{"id":39,"date":"2018-08-09T17:51:18","date_gmt":"2018-08-09T17:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/?page_id=39"},"modified":"2022-01-27T22:03:43","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T22:03:43","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/index.php\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Life is a story. We all have one. Here\u2019s part of mine.<\/em><\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/2-Here-I-am-with-3-of-my-7-siblings.-Can-you-tell-which-baby-is-me_.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” overlay_icon_color=”#4abdac” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(223,220,227,0.74)” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.23″ border_width_all=”4px” border_color_all=”#4b4a4c”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_orientation=”center”]Here I am with 3 of my 7 siblings. Can you tell which baby is me?<\/em>
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/3-I-loved-our-dog-Lady-small.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” overlay_icon_color=”#4abdac” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(223,220,227,0.76)” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.23″ border_width_all=”4px” border_color_all=”#4b4a4c”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_orientation=”center”]I loved our dog, Lady.
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/4-The-farmhouse-in-Iowa-where-I-grew-up.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” overlay_icon_color=”#4abdac” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(223,220,227,0.75)” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.23″ border_width_all=”4px” border_color_all=”#4b4a4c”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_orientation=”center”]The farmhouse in Iowa where I grew up.
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/1-Why-did-they-put-me-in-a-wash-pan_.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” overlay_icon_color=”#4abdac” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(223,220,227,0.73)” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.23″ border_width_all=”4px” border_color_all=”#4b4a4c”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_orientation=”center”]Why did they put me in a wash pan?
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” column_structure=”1_3,2_3″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”My Bio (1 of 4)” _builder_version=”3.27.4″]<\/p>\n

My Bio<\/h2>\n

I was born on Christmas Day in Waukon, Iowa, the fifth of eight children.\u00a0\u00a0My parents were dairy farmers which means you never go on vacation! Those cows needed milking morning and night. I did help feed the pigs, stack hay in the barn and wash milking equipment but most of my chores were helping Mom cook, clean, and garden. What I\u00a0remember most is everything was big: the house, the garden, the meals, our family, the messes \ud83d\ude42
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”My Bio (2 of 4)” _builder_version=”3.27.4″]I loved school and never wanted to miss a minute-I didn’t like snow days. I know…what’s wrong with me? But school was where books and my friends were!\u00a0 I don\u2019t remember having many books in my home, so Waterville Elementary School-and my first grade teacher who taught me to read-rocked! Of course I liked other things about school too-pretty much everything to do with recess: hop-skotch, jump rope, roller-skating, hanging upside down by my toes on the monkey bars\u2026Nope!\u00a0never fell.
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”127,433″ posts_number=”2″ orientation=”portrait” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(223,220,227,0.76)” _builder_version=”3.12″][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” link_font=”|700|on||on||||” link_font_size=”27px”]<\/p>\n

Everything else you might want to know about me!<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”What or who inspires you?” _builder_version=”3.12″ title_font=”|700|||||||”]<\/p>\n

Seeing a finished project after a lot of hard work. And people who have turned their life around in spite of insurmountable challenges.<\/p>\n

View the full Q\/A here!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” column_structure=”2_3,1_3″][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”599,434,121,133″ orientation=”portrait” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(223,220,227,0.75)” _builder_version=”3.12″][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”My Bio (3 of 4)” _builder_version=”3.27.4″]In high school, I loved journalism class where I became a reporter and every week set type for the spread in the local paper devoted to high school news. I went to college on an English scholarship, wrote for the college newspaper, was a DJ and had five part-time jobs to pay my way through college. Although writing was cool, I loved biology and became a science teacher, a wife, a mom, a teacher again, and now an author!
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”My Bio (4 of 4)” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

My first picture book was published in 2011 and since then I\u2019ve been on the move! signing in bookstores, community fairs, and the Mall of America; reading in churches and senior centers and presenting in gyms, \u00a0cafeterias, colleges and libraries for kids from 9 days old to 99.\u00a0\u00a0I\u2019ve had more books published and have many stories sitting on my computer looking for a publishing home.<\/p>\n

Whether you are planning a family literacy night, a young writer\/artist conference, a school author visit or anything for the reading community-I would love to partner with you to inspire kids (big and little) along their own literacy journey!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″]<\/p>\n

More Photos!<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/8-Favorite-high-school-class-journalism-where-I-got-to-write-for-the-newspaper-crop.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” overlay_icon_color=”#4abdac” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(223,220,227,0.75)” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.23″ border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#4b4a4c”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_orientation=”center”]Favorite high school class, journalism where I got to write for the newspaper.
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/9-I-went-to-college-on-an-English-scholarshipbut-I-liked-science-courses-best-crop.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” overlay_icon_color=”#4abdac” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(223,220,227,0.76)” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.23″ border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#4b4a4c”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_orientation=”center”]I went to college on an English scholarship but I loved science courses best.
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/10-Worked-at-the-Y-camp-in-Colorado-after-college.-Made-it-to-the-top-of-Longs-Peak-highest-point-in-the-Rockies-.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” overlay_icon_color=”#4abdac” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(223,220,227,0.74)” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.23″ border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#4b4a4c”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_orientation=”center”]Worked at the Y camp in Colorado after college. Made it to the top of Long’s Peak, highest point in the Rockies!
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/13-My-lovely-family-crop.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” overlay_icon_color=”#4abdac” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(223,220,227,0.75)” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.23″ border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#4b4a4c”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_orientation=”center”]<\/p>\n

My lovely family!<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Quote” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_layout=”dark” custom_css_main_element=”text-shadow:|| -1px -1px 0 #000,|| 1px -1px 0 #000,|| -1px 1px 0 #000,|| 1px 1px 0 #000; “] Life is a story. We all have one. Here\u2019s part of mine. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/39"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/39\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1423,"href":"https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/39\/revisions\/1423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/marybleckwehl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}