The Couples | The Guys | The Girls
Girls' Bios
Crystal Good -- South Boston, VA
I'm Crystal Good, daughter of Nathan and Mildred, sibling to the Goods and Yoders in this group, and girlfriend (ahh!) to Joe Miller. I taught at our church school in South Boston for four years, and then moved to Minsk Mazowiecki, Poland in the summer of '03 as a VSer under Anabaptist International Ministries based at Faith Builders. There I taught at an English school, tutored my own private students in English, taught the children of John and Laura Smucker whom I lived with, and simply tried to "be all here" and do a hearty job of serving the Lord. It was a wonderful, growing experience, and was not easy to walk away from on July 7 when I finished my two-year term and returned home. However, other things are calling, and it's good to be home again with this set of people I know and love. I plan to work part-time as a piano teacher and part-time at our family bakery, and spend the rest of the time doing all kinds of other things with family and friends and new people I meet. In my free time I thrive on scrapbooking; taking walks to talk to God, read a book, or simply soak in the beautiful day; trying a little cooking; dreaming of flowers and gardening; or doing girlfriend stuff with Merry. I like good discussions and inspiring reading and tea cups. Also lemonade and journals and Holly Pond Hill and cards in the mailbox. Working with my family and Lamar on Tapestry stuff, and getting input and enthusiasm from you all, is a special joy.
Ginger Good -- South Boston, VA
This is me...Ginger Elaine Good. I usually live in South Boston, VA. I love it there! I'm related to all the other Goods and Yoders. Very, very proud of that!! My DOB is June 4, 1985. Five things I love: MUSIC ... I feel so incredibly blessed to have a family that loves good music and sings with me. Really, it's my Dad and Mom (they're the best!!) who have taught me so much and encouraged me from the time I was just a wee little kid. I love just sitting and listening to music. Or playing my violin. Or singing in groups like this one. Or going to a concert. MY FAMILY ... Oh my word! You just need to get to know them. They are the most wonderful! THE SKY ... I love looking up into the clear blue sky, watching the big puffy clouds float along, staring at the stars or the moon. CAPPUCCINO ... I love coffee houses! SPENDING TIME WITH GOD ... journaling, prayer walks, the Bible.
Suzanne Good -- South Boston, VA
I'm Suzanne Abigail Good or just simply Su. I'm 18 and the lastborn of the Good family. I live in South Boston, VA and work at Windmill Farm Bake Shop. I absolutely love to sing and listen to good music! I've had the privilege of singing with various groups and under quite a few different directors. I feel very blessed to have experienced that at my age! Last summer I was in Poland with the Hope Singers and sang under Lloyd Kauffman for three weeks. That was an incredible experience! Singing in a huge cathedral, sticking your feet in the ice cold Baltic Sea, walking the streets of old towns, singing the Polish language and seeing the people connect...Wow! I'll definitely never forget that! This summer I'm singing with Oasis Chorale. I'm excited about that! Some of my hobbies are scrapbooking, volleyball, playing piano, spending time with my nephew and neice, listening to music, going to good concerts (like Chanticleer, King Singers, Concordia, etc.), or just being with my friends. So anyway, that's pretty much me. I'm really looking forward to August!
Merry Yoder -- Catlett, VA
Occupation: Data Processor for Choice Books of Northern VA.
Church: Faith Christian Fellowship/Pastor: Simon Schrock
Favorite Things: Hanging Out with Friends and Family, The Good Family, Crystal, Scrapbooking, Reading, Singing, Writing Poetry/Song Lyrics, Having a Good Laugh, Learning About Something I Didn't Know About Before, etc.
Pet Peeves: Manipulative People, Being Late, Prolonged Dissonance, Being Hot and Bothered!
What makes me come alive: Brushing minds with those who THINK whether they be present (conversations) or absent (books), encountering new ideas and concepts that show me a BIGGER GOD, and finding God in unexpected places.
