About the Authors

Here are the most common questions people ask on line, and their answers.

How many brothers and sisters do you have? I have one brother who is a few years older than me.

How tall are you/What color is your hair and eyes? I have no ideal what the color of my hair and eyes are. I have been blind all of my life, due to the optic nerve failing to develop when I was born. I seldom if ever find myself wondering what I look like. I have been told before, but I always forget. Sometimes I do wonder about what other people look like, and once and a while I’ll ask someone, but more often than not, I will forget what others tell me they look like to. I remember what they look like to me inside I guess that is what counts right?

What do you look for in the opposite sex? I look for a woman who loves the Lord with all she is, and seeks Him whole heartedly. In my case, I believe it is important that she be called to ministry and has a heart for people as ministry is my calling in life. I believe the most important thing is that whom ever I may find and marry some day be equally yoke with me in Christ. That we would both receive each other as one another's best friends, as being each others best friend is a key factor in a successful marriage. That we love each other as described in the bible. (I Corinthians 13)

When is your birthday?  My birth day is October 7

Where do you live? I live in North West Arkansas.

How many Girls have you dated?  I have dated two girls. One was in high school, we dated study for about two years or so, but I think I was sweet on her for about four. It was when that relationship ended, that I learned what real heart brake is, and started having more compassion on others when they struggle in a relationship.

What do you believe is a big thing in your life?   The biggest thing in my life is God. I believe He has called me from the very beginning and here is why I say this. When I was a little toddler, to young to remember, my grand mother who I call Mammo, said I stood up front at the altar one time at church and said “here I am Lord” If I remember right she said I just kept saying that. Also when I was small and would be sitting at the table, she said I would start throwing a fit to hear music. She said sometimes she would turn the radio on, but that would not satisfy me. However when she would put on a record of the “Chuck Wagon gang” the name of a family that sings gospel, I would always get happy. She said I always wanted to hear them, just something off from the radio would never do. When I was some where around 8 or nine, I gave my life to the Lord and found Him as my savior. I remember getting so happy when I did this, jumping up and down for joy!! Like a boy who had been given a new toy. Except for I can assure you it was something far greater than a new toy, for I knew what I had was ever lasting. It was like I could see Him writing my name down in His book. I have and will continue to make mistakes this side of heaven from that day forward, but I was sincere in my exception of Christ and He makes all the difference in my life. In fact, He is my life. (Galatians 2:20)

What is your home phone number?  My home phone number? I don’t think they have phones up there in my home, we won’t need them. Oh wait, you mean my house phone number, my home here on earth. Well I don’t believe I should give that out, if you wish to contact me, again do feel free to email me, you will find my email at the bottom of this page.

What type of car do you have?  I have a 1972 Buick. I am not sure why I own a car since I can not see to drive it, but I am still hanging on to it. My grandparents gave me the car several years ago. I believe they bought it in 73 and they all tell me it was the first car I ever road in. I came home from the hospital when I was a baby in that car. I don’t remember that for some reason, but I believe them. The thing is old and warn out in a lot of ways, but it still runs good, and is pretty dependable when going from point a to point b. In cold weather it hesitates pretty bad when you first accelerate. No matter how far you drive it on a cold day, it will often hesitate. My dad put an accelerator pump in it, and that fixed it for about a month, then it went back to doing the same thing again. Maybe I should try another accelerator pump. If any one reading this page has any other ideals, I be interested. It has a 455 engine, the carburetor is four barrel.

What do you do in your spare time?  In my spare time I like playing and listening to music. I like to sing, and now, I am enjoying writing on my story which you can find if you click on the “Mark’s dream get together.” I enjoy listening to old time radio programs on the internet, and watching shows such as Gun Smoke, and Andy Griffith. 

What School do you go to?  I went to Siloam Springs public schools, and then went to college at John Brown University, where I majored in biblical studies.

Have you ever been outside of the state of Michigan?  I have been out side of the state of AR. Several times. I have taken a lot of vacations with my parents and grand parents, and at one time or another I believe I have been in just about all of the states. I really like Colorado. I love being in the mountains, or the woods, or just being out side. 

