It was something she had in the back of her mind for a long time: writing a book about her life story. A lot had happened in Barbara Vinson's life, so simple putting pen to paper would take time. However, her story was one she knew would inspire people facing trials like her; thus. her new memoir was written.
A Life of Faith shares with readers Barbara's experiences and journey in faith, spanning several generations of her family and how they weathered life's storms. She shares about her parents first meeting to the birth of herself and her two siblings. She tells of her grief at the death of her parents, sister, great-grand mother and especially her daughter. She loves, learning with pursuits in education beginning with a bachelor's and master's degree in special education to a Ph.D. in Guidance and Psychological Services with specialties in School Psychology and working with parents of special needs children, and a master's degree in divinity. After her first marriage she had two children: a boy and a girl. It was known on day one that the children had physical disabilities. It took a while for the doctors to finally come up with a diagnosis of Congenital Myopathy. Barbara explains what this is and what it meant for her family. She explains how her faith helped her through the physical challenges and also the challenges of schooling. When the children were nine and ten years old, her husband walked out on her. But God brought her another man who loved her and her children and helped her deal with everything especially her own health issues. She was diagnosed with lupus at age thirty-nine. Her health has deteriorated since then with many other diagnoses including heart problems. What stands out most is the raising of her children, as Barbara raises faith filled children while continuing to deal with unrelenting health trials, something friends from church say inspire their faith and encourage them to keep going.
Barbara discusses occupations she has held with each degree that she earns. She taught children with special needs including physical and mental needs. After earning her M.S., she began teaching children with learning disabilities. Her Ph.D. allowed her to teach at the university level and School psychology in the schools. When her health became better, she was able to go into ministry. These days she spends time with her great grandchildren.
To coincide with the stories shared are the photos and drawings that capture facing the trials of life, with some of the photos and all of the drawings done by Barbara herself. Barbara can attest that life is tough, as readers will while reading through, A Life of Faith, but God hasn't given us a spirit of fear and no matter what the trials ahead, God hasn't left your side, God hasn't for Barbara and God won't for you.
Vinson, Barbara: - Barbara, Ph.D, M.Div, and has an M.S. in Mental, Learning and Physical Disabilities. She has been a teacher of Special Education, teaching children with Mild Mental, Learning and Physical Disabilities. She also has a Ph.D. in Guidance and Psychological Services with specialties in School Psychology and Working with Parents of children with disabilities. As part of a fellowship, she taught a university class on working with parents of children with disabilities. She worked in the schools as a school psychologist until she resigned due to illness in the year 2000. Barbara is also an artist. She loves painting portraits in colored pencil. She also paints in oils and has sold many of her paintings. However, in recent years she loves painting portraits for friends and family and gives them away. In August 2009, she applied to McCormick Theological Seminary for the M.Div. degree. She completed that degree in 2012. She worked for VITAS in hospice as a chaplain from 2012 to 2015 when the Indiana program was closed. Barbara loved working in hospice. When she was denied ordination due to health reasons she began working for Hobart Presbyterian Church as an administrative assistant under Rev. Jeffery Carter. She is a member of First Presbyterian in Michigan City. She lives in Westville, Indiana with her husband, Brock. Her son, Jasen lives in Florida. This is her first book.
