About Kristen

Kristen West McGuire  was born in Texas and raised in Oregon. She rounded out her accent by going east to school, earning  a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary and a B.S. in Psychology from Georgetown University.  (What other degree can you get inside the beltway?!) She worked for a summer as a chaplain  at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, DC. And then followed her military hubby out west, back among the flakes and nuts.

Kristen's  work has also been published in St. Anthony Messenger,  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Our Sunday Visitor, Metroparent, and Envoy. She has also worked as a research associate with Wilson Taylor Associates, a consultancy specializing in best employer surveys.

She has written two books and tried her hand at publishing a newsletter. (Secretum Meum Mihi - and if the Latin is a turn-off, don't bother visiting - you'll hate her inner Church Lady.)  A veteran of the Catholic ghetto, she was a columnist on spirituality and art history for Catholic Faith and Family in 2000-2001.

She and her husband Daniel are raising eight children  and live  in Great Falls, Montana. A former Marine, Daniel works as a theologian at the University of Great Falls. The kids range in age from 19 to 4. They say they are investing in the future of our country by producing taxpayers. Any donations to the cause will be gratefully accepted.

Some of the younger McGs have been diagnosed on the autistic spectrum. Because of this, Kristen believes strongly in the investment of time and talent in the lives of young children with developmental delays. Not only has it paid off by ensuring that all of her children are  independent and interesting young people, but it also has made her a much better person and compassionate  friend.  Happily, there have been fewer and fewer IEP meetings as well.

Now, if only Alice with her blue dress and keds would show up for work, that would help.