What do you think about church?  I believe church is a body of one that all become a member of when they receive Christ as their personal savior. I see the church as being the bride of Christ. Christ being the groom that will come for His church one day. I believe He will come for her, one day, and in that day she (the church) will be offered up to Him in a perfected state. (Ephesians 5:25-27) Again I believe all born again believers in Christ, our members of the church,  And when we go to church the place we go to is just a building where we meet together and worship. However, it is important that we attend church, so we can have fellowship one with another, and be disciples and learn how to disciple. (Matthew 28:19) I like to think of it in this light. It is good to think of God as Father Church as mother. (St. Cyprian of Carthage and later John Calvin). Actually they said that we can not love God as our Father with out seeing church as mother, and I like that. For how can we say we truly love God, if we cut ourselves off from those who He loves, who he has made and predestined to be conformed to His image. (Romans 8:29) SO if I may still a line from Charity the editor and co- owner of this site, I think “church is great.” I am honored to be a part of her, and I have both rejoiced in her, and wept over her in resent years, and by the Lord’s grace I shall continue doing what I can to build up the Church until I am called up to glory to be with my Lord. I am glad to have a part in serving Him and helping to strengthen the church that The Lord started many years ago. (Acts 2)

What are your Favorite Foods? My favorite foods, lets see. I really like fried potatoes when they are fixed right, with bacon and onions fried in them. I like all kinds of meet, and vegetables. Most foods, set it before me and I’ll be glad to eat it. I am more picky about desserts though, but I am trying to get to where I am not so picky as it is not good to be picky about such things.

What are your Least Favorite Foods? I can not stand sauerkraut, and I don’t like avocados or grape fruit!

What is your Favorite Holiday? My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love celebrating the birth of Christ, the family get together singing Christmas songs and so on. I have always liked Christmas. Soon I hope to have a page up on our site you can click on that will tell you about one of my favorite child hood Christmas memories that I have. It will probably be called “Marks nativity play,” I am not sure when I’ll get that up, but I hope to get it up before long, so keep your eyes open if you are interested?

What are your Favorite Sports? I really do not have a favorite sport, never did get in to them.

What are your Favorite Video Games? I do not have a favorite video game either. I use to like to play excite bike, a Nintendo game when Nintendo first came out, and I like rad racer. Once I remember playing a video game at a restaurant that was really fun. It was a race car that you sit in and it sounded so really. Someone got in with me and steered the game, and I did the petals. I liked the game because it was so realistic. For example if you were driving slow, you could shift in to low, and for a few moments, it would speed up faster, just like a real car. In other words, when you shifted down you had more power just like a real vehicle has more power in lower gears. Higher gears go faster, but lower gears have more power. Also the game sounded like a real truck of some kind. It didn’t sound like a race car. It sounded more like a straight six cylinder shivelay engine that might be in an old two-ton truck or something. I wouldn’t mind to have that game even to day.

What are your Hobbies? Hobbies, that kind of goes back to what I like to do in my spare time. I do collect toy tractors. I am loosing interest in adding to my collection though, because I am running out of room for them. However I would really like to have a Ferguson tractor as I do not have a Ferguson. I’d take a Ferguson or a Massy Ferguson either one I could find. 

What are your Favorite Books? My favorite book is the bible of course. I also liked Nancy Drew books when growing up, I might still I don’t know. I like good Christian fiction, little house on the prairie books, and books of this nature. Oh and I must not for get The Sugar creak gang.

What is your Personality like?  My personality is friendly, pretty out going. I love people and enjoy talking with others. I like my alone time every now and then as well. I like to tease but never knowingly at someone else's expense. I would never want to tease someone in a way that would hurt them.  

What are your Strengths/Weaknesses/Fears/Phobias?  If you are wondering about my strengths, and weakness and fears, I am pretty comfortable talking about it, but not with posting it world wide for all to see.

What are your Romantic Interests? My romantic interests, I am gonna say if you would like to know about that, email and ask me. I’ll not go into that now.

Who are your Best Friends?   My best friend in a spiritual since is God. The Lord Jesus Christ is good to me. (John 15:15) It amazes me when I think of this truth, that God is so high and mighty and great! And He is also a close friend. When it comes to people I don’t think I have a best friend, I hope to some day. However I do have many many friends and I love them all, and all have contributed greatly in impacting my life in some way or another and I thank God for them each one. 

~Mark D. Rotramel

Here are the most common questions people ask on line, and their answers.

How many brothers and sisters do you have?  I have 3 brother and 2 sisters, of which I am the oldest. The oldest boy (23) got married in June of 2002 and is living in Hartford in a home that he designed him self, He is an Engineer at Whitman Associates. His first child was born on the 4th of July, 2003 at 7:15 pm and his second one was born January 9, 2006 at 12:14 pm. The next oldest boy (22) works at Speed Way in Coloma. The second oldest Girl (19) works at The YWCA. She got married on May 7th this year. The youngest Girl (15) wants to hang with me every second that she can, though I don't know why. And she goes to Country Side Academy school. Please don't get me wrong I didn't mention the other brother yet because he is a special person and not in that way. He is very protective of his older sisters; being only 18 he is a great. And also very strong willed. He is a handful. Well not really, he loves racing, and is working at Burger King in Watervliet.