Musical Background: Received training through my grade school years. More training from FBEP. Some self-taught stuff, and lots of input from my musical friends (The Goods, Rosie Leichty, AHQ, and others). I taught music and choir in various capacities for about 9 years. Conducted a Ladies Ensemble for a couple years. I sang with CROSS, an a cappella quartet in which I was the only female. Lately, I've been jumping at the opportunities to sing under Lamar. Whenever he gets a choir together and sends me an invite, you can count on it that I will do everything I can to be there. :-)
Barb Smucker -- Morgantown, WV
I am in a combined family medicine/psychiatry residency at WVU hospitals. I have been alive longer than most of the rest of the choir members. Some of them used to be my students when they were in grade school and/or high school. I am always busier than I'd like to be. Working two weekends a month in addition to the regular five days a week with a few evenings besides gets to be a drag. I was probably dumb to forsake the life of teaching with summers free to take up the medical life. But life is good, because God is good. I love music. I taught music and singing to elementary and high school students as well as singing regularly in a community choir and just enjoying the singing at my church. I was born in Oregon. I am still an Oregonian. Oregon rules.
ReGina Brubaker -- Lebanon, PA
I am from Lebanon, PA, which is just north of the well-known Lancaster area. My family appears to be very settled with their lives, except for me. :-) That is to say that my siblings are married, and I, the youngest, remain at home with my parents. The past year has not found me at home very much though. I spent the fall/winter at SMBI for four terms and since that time have been home and gone sporadically. Life is an adventure, ultimately because I am serving God. Have you been struck by the sense of mystery that God holds in His hands, and seemed to be blinded by awe? Back to the subject of family, I have four neices and one nephew, and I think that we may adore each other equally! Spending moments with them is priceless! Presently my job is very part-time, working evenings at the ICE SHACK, making ice cream sundaes and dipping Italian ice. It is enjoyable, though will very probably be short-lived. Besides loving to travel, meeting new people, socializing with friends, and connecting and exchanging thoughts with other believers, I love my alone times. My God and I as I walk the dirt road, or play piano, or read and journal, or lately, experiment with color and texture in art. Music is priceless to me and has been a very important part of my life. I can remember as a child being enthralled with sounds of Handel's Messiah and wishing to someday be a participant in such a choir. Though my musical experiences have not all been of such quality, I still love music. Youth chorus, Mennonite Heritage Chorale, Sharon Singers...these have been good experiences.
Robin Brubaker -- Olar, SC
I feel very fortunate to be one of the new members on Tapestry! I'm Robin Brubaker, and I've lived in SC my entire life. I've just finished my first year teaching school. I teach several junior high and high school classes at my church's school (Barnwell Christian). I love to learn, and I love to help students experience the same joy of learning. Most of all, I love helping students to relate what they learn to the truths of the Word and, in the words of John Donne, to "learn to see God in everything" -- from math all the way to English and beyond. I've also just returned from a wonderfully exhilarating trip to Europe! That was a dream come true for me. There is so much in life to be enjoyed, but let me tell you about some of the things I enjoy most (not necessarily in order from most to least): good books (especially classic literature), history (right now I'm into Anabaptist history), philosophy and Christian apologetics, cooking and eating (vegetables, southern food, basically anything fried, and much more), current events and politics, taking in the beauty of nature, warm weather, traveling to new places, good talks with friends. And music, of course, is another big love of my life. The power of music to move me, delight me, and reach deep into my soul's emotions convinces me that music comes from God and I am made in His image. I look forward to enjoying good choral music and praising God with Tapestry this summer.
Heidi Ulrich -- Lancaster, PA
Hi, everyone! I am from the part of PA where everyone comes to go fabric shopping and eat at Shady Maple Smorgasbord.....know where that is? Lancaster!!! Its a great place to be if you're a people person. I am second to oldest in my family, and have five brothers. My oldest brother Joel is 26 and the youngest, Josh, is 8. My brother Jeremy is 16, Hans 13, and James 12. Life never holds a dull moment and is quite fun. As for work, I have a few cleaning jobs. I love music and am looking so forward to singing with y'all. I have sung with a few groups in my life time. Actually I guess I have been singing more then I realized. I sang with a children's choir till I was a teenager then from there, I joined Mennonite Heritage Chorale. I also have helped in a music academy ensemble and the Sharon Singers. Just a few groups but they all have been a big part of my life. Other things I enjoy are working with city children, spending time with friends, having dates with God, shopping, and just life in general. Looking forward to August!
