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Vober’s ‘choices’ shared in new book

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

West Valley View Executive Editor

Lori Vober said she believes God has a plan for everyone, citing Jeremiah 29:11 NIV, “For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Vober suffered an intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke at age 29, and, from it, developed epilepsy. She felt called to share her story, and her journey of faith and perseverance, to encourage others.

“It was caused by a malformation of the blood vessels on the right side of my brain,” she said. “I had a massive brain bleed. I had just left corporate America, left the airline industry, three weeks prior to take a position at our church.

“We were trying to start our family, and we thought less travel and less stress would help the situation. One day, I started feeling really bad. I called my parents, and they met me at the church.”

Before she made it to the hospital, she lost consciousness. Upon arrival at the medical center, she had fi ve-hour brain surgery to stop the bleeding. For several days, she was in a drug-induced coma.

When she awoke, her left side was paralyzed. She had to relearn to walk through therapy.

“I’m doing very well,” she said. “I’m independent. I don’t need a walker. I still have a disability, especially on the left side. I can drive. I dedicated the next seven years of my life to physical therapy. It was a full-time job for me.”

To share her story, she is releasing a book called “Choices” on Trilogy Christian Publishing, a subsidiary of TBN. Set for release Friday, March 11, “Choices” can be picked up early at Ribbons Tea House in Litchfi eld Park from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 5.

“About this time last year, I felt God calling me, saying, ‘I saved you from a stroke and I gave you a story, so get writing,’” she recalled.

“A year later, this is how my book is coming out. It’s about my faith journey and my journey through our perseverance and the challenges of stroke.

“I developed epilepsy from the stroke. My book also discusses job loss and adoption parenting. We’re all faced with challenges — big and small. We also have a choice of how we’re going to react to those challenges. It’s our attitude that can carry us a long way. I hope my story can give hope and encouragement to others.”

Born in Atlanta, Vober considers Texas to be her home because she spent her high school and college years in the Lone Star State. She graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing.

Vober and her husband, Dainis, met in Minnesota after she was transferred there for her job after graduation. Married in Texas in 1998, they live in Goodyear. They purchased land in Pin-

Choices...continued on page 27

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Lori and Dainis Vober adopted three siblings. That is shared in her new book, “Choices.” She will sign copies of the book on Saturday, March 5, at Ribbons Tea House in Litchfield

Park. (Photo courtesy of Lori Vober)

Choices...continued from page 26

etop for their retirement home.

“We’re happily married and have a strong faith and a strong love,” she said. “It’s carried us through some pretty tough times.”

The Vobers adopted a sibling group of three kids from Colombia, South America, in 2011.

“Our journey of adoption parenting has been a blessing and has had its challenges,” Vober said.

“It has not been easy, but God really called us to give kids who didn’t have a home a forever home. That was 11 years ago. They’re now 21, 19 and 17. The 21-year-old is on her own, living in Ohio. Our 19-year-old is a senior in high school, and the 17-year-old is a junior in high school.”

The couple are members of Desert Springs Community Church in Goodyear, and Vober is an active part of the women’s ministry.

She serves as a weekly Bible study leader and enjoys connecting with women each week.

Vober’s goal is to be a motivational speaker. She will attend a conference in Texas this summer to refine her speaking skills and confidence level.

“God is not finished with our story yet,” she said. “One day, this will all come to fruition.”

If You Go...

WHAT: Lori Vober “Choices” book signing WHEN: 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 5 WHERE: Ribbons Tea House, 111 W. Honeysuckle Street, Litchfield Park COST: Free admission INFO: lorivober.com

BY WEST VALLEY VIEW STAFF

Using “The Bible Now” by Richard Elliot Friedman and Shawna Dolansky as a reference, Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan, Ph.D., will show participants of a new class, “Hot Biblical Topics: Controversial Issues as Seen in the Bible,” what the ancient Bible teaches regarding contemporary controversies.

The Zoom class includes fresh interpretations of texts that have been misused to justify both stringent and lenient positions on such topics as capital punishment, homosexuality, abortion and environmental issues. These “hot topics” will be discussed with respect for all attendees.

This three-week course will be taught by Kaplan, rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley. Kaplan has a diverse rabbinic background, having served congregations in Israel; Capetown, South Africa; Albany, Georgia; Kingston, Jamaica; and Mobile, Alabama, before assuming his current position at TBS.

The author of several books and numerous papers and articles, Kaplan earned an undergraduate degree at Yeshiva University with a major in Jewish studies; a Ph.D. in American Jewish history from Tel Aviv University (his dissertation was on “Conversion to Judaism in America: 1760 to 1897”); and a rabbinic degree and a MHL (Hebrew Letters and Literature) from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (Jerusalem). He was subsequently ordained as a rabbi in the Reform Jewish movement.

The course will be offered from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays March 15, March 22 and March 29 on Zoom, or anytime on YouTube (enrollees will receive link for both).

It is open to anyone interested in attending. The cost is $18 for members of TBS and $25 for nonmembers. Advance registration is required. To enroll, call the TBS office at 623-977-3240 or send an email templebethshalomaz@gmail.com before March 10.

ANSWERS ON PAGE 31

King Crossword

ACROSS

1 Offend 5 Vegas lead-in 8 Biting remark 12 Jacob’s twin 13 Antlered animal 14 Latin love 15 Printout 17 Earring site 18 Roscoe 19 More slothful 21 Filled fully 24 -- colada 25 Cupid’s alias 26 Street vendor’s vehicle 30 Sawbuck 31 Attorney’s load 32 Bee follower 33 Barber’s offerings 35 Panache 36 Aachen article 37 Utter impulsively 38 Architectural style 41 Hero sandwich 42 Actress Perlman 43 Ski lodge cupful 48 “A Room of -- Own” 49 Prior night 50 Not so hot? 51 “Holy cow!” 52 Enervate 53 Trade

DOWN

1 “I’m not impressed” 2 “This -- recording” 3 Distant 4 Fakes, as figures 5 Author Uris 6 Jungfrau, for one 7 Urban silhouettes 8 French novelist 9 Mine, to Marcel 10 Judicial garb 11 Rabbit’s title 16 Cow’s chaw 20 &&&& 21 Actor Rogen 22 Location 23 Singer Braxton 24 Stickum 26 Hindquarters 27 Rights advocacy org. 28 Bring up 29 Bivouac shelter 31 Roman 202 34 Go over again 35 Macaroni shapes 37 Tampa Bay NFLer 38 Pirate’s drink 39 “It can’t be!” 40 Golf props 41 Dance move 44 Eggs 45 Cornfield noise 46 Mouths (Lat.) 47 Music booster

by Linda Thistle

The idea of Go Figure is to arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right-hand columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

DIFFICULTY THIS WEEK H H

H Moderate HH Challenging HHH HOO BOY!

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

SCRAMBLERS

Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words. Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!