class. I have Spino-Cerebellar Ataxia and use a wheelchair. I also have a severe hearing loss so SPEAK UP!! I have my days of good and not so good days I love spending time with my family. My hobbies include watching Wrestling (WWE),crochet, cross-stitch, and computer games by pogo.com.

Callie McMurray
My name is Callie. I am a mother to two wonderful little boys – Dustin, 12, and Bobby, 9. I am also the step mother to four wonderful kids -- Manny, 14; Nathan, 13; Daniel, 12, and Jessica, 7. Of course, with that many kids we are always on the run and have lots of experiences to tell about.

Mary Kay Young
Mary Kay is a native of Monroe, but has also resided in Dallas and Budd Lake, N.J. A pastor’s widow and mother of one married daughter, she currently spends much of her time volunteering at a local hospice, actively participating in her church, and writing. Her interests include family, Bible study, reading, gardening, choir, web site creation, selling on eBay, and playing with her Great Dane, Cookie. She is a graduate of Ouachita High School, Delta Ouachita Community Col-lege’s School of Practical Nursing, and is currently working on three books. Mary Kay regards life as an adventure, every day as an opportunity, laughter as necessary as breathing, aging as inevitable, but growing old as optional.

Rebecca Young
Rebecca Young is a single mom who was told for nearly 10 years that having children was a blessing she would never know. But every day Sarah smiles and kicks her little feet to remind the world that miracles can happen. As someone who thought she would never know the joy of motherhood, raising Sarah is quite a learning experience as she finds her way through stacks of diapers, middle-of-the-night feedings and the one-handed trick to opening the stroller. Rebecca is hopeful the experiences she shares will remind other mothers and women that we all have a ticket to basically the same ride. And what a ride it is!

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