Acknowledgments

My BIGGEST THANKS go to my family, who believed and supported my dream. Without my mother’s loving patience and encouragement; my father’s humor, energy, and loyalty; my older brothers’ devotion and attention to the family’s daily needs; my youngest brother’s sensitivity and imagination; and my angels’ selfless guidance, I would not be where I am today, and this book would never have been written.

I have special thanks for the relatives, friends, and acquaintances who inspired our family the most through both hard and easy times. There were those who encouraged us to homeschool. There were those who helped us when we were penniless. There were those who were instrumental in our spiritual growth. There were those who appreciated my art and poetry. There were those who understood the reality of my visions, and those whose faith and optimism were infectious, carrying us through very turbulent times. There were those who motivated us to write the biography. There were those who offered us shelter in their huts or mansions. There were those whose prayers brought miracles. There were those who shared our everyday lives, helping us to grow: Johana Koeb, Aldona Blisntrubiene, Vladas Blinstrubas, Stanislava Simutiene and her entire family, Alfred Guscius, Renee and Brent Caudill and their family, Amber Spring and her family, Sandy Ross and her family, Caroline Faber, Natalie Camino, Charles and Lauren Bisbee, Bob and Rhonda Beckman, Sheila and Mark Hubert, Chris Leonard, Steve and Sandy Charbonneau, Ilana Goldman, Kay Drumright, Debbie Heil, Buffy, Mary Cunningham, Susan Badell, Moe Segal, Linda Czir, Bill Wigley, Sylvia Castle, Dawn and Ross Radandt, Paul Keith Davis, Michael Lloyd, Susan Miller, Mirian Trobridge, Dubrava Pochernikova, Marina Koledintseva, Mathew Block, Ernest Moyer, Roger Jellinek, Rolla St. Patrick’s School, and many others.

I also want to thank all the art students I’ve taught, wonderfully patient models who modeled for me, churches, galleries, and museums that invited me, photographers, cameramen, and media who allowed me to share my dream with others, fans who supported me with their letters, gifts, and smiles, many charities, especially the LISTEN campaign, Free the Kids, and Northwest Medical Teams for giving me an opportunity to help sick and poor children around the world.

My thanks go to all art collectors, but especially Brian and Susan Conrad, Steve and Abby Appelt, Sylvia and Richard Witt, Emory Miller, Holly and Daryl Robertson, Margaret Mills, Jerry Fuhs, and Whitey and Fran Menching.

I also want to thank those who were the most supportive and helpful in bringing my art and poetry to millions of people: Debbie Wickwire (acquisitions editor, Thomas Nelson), Chris and Linda Gibbs (the reproduction printer), Karl Knelson (webmaster), Victoria Nesnick (president, Kids Hall of Fame), Emily O’Donnel (reporter, Time magazine), Paul Keith Davis (the speaker), Rick Hankock (ABI), Oprah Winfrey and her producers (Oprah), Robert Schuller (Hour of Power), Marjorie Neufeld (Miracle Channel/Life Line), Patricia King (Extreme Prophetic), Alyson Marino and Craig Ferguson (Late Late Show), Gary Dini (FOX magazine), Wayne Brady (comedian, host, Wayne Brady Show), Lou Dobbs (CNN), producers at Good Morning, America and World News Tonight. Many thanks to all television and radio stations, magazines, and newspapers around the world who shared my story.