Here's the transcript (word for word!) of my phone conversation with Lisa Whelchel. I called her from my dad's office at church during VBS. She was incredibly kind, talkative, and sweet. I was blessed and honored to have had this opportunity!
AL: Lisa Whelchel! I'm so honored to talk with you!
LW: Well, thank you! I'm looking at your website, and I'm honored to be interviewed for it.
AL: Thank you so much. We're in the middle of VBS this week, so I'm dressed as an Egyptian in Biblical garb just to talk with you today....
[Laughs because I'm incredibly hilarious.]
It's been a great week! I have a few questions for you. Of course I have to ask, what was it like as an actress on the Facts of Life and the Mickey Mouse Club?
LW: You know, it was a lot of fun. It really was. In Mickey Mouse Club, I got to sing and dance at Disneyland on giant mouse ears in the parades, so it's kind of hard to beat that!
AL: That's my dream, that's my dream. . . [And Lisa's thinking, wow....what a weirdo.]
LW: It is!? It's really hard to beat hanging out during your high school years and making money while you're doing it, you know!?
AL: Exactly! Wow. Well, how has Los Angeles and the acting world changed since you were an actor?
LW: Well, I've been out of it for almost 25 years now, so I don't know, I don't have firsthand knowledge. I'm living in Texas so I'm way out of it, but my friends who are still in it. . . oh, they tell me it's worse than ever. So I'm glad to be out of it.
AL: Sure. Do you miss the acting world at all, as a career?
LW: You know, I really do. It was a great experience for me and so I loved it. What was fortunate was that I went from being an actress, which I loved, to being a wife and mom, which is my favorite thing in the world. So that made it a little easier.
AL: Right. Well now that you are a writer and speaker, what makes you passionate about ministering to women?
LW: I think what makes me passionate. . . is giving women what I would want to have, which is understanding, and grace, and encouragement, and some lessons I might have learned from my own mistakes. I want women to know they're not alone, especially when they don't feel like they're reaching the standard. . . .sometimes books make us feel worse about ourselves instead of better.
AL: Exactly! And when we're talking about our churches, what do you believe makes for an exciting and effective women's ministry?
LW: I think opportunities for relationships to develop at a deep level. I think times of fellowship but also times of. . .connection that goes deeper than just shopping or buying jewelry. You know, even singing praise songs together. Anything that fosters a deeper connection, I think is rich.
AL: Sure. And you are a pastor's wife, is that correct?
LW: Well, my husband was on staff at a church in California when we got married, and when we lived in California, it looked a little more like the traditional role, but now he's an IT tech, more like an administrator. So it's not like I have to play the organ or lead a bunch of Bible studies. . .
[I laugh really loud because that's exactly what some churches expect of pastor's wives! Oh, Lisa...you are witty!]
LW: So I didn't feel like there were things I HAD to do, or there's someone there to help you do them.
AL: Right. Well, I'm a pastor's daughter, so I understand that world. Has it affected your ministry at all, having your family so active in the church?
LW: I think so. You know, the kids grew up in the church, and their neighborhood and family and community was the church we were involved in. We tried to make friends with our neighbors, but since [my kids] were homeschooled, they really didn't have that environment, so it's second nature for them to be at the church all the time. They don't feel like they have to; it's not a place I make them go, but that's where their friends are, and that's where their lives are, and it's what they're doing.
AL: And you've written about homeschooling. How do you stay relevant to the world and choose kind of a narrow path like homeschooling or home education? Meaning being in the world, but not of it. How do you make that balance?
LW: Well, I think you can help kids actually be MORE a part of the world because they're not cloistered in a school 7 hours a day with 30 other kids their age. You know, they can be out and about doing things, traveling, and getting involved in activities and learning things. So I think they can actually have a broader perspective so they really can relate to the world better.
AL: Yes. I have a 17-month-old daughter and she's quite young at this point, but my husband and I are feeling pretty strongly about homeschooling her. What should my initial steps be in that process?
LW: Well there's a lot of research available online. Talk to people that homeschool. The advice I would give you is to start really slowly. You know, kids don't need much when they're really little. I think sometimes we can drive the love for learning right out of them and put the pressure on too young. So early on, just play with them; take them places. Give them lots of experiences. That really makes a great homeschool.
AL: Right. And some of your children are still in school, is that right?
LW: You know what, my youngest just graduated in May!
AL: Oh my goodness! That's so great. So did they like homeschooling? Did they give you any feedback about it?