Heidi Weaver -- Middleburg, PA
I've heard that every tapestry needs a weaver, so here I am! You former Tapestry members already know the other weavers, my sisters, Amy and Bessie Weaver. I am the wayward sister, finally coming home! I have spent the last two years in Thailand. I was a foster parent there and was mother to two wonderful little men. They were both adopted and Wakin now lives in Vancouver, BC and Zack lives in Germany. I miss them terribly and have big plans and dreams to go see both of them someday. Since coming home from Thailand I'm attended a term at SMBI and am now trying to figure out a new "normal." I have a part time, temporary job until I figure out what else God wants from me! My future is scary but exciting because the options are endless! One of the blessings that I am more thankful for now than ever is my family. If you ever have trouble being grateful for your family, just leave for a while and you'll soon realize how much they mean to you! I grew up in a music loving family and have done quite a bit of singing. But, sad to say, the last few years in Thailand did not involve much singing and only since I've returned have I realized how rusty I've become! Hopefully my sisters can polish me up before August and I can make a contribution to the choir.
Amy Weaver -- Middleburg, PA
My name is Amy Weaver, and I hail from the beautiful Susquehanna Valley, Central Pennsylvania. I come in age between my two sisters Heidi and Bethany. We also have two older brothers whose latest additions make me an aunt of five beautiful little people. This past year and the next have included and will include many changes for me. Last summer, I sang in a choir similar to Tapestry. Over the winter I worked in a coffee shop, making wraps, running the register, making lattes, cappuccinos, frappes, smoothies, and so on. This spring I went to SMBI for a term. That was a really awesome experience. This summer I'm flying to Asia for a month on SMBI's WATER program. I have been to Thailand before to visit my sister, but this will involve far more than a short visit. This fall I'll be attending nursing school. As for hobbies, I love love love to sing. I love beautiful weather. I love a good game(s) of volleyball. I love people. And I love singing in choirs like Tapestry.
Bethany Weaver -- Middleburg, PA
Hi. I'm Bethany Weaver, but everyone calls me Bessie. To save you the bother of asking: no, I am not offended by being called a cow name. I had the privilege of helping with Tapestry 2003 and enjoyed it immensely. I don't believe anyone has yet stolen my title of youngest Tapestry member. So I guess I'll be the pip-squeak of the group again. I graduated from high school this spring. That's a good feeling, but a little bit scary too because I don't know exactly what I'll be doing in the future. I have four older siblings two of which you'll be meeting on Tapestry. Amy and I are happy to have our sister Heidi joining Tap this year. As is the popular opinion in this group, I really like music of various styles. I'm looking forward to joining Tapestry II this summer. And I'm excited especially about the Negro spirituals in our repertoire!
Regina Derstine -- Harrisburg, OR
I'm 20 years old and have lived a beautiful, fulfilled, blessed and extremely interesting life thus far. I'm a part of the best family in thee entire world. They always have and continue to surround my life with a warm circle of love, loyalty and support. Tangent Mennonite Church is the scientific name for my church family, and I'm incredibly thankful to be a part of this particular segment of God's family, for indeed, they do spur me on towards a personal walk with Jesus Christ and encourage me to live my Christian life in the extreme! I'm a recently returned missionary from a land rich in palm trees, pineapples, sugar cane, and warm sunshine -- Belize, Central America -- where I spent a precious seven months intensely learning the art of "servant-hood." As I performed the daily tasks of a cook, maid and social worker at the San Antonio mission, God taught me many simple, yet profound lessons which I shall treasure forever. Previous to this, I spent one year teaching at a school established primarily for Russian/Ukrainian immigrants. Teaching those kids was an adventure! I love to travel to foreign countries (been in 13 and Africa is next!). Front porches and summer evenings are a favorite. Deep discussions intrigue me. People intrigue me! I love to figure them out! Out on the river in our canoe is another favorite of mine. I like to sing. I love to sing! Music fascinates me. Ever since I was a little girl I've been singing. Anywhere, anytime, anyplace. To me, music is a language of the heart and soul and is nothing short of a gift sent straight from heaven.