Hello from Wendy Mercer!

What Makes Me, Me: I am the youngest of five children, the mother of four children, the Nana to one precious little girl, and I love people. 

My parents raised me to see the beauty in others, even when others don’t see it shining through.  They taught me that God made each and every one of us in His image, no matter our imperfections.  As an attorney, my father represented men and women from all walks of life.  He understood that we are shaped by our circumstances, and he faithfully taught me to look through that lens, instead of judging others. 

I believe that this outlook in life has molded who I am and has grown a passion in me to help others realize how special they are. 

In My Spare Time: My happy place is hiking on a mountain, preferably with a good friend or a family member.  Nothing compares to the fresh smell of the North Carolina mountains, with views for miles.  I can spend all day connecting with nature by wandering through the woods, sitting on a rock with a view, or enjoying the mist from a waterfall.  Sometimes I get to do all three in one day!

What I am Reading: When I was a child, I spent most summers living at my grandparents’ home in Newfoundland, Canada.  They had rows and rows of bookcases, filled to the brim with books of all kinds.  As a young girl, I found the Anne of Green Gables books and read them all.   

Each year, I would search out those books and read them again, excited to rejoin Anne in all of her adventures.  Secretly, I imagined that I was Anne, and dreamed of living at Green Gables.  I felt that my grandparents' home was very similar to hers---a beautiful old home, on a Canadian island, with acres of grass to run barefoot through.   

Now, as an adult, I am still just as happy to pick those books up (which I inherited).  One of my favorite quotes from Anne is the following.  “Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about?  It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world.”

What’s in a color: Pink is my favorite color.  If I were to think about how pink might describe me, I would say that, in my mind, pink is often associated with love and nurturing.  Pink is a joyful color that brings happiness to our human spirits.   
 
Pink reflects my passion for spreading love and my commitment to making a positive impact. Just like the comforting hue of a light pink, I want to create an environment where people feel valued and cared for.

My skill you’d never suspect: My mother was a stained glass artist.  When I was a child, she taught me so much about the inner workings of this craft.  I learned how to make sun-catchers, Christmas ornaments, windows, lamps and more!  

My Favorite Travel Hack: If you are going somewhere cold, fold your puffer jacket into a travel sized pillowcase and you have a pillow for the airplane. ✈️😃

Other than Travel, what’s on my #BucketList: I would love to work to fill in any holes in my family genealogy.  

My father was the son of a migrant worker and moved all over the United States, living in lean-to shacks and barns.  My mother was born in Newfoundland, which was then a colony of Great Britain, later becoming a province of Canada.  There are so many interesting facets to both sides of my family and how it has evolved.  

I think that pulling this information together would be a gift to my own children and grandchildren.