Who Does Lisa Think She Is?

Info coming soon, when Lisa figures out who she is. 

How long has that statement been there?  A long time.  I've never been comfortable talking about myself.  Then the other day someone asked me about my name--my full name:

Lisa Renee Sorbo Walsh Felsch Heidenstecker Mikitarian

How's that for offbeat?  When I explained the parts, another friend said, "Hey, your biography is in your name!" Well, shoot, my friend was right.  I owe her big time for helping me out of this coNUNdrum.

So here's my personal bio--via the names:

Lisa:  First name given to me by Mom.  It was in a book she'd been reading.

Renee:  We'll come back to this one at the end.

Sorbo:  My last name--listed on my birth certificate.  But I can't say I know who my father is.  Perhaps one day.  After I was born  (in California), Mom took me to live with Oma Heidenstecker in Germany.  I refer to these as, "The Stable Years."  Thank God for Grandmothers:).

Walsh:  Last name of my stepfather--Mom married him when I was five.  That's when Oma brought me back to the States.  Those were the grade-school and not-so-stable years.

Felsch:  The last name of the family who graciously became my guardians when life got too complicated at home.  Those were the Junior High and High School years.  Those were kind of rickety years, too.

Heidenstecker:  At 18, I legally changed my name to my Grandmother's, though I hadn't seen her in a decade.  I joined the Army, attended the Defense Language Institute where I re-learned German. I was  stationed in Germany for two tours where I reunited with Oma--yay!  Slightly wild and joyful years.  Learned to dance in the discoteca.

Mikitarian:  The last name of the  man I have loved (and danced with)  for 24 years:  Sam Mikitarian Jr.  A blessing before I knew what a blessing was.  Three children:  Madeline, Spencer, and Katalina.  A dog:  Dorian Gray

Renee:  Ah--now here's where the middle name fits in.   It means born new.  And that's exactly what happened to me when I (along with Sam and Maddie and Spencer and Katalina)  accepted the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.  It's here (about 18 years ago), that I began understanding that God created us in community for a reason--to love and  help one another while on this earthly journey.  I've felt strongly about this aspect of life ever since. 

Well, there it is. Me in a Nut-shell.   If you think this is Too Much Information, please let me know now before too many people view this page.

Coming Soon (Really):  Writing Bio--much less complicated!
Here's a link to an interview I did with Lynda Schab at Faithwriters--it gives some bio-like info.

LINK