My Memoir - Chapter One - Just the Facts

As you now know, I'm Grace Broyles, born Grace Elsie Kruize, in 1960, so that makes me 50 years old.

My first language was Dutch as my parents were from Holland. I also learned to speak English probably at the same time, just by interacting with those around us when I was little. I learned some French in high school, then promptly forgot most of it when I picked up Spanish class in college.

I am left-handed with my fine motor skills, and right-handed with the larger motions. I sometimes switch hands with a new or very-rarely used activity, such as with ping pong.


Right now I am overweight, standing at just under 5 feet, 2 inches tall at about 145 pounds. My eyes are brown and I have to use glasses to see anything small and to see anything at clearly.

I am married, have been since August 1, 1992, to Billy Wyatt Broyles, so that means we've been married about 18 1/2 years.

We have two living children, Benjamin Wyatt, born March 11, 1997, and Abigail Marguerite, born February 26, 2004.  Our first child, Amelia Aliesabet, was born March 26, 1995. She died of neuroblastoma February 15, 2000. That same year, I was pregnant but lost the baby at about three months. The next year, and the following year, the same thing happened. So I say, we have six children, not all are living.

I am a wife and mother first. My husband and I also publish a community newspaper together called The Jim Ned Journal. We home school our two children, who are in ninth and second grade respectively.

My next of kin are my sister, Thalia Jeannette Kruize Darel, and my brother, Bernard William Kruize, both who live in British Columbia, Canada.

I am Causasian and am a Protestant Christian of the Calvinistic slant. I am a conservative politically, believing that the government's role is limited to protecting and preserving the people it serves.

We live in the hills, about 1/2 hour from a major town, off a dirt road and through a creek. We own our own home - a double-wide mobile home.

I am allergic to the stings of wasps and bees, especially to the sting of a red/brown wasp.

My blood type is A+.

I believe I have a soprano voice when speaking.

My pets have had names such as Silvertip Sabina, Boaz, Sheba, Black Midnight. I don't remember them all. Most were names I shared the making of with my siblings or children - like our cows growing up on the dairy farm.

I don't really have a nickname - but maybe I need one?