A Little Bit About Me...
My life and experiences have taken me on a very circuitous route, personally, professionally and geographically. I am a native of the State of Maine, a graduate of the University of Maine Augusta, Springfield College (Massachusetts), and Bangor Theological Seminary, a United Church of Christ seminary. I have been United Methodist, Baptist, and non-denominational. I hold a Master of Divinity degree and am ordained. I did a one-year residency in hospital chaplaincy at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Being seminary educated, I have experience in preaching, teaching and the rituals of the church. I find, however, that I don't really "fit" into the boxes of organized religion. I am non-judgmental, open and accepting of others and points of view that may differ from my own.
I found North Carolina to be the "home of my heart" in 2003 and moved here in 2004. I have four children...three in Maine and one in NC...and seven grandchildren. Two of my children, a grandson, sons and daughter-in-love, have, or are, serving in the Marine Corps, Air Force and Army. My father served in the Navy during WWII, so I guess that I have the major branches of the military covered!
I love animals and have four cats and two dogs. All of them are rescues, but who rescued who is the question! Maverick is a Plott hound mix and Goose is a Rotti/Pitt bull mix. Yes, they are named for the movie, "Top Gun."
As a former employer once said, I have a "patchwork of experiences." I have worked in a bookstore (I love books!), been a nursing assistant in a skilled nursing facility, a teaching assistant in a Christian School, a receptionist and dark room tech in a hospital x-ray department, a mentor for first time moms, a volunteer in a domestic violence agency, an insurance claims coordinator in a physician's office, a birth coach, a mental health case manager, and an activity director in a skilled nursing facility. I retired in 2018 after being a hospital chaplain for 15 years.
I was divorced after 33 years of marriage and thought that I was a cynic when it came to marriage. However, I have found that I am really a romantic at heart and love performing wedding ceremonies. I love hearing your stories...that when you stopped looking for love it found you, that "he is the man I have waited for my entire life," or "we've been friends since we were children but drifted apart and just found each other again."
In 2021, I was the officiant chosen to perform the ceremony for one of the couples on TLC's reality show "You, Me and My Ex." This was an interesting experience and one that I immensely enjoyed!
As Sue Monk Kidd wrote in her story, The Secret Life of Bees, "Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can't remember who we are or why we're here." I have included the following article to give you a chapter of my story.
I found North Carolina to be the "home of my heart" in 2003 and moved here in 2004. I have four children...three in Maine and one in NC...and seven grandchildren. Two of my children, a grandson, sons and daughter-in-love, have, or are, serving in the Marine Corps, Air Force and Army. My father served in the Navy during WWII, so I guess that I have the major branches of the military covered!
I love animals and have four cats and two dogs. All of them are rescues, but who rescued who is the question! Maverick is a Plott hound mix and Goose is a Rotti/Pitt bull mix. Yes, they are named for the movie, "Top Gun."
As a former employer once said, I have a "patchwork of experiences." I have worked in a bookstore (I love books!), been a nursing assistant in a skilled nursing facility, a teaching assistant in a Christian School, a receptionist and dark room tech in a hospital x-ray department, a mentor for first time moms, a volunteer in a domestic violence agency, an insurance claims coordinator in a physician's office, a birth coach, a mental health case manager, and an activity director in a skilled nursing facility. I retired in 2018 after being a hospital chaplain for 15 years.
I was divorced after 33 years of marriage and thought that I was a cynic when it came to marriage. However, I have found that I am really a romantic at heart and love performing wedding ceremonies. I love hearing your stories...that when you stopped looking for love it found you, that "he is the man I have waited for my entire life," or "we've been friends since we were children but drifted apart and just found each other again."
In 2021, I was the officiant chosen to perform the ceremony for one of the couples on TLC's reality show "You, Me and My Ex." This was an interesting experience and one that I immensely enjoyed!
As Sue Monk Kidd wrote in her story, The Secret Life of Bees, "Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can't remember who we are or why we're here." I have included the following article to give you a chapter of my story.
A different tour of duty
Written by Gayle Elizabeth Starling, May 2003 for United Church of Christ News
"Earlier this year, as U.S. military personnel geared up for war with Iraq, two marines, Elijah and Tiffany Ring, received orders to leave on Jan. 11 and Feb. 12, respectively.
There was one hitch, though. Going to Iraq would mean leaving behind their two children, Brian, 8, and Tylor, 5.