How tall are you?  I am 5' 1.5" tall. I have to put that .5 because I so wanted to be 5'2". When the Doctor told me that I was 5'1.5"; I started telling everyone that.

What color is your hair and eyes?  I have blondish-brown hair and hazel eyes. The only one of us six kids that have Hazel eyes like my father.

What do you look for in the opposite sex?  A man who loves long walks on the beach, Romantic dinners, Going to the movies and just hanging with friends. He doesn’t have to be cute or rich, cause it's what’s inside that counts. He needs to love to draw or watch someone else draw, and maybe write stories. He has to be single before I would ever consider going out with him. He has to be honest, and caring, enough to treat me like a Princess (or queen which ever he sees fit) He has to be a devoted Christian, That of course is a must I have had my share of guys who aren’t Christian. My Parents have seen how they treat me and I was always told that I could do better.

When is your birthday?  My Birthdate is December 20.

Where do you live?  I live with my Husband, in a little town called Hartford. It is located in southwest Michigan

How many Guys have you dated?  About 5 guys total 4 of them were after high school the other was a summer camp romance. One in particular (My Husband now) has a son a little over 3 years old and he is taking care of him by himself (with help from his parents of course) he and I separated because he wanted to see me happy and he thought spending time with him and the child wasn't enough, He told me to find a guy who could take me out on dates (agreeing with my parents on that one) I don't really care about going out, Of course I don’t mind not being able to be with him, in fact I think it is great that he is taking care of his child. Just spending time with the person is enough for me, my parents think it is wrong for me not to be going anywhere (like on dates and stuff) and they told me, I need to find another guy to go with. I did tell them that I don't care if I can go out or not, just spending time with a person is ok by me, but they insist. So I guess you could say I am single, or just say separated. (UPDATE? I am now married to Carlos M. Ledesma and His son is doing great.)

What do you believe is a big thing in your life?  I believe Trust is a big thing and if you can't trust someone then it is not worth spending the time on him or her. I am the kind of person that trusts and respects every one and kind of demand the same from others. My parents say that I have a big heart like my grandmother had, and I of course try to do what I can to please others. Thinking of course that if I can make others happy I can make myself happy as well. So far it has been true. I have been happy with my self for a while now and have gained some of my confidence and self-esteem back. But I also have to be careful that I don't let others take advantage of my "Big Heart."

What is your home phone number?  Umm I don't think I should give that out.

What type of car do you have?  I used to have a 1991 Pontiac Sunbird that ran great but started to fall apart on the outside. I bought it from my Grandfather who owns A-1 Auto Salvage on Red Arrow Hwy, between Coloma and Benton Harbor. It has a new alternator, new exhaust system, a rebuilt engine and a transmission from another Pontiac that was on my grandfathers lot. all in all it has cost me about 1000 dollars or a little more just keep the car on the road. plus another 77 dollars a month for car insurance. But I owned that car for a great 6 years before I finally sold it. Then I had a 1992 Dodge Shadow, a few of my friends raged on me for it but I didn't care what type of car I drove as long as it got me from Point A to Point B. It died a few months after I got it (Blew the engine three times in under two weeks) Then in March (2005) I got a new car, A 1995 Ford Escort Wagon. That car is doing great considering I ended up in a ditch around the middle of November (2005) when I hit a patch of ice and spun off the road.

What do you do in your spare time?  I love to read books and am working on writing my own stories. (I love the fact that there is a spell checker on the computers because I am a horrible speller) I love to draw landscapes, Work on the Computer and work on my websites. (I have 4 right now but hope to get it down to 2) I love going to the movies, (but won't go to any rated 'R') and going out to eat. I like to take long walks on the beach, or just riding my bike a couple of miles. I also like to just hang with my friends.

What School do you go to?  I went to Southwest Michigan College in Dowagiac, Mi for 2 years before loosing my Pell grant (My grades were not so good) I am trying though to go back to College in the up coming year, my Major is going to be English, and my Minor is going to be Drawing/Illustration or Web Development. I am still trying to get back into school so that I could be an Author sometime in the future (Maybe write child Lit). My favorite subject is Art, and my least favorite subject is Math. (Update? I will be going back to College as soon as My husband graduates.)

