Interview With Neva Cooper
June 19th, 2007 at 7:00 am by Dee O'Neil Andrews
This week's interview is with Neva Cooper, who blogs over at "Dancing in the Light," which I think is a beautiful name for a blog. She and her family live in the panhandle of the beautiful state of Texas (which only a Texan such as myself would think about the panhandle of Texas, but hey).
Enjoy her interview and leave lots of comments so she'll know that you appreciate her candor and insights! Dee
Part I - Basic Interview Questions
1. What's your favorite scripture.
I John 1:7 was a life changing passage for me. But I also like Psalm 37:4
2. Vital Statistics: - Month, Day, (Year Optional) & Place you were born
August 12, 1960--Rawlins, WY
3. Names of spouse & Children:
Married to Eddy Manweiler until his passing (17 years) We have two sons, Chad who lives in Florida with his wife Traci and three of my five grandsons. Nathan lives in Lubbock TX and is father to my only granddaughter, a grandson and a new baby boy.
I have been married to Ned Cooper now for nine years.
4. What brought you to where (the location) you are now?
Ned is a minister and my life is better with him than without him, so where he goes, I go.
5. Where all have you lived in your life?
Rawlins, Fox Park, and Laramie, Wyoming. Walden, Denver, Rocky Ford, Ordway and Pueblo, Colorado. Hungry Horse, Columbia Falls and Kalispell, Montana, North Platte Nebraska, Lubbock and now Spearman, Texas.
6. What kind of work do you do?
I am a social worker by trade and a licensed Christian counselor. Currently I work in a nursing home and am a minister's wife.
7. What do you love most about your work?
I have worked in juvenile justice, hospice, rape and domestic abuse centers, psych units and Emergency rooms and now in a nursing home. The answer is the same--I love getting to minister to people right when they need it.
8. What do you like least about your work?
In every job, there are times when we are simply witnesses to suffering. I don't like that feeling much.
9. Who has been the most influential person in your life & briefly why:
There are two people. One is my mother, she taught me to never give up and to never ever do anything halfway. And Miss Bobbie Paden at Sunset who taught me to wear lipstick while I wholeheartedly do those things.
10. Any hidden talents:
I am a crack shot with a nerf gun!
11. Little known fact about me:
My parents were loggers and I learned to run a chainsaw and skid logs with horses by the time I was five or six.
Part 2 - Favorite Things
1. Favorite Book (other than the Bible):
Usually it is whatever I am reading. Right now, I am loving "Jesus Hero of Thy Soul" by Jim McGuiggan
2. Favorite Movie:
I like Nicolas Cage movies, almost all of them.
3. Favorite Food:
I love Mexican food and good thick homestyle hamburgers
4. Favorite Kind of Music:
Christian, classical, contemporary, country, jazz, celtic instrumental
5. Favorite musical group or performer:
It changes but right now, I like Mercy Me, Todd Agnew, Kenny Chesney
6. Favorite song:
Faithful Love---#18 in Faith and Praise (this hasn't changed since the first time I heard the song)
7. Favorite junk food:
Pistachios and Cherry Garcia ice cream
8. Favorite childhood memory:
My parents and both sets of grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc. used to picnic in the woods. We put our watermelon in the "crik" so it would be cold. We ate fried chicken, pork-n-beans, sliced tomatoes. potato salad, and watermelon and chocolate cake.
We almost always had a campfire and we listened as our parents and grandparetns, aunts and uncles talked about "old times". We laughed and fished and laughed and waded and had a great time. We fell asleep in the car and Daddy carried us in and tucked us in, dirt and all. It was great!
Part 3 - Thought Questions
1. What is the best meal you have ever eaten?
Any meal I now get to eat with my mom is the best.
2. Where would you most like to visit that you have never been to before?
Italy
3. What is your proudest moment?
Other than the first time I led someone to Christ, graduating from college as a single mom with two sons and a foster son, at age 36. Being the wife of a minister, I have proud moments every time I get to hear him preach or teach.
4. What do you most regret?
I regret that I was not a much better wife to my first husband and that I was not as grateful to God for him as I should have been. I try every day to remedy that with Ned.
5. If money, health, etc. were no concern, what would you do with your time?
Teach---everywhere, all the time, ladies days, classes, seminars, bible studies, children, women, here, overseas, right next door --just teach.
6. What is your favorite book in the Bible and why?
I love I John, a reminder of my assurance as God's forgiven. And I love Psalms, my therapy for any and every emotion.
