Paula Gillman - Bio  

 

                  Although I have been a member of Christ Episcopal Church for over 30 years I have not always been an Episcopalian.  I was born in International Falls, Minnesota. I am an oldest child.   I have one younger sister and three much younger half sisters. 

                  In my early childhood I was raised in and around Rainy Lake and have a deep love and respect for nature and the out of doors.  When my parents divorced my mother moved my sister and I to St Paul where there were more career opportunities for a women.  When I was in 4^th grade I visited St Paul’s Church on the Hill (the local Episcopal Church) with my friend and felt very welcomed.  I became a member of the youth choir and later the youth group there.  In school I was always involved in many extracurricular activities, most of which involved the arts.  Music and painting were among my favorite pastimes during the school months.  I played several musical instruments and was involved in concert band during school, but was also part of the All City Senior Symphony.  I enjoyed drama and was a member of Quill and Scroll.  My summers were spent at the lake.  When I graduated from high school I attended the University of Minnesota. 

    While visiting my mother, then living in Bovey, I chanced to meet a young man.  He ended up being the man of my dreams (although not Episcopalian).  We married, built a home and were blessed with three children, Mike, Laura and Dan.   When the youngest, Dan, went school, I started back to work. This will be my 19^th year working for H & R Block.  I like the challenge of tax theory and helping people without doing math. 

                  Mike went into the Air Force in 1997.  He married Donna and has two beautiful girls, our grandchildren.  Laura recently graduated from college a second time and Dan graduated from college and married Elizabeth this past summer.  Our life with our children and grandchildren is very busy.  We share a cabin in Canada and love to spend time there fishing and enjoying the solitude or family time. 

                  I have been an avid quilter for 11 years and recently rekindled my love of beading.    I also enjoy gardening and spending time in my home. 

               In all my years here at Christ Church my life has been relatively normal and basically uneventful.  However, 2 ½ years ago I was diagnosed with a pancreatic tumor.  The prognosis was not promising.  The members of this church held a healing service and with some surgery, wonderful doctors and countless prayers I landed firmly on my feet on the Total Ministry Team.  God has turned my life around in a very miraculous way.  Things I could not have imagined myself doing 3 years ago are comfortable to me now.  My path has not always been clearly marked, but looking back, I can see now that each step has brought me to this very place with so much gratitude for all the “chutes and ladders” that have been my life.