However, while walking to school the first day, he looked down the street and remarked to his cousin that this truly must be “THE PROMISED LAND.” His cousin asked what in the world he was talking about, and as his little heart pounded in his chest, and Paul gazed in wonder at the first girl he had ever seen wearing shoes, and not chewing tobacco, he cried "Look! look at that! God has done and sent me something to replace old Rover!" and with those words, Paul met and promptly fell in love with the girl that would grow up to be his wife. Romantic huh? With all that charm, is it any wonder I was just swept off my feet?

Now, I know it sounds silly, especially to the youth of today who seemingly have Christmas nearly every day of the year, but back then,for a refugee family from the poverty stricken coal camps of Coxton, Kentucky., the mere sight of a place like Dayton, Ohio, with its factories booming, offering good paying jobs, modern schools and shopping centers, was “THE PROMISED LAND.”

You see, it was all in God’s time, for Paul’s family to come to Dayton, for God to bring us together, and later to bless our marriage and home with children of our own that would one day be the ministering team you know now as“THE ROARKS."

Well, that of course leads me on in the natural progression of things: our children. Talk about God’s time. Let me say quickly that the boys get their talent and good looks from me, and their business sense and stubbornness from their father. (Just ask their wives, darling girls, who agree with me on everything) You believe that don’t you? Good.

Then we still have lots to talk about. The older of the two young men is Travis. Among his many duties, he plays the bass guitar, keeps the rest of the music tracks running, trying sometimes in vain to keep us running along with them, and also shares bus driving and maintenance with his father and brother. Travis is the quiet one. Sometimes he can be around for hours and we don’t know he’s there. Those of course, as you well know, are the ones to be watched. While Travis doesn’t always have a lot to say, when he does speak, it’s usually profound. He can cut to the chase quicker than almost anyone I know.

Travis is married to a fine young woman named Cheryl. They have two daughters, Cortney and Kaycee. While Cheryl doesn’t sing on stage with the group, she is nevertheless a very valuable asset to the smooth operation of the ministry.

Then there is Shane. Unlike his older brother, you always know when Shane is in the room. Much like his father, he is always talking. Not that he really rambles or anything, he just seems to always have a lot to say, about almost everything. Shane of course, sings, plays several instruments, writes many of our songs, and as mentioned earlier, wrestles the bus around with his dad and brother. Shane is married to a lovely girl named Jenny. They have two daughters, Madissen age 6 and Makenna age 2. Like Cheryl, Jenny doesn’t perform on stage, but surely helps keep this outfit running. Paul and I are very blessed to have a good relationship with both of our daughters-in-law, and we wonder sometimes how we ever got along without them.

I have to tell you that I have not always been above questioning God’s timing. As many of you know, Travis and Shane were involved in a terrible, near fatal automobile accident several years ago. We were in Florida for a series of meetings and concerts and made a quick trip home one weekend. Since it was just a turnaround trip to come home and take care of some business, we didn’t bring the bus.

Paul and I traveled together, and the boys traveled together. Paul and I were on the way back to Florida ahead of the boys. When we got there, the news had already come that the boys had been in a horrible accident. Paul and I caught the first flight to Knoxville, TN. where the boys were in the hospital. My parents and brother were there from Ohio, as well as a friend from Kentucky.