Neva - Great to meet you. I love the “crack expert with a nerf gun” comment.
Where in Florida does Chad live? We’re on the East Central Coast near Cocoa Beach.
Thanks, Dee, for sharing about Neva. She’s got a lot of fans in the blogosphere.
Grace and peace,
Tim
ahhh, sister neva
I love cherry garcia, too. Have you ever had Texas Gold brand, Cherry Cordial???
if you ever need a guide in Italy, I will go for the price of a plane ticket. I speak the language easily, know the transportation, know many of the churches, and love the history.
Nic Cage rules!
did you know terry and Thesia Crooks when you were in Montana? Terry preached in NW Montana, the name of the town escapes me. Their son is friend of mine, he works with the church in Great Falls now.
Neva’s blog is always insightful, challenging, Biblical, encouraging and spiritual. You don’t have to worry about fluff or silliness (like on my blog).
Neva,
I’ve enjoyed visiting your blog from time to time since finding it a while back. You’re a good writer. From the perspective of one who’s more fool than wise, you appear full of wisdom and grace.
Randoms thoughts . . . I agree, Psalms is good therapy. I especially love your favorite childhood memory. On visiting Italy, I lived there and loved it. Wouldn’t be a bad place to live again. Also, you mentioned “Jesus Hero of Thy Soul.” My wife is from Belfast–Jim’s her uncle by marriage, he married her aunt Ethel. We hope to get over and visit with them again before too long.
Running a chain saw by 5. Wow!
Ben
Love the interview — LOVE Neva!! If you don’t already read Neva’s blog, you should start now!!
By the way, I happen to be a crack shot with a nerf gun too — maybe I should challenge you to a duel!! HA!
cool interview Neva,
Thanks Dee for another great interview. Who knew she was good with a nerf gun and a chainsaw. That Neva is one impressive girl. No wonder Mr. Neva likes her so much.
Dee,
I work with Neva. You picked a good subject for your interview. She is amazing. She is generous and caring. We all love her.
Carol
This was fun–thanks for the comments.
Chad lives in Lakeland between Tampa and Orlando.
Brian, I do know the Crooks–they worked in Libby when we lived in Kalispell.
Fans, really? Thanks Tim, you made me smile.
Ben, What a cool family to marry into.
I am always up to a nerf gun duel. We used to have wars with the teens and run through the house shooting each other.
Carol, thank you, it is a blast working with you too–ps. you left the computer on again. Yes, I will shut it down,
Thanks Dee, for including me.
Peace
Neva
Late to the party, but then, what else is new, right? LOL
Neva is incredible! She has a gift not only of teaching and encouraging, but also is able to transmit her warm, caring heart through the written medium, no small trick! Her blog is one that is on my, “get to it TODAY!” group. She never fails to bring us a thought provoking, heart challenge.
I’m so thankful to have ‘met’ her and hopefully, will have an opportunity to meet her in real life too.
Bless you, Neva, for blessings us with your teachings.
In His love, grace and mercy
Kathy
Nice to meet you again, Neva. It was interesting reading about your life. It was refreshing to read your honest statement about your regrets. I’m sure you know, doing the work that you do, that we all have them for something. Blessings to you and your husband.
Neva is a precious soul! Thanks for interviewing her.
Thanks, Dee for sharing this, I loved reading the interview!
Wow…you have made it to the big times, Neva.
I love reading interviews on Dee’s blog, but
who knew I would find you here. Neva also taught
some while she was in Lubbock. She was my public
speaking teacher at SSoP.
Love ya,
Darlene
I just wanted to pop in and brag a little. She’s my mother in law and I’m the one married to Chad. I wish those of you who have never met her could because she is just as awesome and gracious in the real world as she is online!! This was very cool to read and see the responses and know that she deserves every one!!
I enjoyed the interview as well … what an impressive person Neva is … and look what God is doing through her life … wonderful!
[…] Read Dee Andrews’ interview with Neva on her blog. […]
Love ya Neva. One day you will share the really fun things about yourself. If people only knew how much depth you had, they would be afraid.
Kathy
I’m days late in responding, but you made me want to sit with your family and listen to those “old days” stories! Nice to meet you, Neva.
I have been reading Neva’s blog for several months now and always leave encouraged and inspired. I often print them off and use them as devotionals for our ladies or teens.
I have emailed her in the past for advice and answers to questions. I have always been impressed with her godly advice and her willing spirit.
I felt like I already knew her but thank you for interviewing her so I could get to know her better.
She is a true blessing.
In Him
Shari