LW: They've said they loved it. Although I have to say that we found a really wonderful situation for my daughter here in Texas. We found a homschool academy, which they went two days a week. They had teachers that taught them the really hard stuff, and it was like the traditional school experience. They had sports they could play, but they were home the other days of the week to do their work. So it was a really nice balance.
AL: It sounds like it was the best of both worlds.
LW: Yeah it really was.
AL: Your most recent book that I'm giving away on my blog is all about friendship. What prompted you to write on this topic?
LW: Because I write out of what I'm learning, and what I've learned the hard way. . .when I've blown it! Friendship is what I've been learning about over the last few years. I mentioned in the book that I kind of skipped the typical years in high school because I was working and so I missed it. Then my kids got older and as they were beginning to leave the house I didn't have so much to focus on them. And I realized that I didn't have many close, good friends. It was lonely, and I needed that. I started exploring it, sometimes with lots of stumbling!
AL: I know! You've written also about parenting. If you had one piece of advice for young mothers, what would it be?
LW: Hmmm. . . .I would say ere on the side of grace. With kids, we think it's so important to teach them the rules and to be like Christ and to do the right things. I think that's important, but it can give a false reflection of Christ. Because Christ wasn't really about rules, as much as He was about relationships. [My favorite thing she said!!]
AL: That's so great. Who was the greatest influence on you as a wife and mother?
LW: My own mother, definitely, because I had a good relationship with her; she was creative, she was fun. There's always things that we work through with our mothers as we get older, but there's so much I learned from her modeling. And part of it was just the joy of being a mother.
AL: Like keeping the joy in the harder tasks of being a mom.
LW: Mm hmm, I think so. And kids genuinely know if you enjoy them. And every once and awhile I'll tell my kids, you know, "I enjoy you." And that seems to cut to a deeper place even over "I love you" or "I'm proud of you."
AL: That's great. What's a special memory that you have when your kids were younger, or just with parenting in general. Is there a special memory you have?
LW: Well, mine is one that would be pretty unique in that it was the year that we all went in an RV around America. Not the type of thing that everyone can do, but it's definitely a highlight in our family memories.
AL: And what was a special time or a special thing that you saw in our country?
LW: Let's see....what's interesting about that is that we did see a lot of places. The kids loved Disney World, and I loved Colonial Williamsburg, but truly, the times in the RV just playing games going down the road or watching Disney Channel at night. Or eating a sandwich on a picnic. Those really are the greater memories.
AL: Sure. On my blog, the majority of people who read are women. They're all different ages, but the majority are women. What's something you want me to pass along to them from this interview? An encouragement, or thought, or is there something you'd like to share with my readers?
LW: I would say to make friendships a priority, because they're not just girlfriends. That's what we think of on the surface, but they're really where God can work out His character in us. They fill us up so we can give to our families from the overflow. They're not just friends, they can work out the eternal purposes in us.
AL: And with this new-ish forum of blogging and the internet and being online, do those help or hinder friendships in your opinion?
LW: You know, they do both, but I think they help. Because yes, you know there are times when I text somebody because I don't feel like talking to them!
AL: That makes me feel so much better! [Laughing, because we've all been there, right?]
LW: I know! But there's also times that I text people because I don't have time to call but I want to stay connected to them.
AL: Lastly, is there a special piece of Scripture that has ministered to you as a wife and a mom?
LW: Well my life verse is Proverbs 3:5-6. I'm learning especially "lean not on your own understanding." And "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." I'm a planner, and I'm a figure-outter, and I like to know what the big picture is and what the steps are to accomplish that goal. [Like, we could totally be sisters.] It's just the way I was wired. But I'm really learning a much more tender relationship with God because I'm having to stay a little bit closer to Him to follow His impulses and leading. Not, "God, I have it all figured out. Come with me."
AL: Yes. Well is there anything you'd like to add, any thoughts on your book you'd like to share? I have read it and it has just ministered to me so much. I can't thank you enough for this opportunity, and I'm just blessed to talk with you.
LW: Oh, well thank you! That means a lot to me, I appreciate that. And I can't think of anything, I think you've done a wonderful job. Great questions.
AL: Well as a young mom, I appreciate your ministry so much and your books have already spoken the world to me. And I'm just honored and I'm a huge fan of yours. So thank you and God bless, Lisa!
LW: Thank you, you too Ashley!
[Hang up the phone.]
My Dad: Good job, Ash.
:)
Click here to enter the giveaway for Lisa's newest book and also Sheila Walsh's newest book!
