: About Me

Hi! My name is Jo Ann Wentzel and I live in beautiful Colorado at the foothills of Pikes Peak. I'm a 63 year- old woman who loves to read, write, collect many interesting and beautiful items, garden, and discover new people, places, and things. I enjoy learning and so Helium is especially interesting to me.

I have been happily married to the same wonderful man for over 45 years. I have two grown children who are just amazing. They are married and have given me 3 outstanding grandsons. I also have fostered over 75 children in the past, mostly teen boys. Sometimes I have had as many as eight at a time.

My husband and I also designed and implemented 2 programs for helping kids and dysfunctional families. We spent a few years contracting with counties to serve these folks.

Not able to contain my interests with just one job, I have always had a couple jobs at a time so I have much experience under my belt in a wide number of areas. Most of my jobs involved working with kids and their families, selling, and writing.

I have written many types of articles in the past and I'm really getting into it now, thanks to Helium. I have been published online as I wrote for many websites on a regular basis. I have also had some success in print outlets. I wrote a book on foster care and self published it on a CD-ROM to help many of my web visitors at the time.

I worked as a reporter for a couple years for a weekly newspaper in addition to other freelance opportunities.

I like keeping busy, but must now work from home due to some medical issues. I plan on writing for Helium and have also included other freelance projects.Presently I am writing a book on theme parties. I also have a beginning website about collectibles which includes information on the theme parties and showcases some of my writing as well.. Please visit Lilolladystuff CollectiblesPlus Website.Link under my favorite.

With all the writing projects I am now just  an occasional  E-bay seller instead of a full time seller ( lilolladystuff).  I sell vintage jewelry, dolls, books, and other collectibles.

My passion is ...

Reading, writing, gardening, and collecting stuff.

Why I write ...

Because I love to and really have way too much to say about everything.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Just finished almost all John Grisham novels and am on the last book of the Twighlight series.I'm a huge Grey's Anatomy fan.

Parenting & Pregnancy > After School How to get kids excited to play outside

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Sometimes our children enjoy being inside so much that it is difficult to get them out of the house to get fresh air and exercise. This has probably gotten worse since our kids today have so many more options when it comes to staying inside. Once kids could play something quiet or read indoors, but now they can do almost anything inside, even sports with Wi. The average child now has the equivalent of a small technology store in their bedroom. Most kids have a cell phone, a device to play music on, something to play video games on, a TV of their own and various other technological wonders....

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Writing:

• Creative Writing Bronze
• Marketplace Premier Writer
• Marketplace Approved Writer
• 2Marketplace Articles Sold
• Helium Charter Member