Have you ever been outside of the state of Michigan?  Yes, I spent 2 weeks with my grandparents on my mother's side when I was 9 and we went to Florida. I have also been to Kentucky, and Tennessee, a couple times. In 1997 I went to Fort Collins Colorado. I was there in the middle of that flood they had that year. And trust me when I say we were literally trapped in the Moby Arena all night long. The next night when we went back to the Moby a lot of people brought sleeping bags incase it happened again. I went to New Mexico on a mission’s trip a few years after that and we visited a lot of states going to and coming from New Mexico. That’s the farthest west I have ever been.

What do you think about church?  I have a few friends that go to a Lutheran church. My self I am a Free Methodist, and I go to the Watervliet Free Methodist. I think church is great. A person should at least go to church more then twice a month but that is just my opinion.

What are your Grandparents like?  My grandmother, on my mother’s side, died of Cancer October 2, 2001. My mother told me it started in her ribs, then spread to her lung, then to the rest of her body, we found out too late for them to operate, so they had to do chemo, when that didn't work they switched to radiation. She was a wonderful lady. She had a huge heart, which is one thing I inherited from her, and she cared about everyone, I was told recently that when my grandma went to the Holy Land, a long time ago, that she shared a room with one of the women who didn’t have any buddies to room with. When they came home, my grandma gave me two small cylinders from her trip, one had a shell, and the other had water from the Dead Sea.
My grandmother, on my father’s side, was moved to St. Joe to the nursing home on Hawthorne, she loved it there specially since she was in the room right next door to her sister. She had a little episode where she had to go to the hospital, but that was because she had a bladder infection (I think). then May 3, 2005, she passed away. She was a wonderful lady as well, In fact in the 7th grade I had to do an interview with someone I knew and I did it on her. Her answers were so fascinating and intriguing. And I got an A on that project.
My Grandfather on my mothers side is still alive and kicking. he owns an auto salvage, which is slowly turning into a repair shop. He is a great guy, and once (a while back) I got to do an interview with him which I still have to this day. He got remarried at the end of January 2005 to a wonderful Woman whom my brothers and sisters have called Grandma since the day they could talk. It is so cool to call her Grandma for real now.
My Grandfather on my fathers side died November 5, 1991, of a heart attack. I don't remember much about him except that he liked to work with wood, and made his grandkids a lot of things out of wood. (I still have the doll bed and Jewel boxes that he made me)

What are your Favorite Foods?  Pizza, Cantaloupe, and Pumpkin Pie

What are your Least Favorite Foods?  Cooked Carrots, most veggies

What are your Favorite Colors?  Blue, Pink, Purple, and Red (Not in that Order)

What is your Favorite Holiday?  Christmas (cause of the family togetherness) <and the presents>

What are your Favorite Sports?  Base Ball, Sometimes basketball or Roller Hockey, and Racing (I occasionally watch Football but that's only when I am at my father-in-law's house)

What are your Favorite Video Games?  Star Ocean {both the Second Story for PS1 and Till The End Of Time for PS2} (Am hoping to get a PS2 so I can play my Star Ocean 3 game that I got)

What are your Hobbies?  Collecting Coins, Reading books, Writing Stories, and Drawing Cartoons, and doing research on things that interest me.

What are your Favorite Books?  “Nancy Drew and the Clue of the Broken Locket”, and the whole set of “The Chronicles of Narnia” by C. S. Lewis. I have Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, Dana Girls, Bobbsey Twins and a few other, I did some research on them and found out some interesting info, They were all ghost written, but all the credit went to one guy. Edward Stratemeyer, It was only in 1980, that Mildred Benson was given Credit for having written Nancy Drew. Sorry thought I'd give you a little info on that.

What is your Personality like?  I am very friendly except when it comes to people teasing my friends. I am Caring, and Kind. I have a big heart (That’s what I have been told by my mother), and am getting to be just like my Grandmother who died in 2001.

What are your Strengths?  Don’t exactly know what they are, I’m not very confident yet, but am working on getting better.

What are your Weaknesses/Fears/Phobias?  Needles, Spiders, High Places, Cluster Phobia, and sometimes Water

What are your Romantic Interests?  I love long walks on the beach, Romantic dinners, and going to the movies (I won't watch anything rated "R" They scare me too much)

Who are your Best Friends?  Jammerlea, Angela, KC, Blackblaze (My Husband), Brytestar, Bunny, and Souls (All Nick Names)

~Charity C (Cowgill) Ledesma

You can email us at:

 placeoffreedom@gmail.com