Jackina,
Throughout the years I have often wondered where you were and what you were doing.  I had no idea that you had become such an excellent author.  You must be so proud.  Sad you haven’t been able to make it to any of the reunions.  It has been fun seeing old classmates and remembering old times.  I just found out today that you have written these books.  I’m headed out now to buy them.  Again, so glad to know that you have had great success in life.  Are you still as thin as you always were in school?  Well, I’m not.  Hope to hear from you.

Good morning Jackina,
Life has been fast since we last talked, but I’ve finally found time to read tender grace….Audrey just met Pearl and Ruby.  I’m having a great time reading and again I’m finding it hard to put the book down.  Our youngest just graduated and went off for the summer, so I’ve had some change, not as drastic as Audrey, but nevertheless a little unbalancing.  Audrey is helping me regain my equalibrium.  Thanks for sharing your gift of writing with us.  PLEASE keep up the good work!
God bless you!

Dear Mrs. Stark,

I have been at a loss lately.  Concerned about depression and my ability to bounce back into life.  It started last year with my Mom, 89, who lived with me 7 years.  She got colon cancer.  As her only caretaker in NC, I went through five months of caring alone for her, hosptialization, rehab after a colostomy, and returning her home.  At this same time, our son, who has been married 16 years to his high school sweetheart, has had what we all thought was a perfect life.  I have “grands” 13, 12 and 8.  All have attended Christian School.  They’ve had a strong circle of Christian friends.  But my daughter-in-law left her family last year.  Our entire family is devastated, including her own.  On top of that, my husband got colon cancer and was operated on and THANKFULLY didn’t need chemo or radiation.  I had to move my Mom back to NY to my sister’s as her care was overwhelming and there is more of a network of support there.  Mom lived in NY in the same place 82 years and spent 7 with me. So she has returned to her home and her memories.  Her dementia was accelerated after her surgery and recovery.  So giving you this background: I’ve suffered the loss of my Mom physically and to dementia, our precious son and “grands” are suffering, and our daughter-in-law seems to have “died;“ and the anguish is unbearable.  The Lord has been faithful to carry us through, and we are people of the scriptures.  But lately I feel “dead” and unenergetic, and everything is a push.  Then I found your book, “Tender Grace,“ yesterday at the the library.  I will be purchasing it as there is so much I want to underline.  I’m only halfway through but have been ministered to already.  I just wanted to thank you for listening to the Lord’s leading and writing this story.  You just can’t know how much it has ministered to a sister-in-Christ.  I’m not ok, but I know I will be.  I know my path is in His hands, as well as my emotional health.  I think your story ministers to, not only widows, but anyone who has suffered loss and is trying to find their “new normal.“  Thank you for letting Him hug me through you and reminding me of His tender grace EVERY DAY.  Sincerely, Joan

Jackina…I spent much of the afternoon reading your blogs from first to last. Can just see you and hear you sharing those thoughts!!! Have loved all the opportunities through the years to hear you speak in Rich Hill, Hume and, of course, visiting with you during Women’s Retreat at OCC. I have enjoyed reading Framing a Rainbow and Because Love Welcomed Me several times and cannot tell you how much Tender Grace blessed me! Loved it!!! I haven’t read Things Worth Remembering yet, but am looking forward to doing so, as soon as I get my hands on it. I too “listen to the words” and have many times thought I would have to sing “I Surrender 50%“ when “All” just wouldn’t come out of my mouth! One of my favorite lines to dwell on is in the song “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” ... “I take, O Cross, Thy shadow, for my abiding place.“ If we could all abide in the shadow of the cross what a life-changing, choice-altering position that would put us in. The last 10 months have been filled with many health situations that had me asking God to please show me what it was that He was trying to teach me, because I evidently was very slow to learn the lesson in the midst of my time on the sidelines of my life. I have come to view our use of the precious gift of time in a new way… learning to use time or as Scripture says, redeem the time, rather than just passing time and spending time. There are so many lessons still to learn, but I know that God is faithful and true and He has blessed us with so many remarkable people in this life… you are one very remarkable and inspirational lady and it is my prayer that He will continue to bless and use you for many, many years to come!!! Blessings to you and your family as you begin a new adventure! Your sister in Christ, Wanda

Jackina,
I’m sure you will have to go to the archives and find your OCC yearbooks from the early 80’s to remind yourself of who I am, I just hope that you choose the yearbook with a good picture of me.

First I will say that for years I have been telling people that you were the teacher that lit a writing fire under me (luckily not in the kitchen in a pan full of grease).  I have not written the book that is on my to do list, but I have spent a good majority of my life working at jobs in the writing field.  I’ll come back to that later.

I am currently working at Brookville Public Library in Brookville, IN .  I was overjoyed when I saw that you had the book out “Tender Grace.“  I begged the boss to buy it and have been shoving it in the patrons faces since.  In the last two weeks one woman thanked me for recommending it and another elderly woman commented on how brave the widow was for taking the trip by herself.  It’s enjoyable for me to say, “You’ve got to read this book by my college writing teacher.“  When the book first came out I had a copy out from our library and also from one of the many Cincinnati Libraries.  Not sure why I had two copies, guess I was just excited.  I have since bought my own copy.

Just this week I finished “Things Worth Remembering.“  I am a busy mother, homeschool mom, wife and part time library worker so I read whenever and wherever I am able.  I was getting ready for work that day, a comb in one hand a curling iron in the other, my makeup just done, my book propped on the sink,  an old painted rock from when my son was young, holding the book open and with tears pouring down my cheeks during the third from the last chapter.  Yes, I almost had to redo my makeup before work.  I am so impressed with the way you can catch everyone’s emotions.  You use everyday Christians who are trying to live a life pleasing to God and you show our human frailties and how we desire to be all that God wants us to be.  Please keep writing and blessing myself and Brookville Library with your books.

Just a little more about myself to fill you in.  I left OCC in 1982.  I grew up in Harrison, OH and live about 15 minutes from there now.  I attend Bright Christian Church in Bright, IN where our new minister is Jeff Stone (his father Sam Stone is an OCC alumni).  I’ve worked at Berean Bible Bookstore, Cincinnati Christian University’s development department where I wrote a few fundraising letters.  I worked for a short time writing take home papers and articles for Standard Publishing.  I’ve had one article make it to the LOOKOUT, and I had the privilege of writing Sunday School material for College Press, although it was never published.  (The whole project was cancelled - not due to my writing being bad (I hope).  Ha!

I am married to Donny Benter (5 years younger than myself and also my sister-in-law’s brother) and I have two children Afton Nicole (16 - Junior) and Avery Trent (14 - 8th grade) whom I homeschool.  I’d love to send Afton to OCC after she graduates but that has yet to be seen.  I also have three siblings who attended OCC, Jeff Lieb, Roger Lieb and Crystal Bailey (foster sister).  Roger lives in Joplin now and is hired at College Heights Christian Church.

Like everyone else who enjoys words and books, I hope to some day write a book.  We’ll see!  I have my nose in the books of a couple of OCC alumnists right now.  I am reading an older book by Cindy Dagnon at the moment and enjoying it although my children are past the stage she is writing about.  She has some wonderful words of insight.  I am also reading the book, “Where is God When We Suffer” by Lynn Gardner (the uncle of Jeff Stone, our minister). 

Thank you for having a part in my love of words and writing.  Please keep up the good work of writing these lovely fiction novels (Christian Fiction is my favorite.).
                            Geri (Lieb) Benter
P.S.  I LOVE Mary Engelbreit - Thanks for including her!