So last year, when talk of war began, Elijah Ring asked his mom, Paula Bradley-Ring, if she would care for the children if he and Tiffany were deployed overseas. Her answer was yes even though she lives in Maine and her son and his family reside near Camp Lejeune, N.C.
To complicate matters, Paula Bradley-Ring is a student at UCC-related Bangor (Maine) Theological Seminary, pursuing her M.Div. degree.
"I never gave it a moment's thought," says Paula Bradley-Ring about putting her life on hold to move south. "It was never an option to have the children come to Maine," she says. "I realized my grandchildren needed me, but more importantly, they needed to continue with their routine, not mine."
So far, she and the children are fending well. Tylor calls her Miss Tutu, the Hawaiian name for grandmother, a word they learned when their parents were stationed in Hawaii.
Tylor reigns as the princess in the household, Brian is "all boy." Their mother, a staff sergeant stationed in northern Kuwait, sends weekly emails, which bring Bradley-Ring comfort. Bradley-Ring's son, an officer in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare stationed in Iraq, e-mailed his mom on April 10 and let her know that he was fine.
"A typical day for us begins at 7 a.m.," she says. "They have breakfast, go to school, I pick them up, we have supper and then it's homework, baths and bed. On Mondays and Wednesdays Brian plays soccer."
Bradley-Ring admits to some bad days, but those are rare. "The kids spend a lot of time making plans for when mommy and daddy come home,'" she says. On weekends, activities include watching videos, Nickelodeon and the Cartoon Network, along with flying kites, watching dolphins at the beach and attending church. Before bedtime, Brian usually reads to his grandmother and Tylor. His book of choice: "Henry and Mudge."
While the kids don't see the war on television, Bradley-Ring says Brian does want to read the newspaper. She allows this and answers his questions. Sometimes, carefully selecting the least offensive websites, she shows the children pictures of the war so they can see where their parents are. She knows that both parents told the children that if they went to war they would be going "to take care of the bad guys and make the world a safer place for them to grow up."
Many of Brian's and Tylor's friends have one parent in the war, but they are the only ones they know with both. Brian participates in a support group at his school with other children whose parents are away at war.
Bradley-Ring also has her support network, including regular e-mails from friends and professors from Bangor. A candle is lighted daily for her and her family in Bangor's prayer chapel and their names are lifted up in daily prayer. Bradley acknowledges that her faith is tested every day. "I know I'm supposed to learn something from all of this," she says, "but I don't quite know what. I do know that God didn't bring me down here on a fluke."
Even though seminary is on hold, Bradley-Ring plans to complete her last three semesters. She worries about her son and daughter-in-law and wonders when they will be back, safe at home.
"My daughter-in-law and my son have chosen jobs that serve their country," she says. "What will they do will help their children and the children of others." Contemplating their work, Bradley-Ring thinks of the words from the third verse of "America the Beautiful: Who more than self their country loved..."
These words are a constant reminder of Elijah and Tiffany's career choices, whether it be in war time or peace. Those words make Bradley-Ring proud of them, and pleased that she, too, can do her own tour of duty."
Written by Gayle Elizabeth Starling, May 2003 for United Church of Christ News
"Earlier this year, as U.S. military personnel geared up for war with Iraq, two marines, Elijah and Tiffany Ring, received orders to leave on Jan. 11 and Feb. 12, respectively.
There was one hitch, though. Going to Iraq would mean leaving behind their two children, Brian, 8, and Tylor, 5.
So last year, when talk of war began, Elijah Ring asked his mom, Paula Bradley-Ring, if she would care for the children if he and Tiffany were deployed overseas. Her answer was yes even though she lives in Maine and her son and his family reside near Camp Lejeune, N.C.
To complicate matters, Paula Bradley-Ring is a student at UCC-related Bangor (Maine) Theological Seminary, pursuing her M.Div. degree.
"I never gave it a moment's thought," says Paula Bradley-Ring about putting her life on hold to move south. "It was never an option to have the children come to Maine," she says. "I realized my grandchildren needed me, but more importantly, they needed to continue with their routine, not mine."
So far, she and the children are fending well. Tylor calls her Miss Tutu, the Hawaiian name for grandmother, a word they learned when their parents were stationed in Hawaii.
Tylor reigns as the princess in the household, Brian is "all boy." Their mother, a staff sergeant stationed in northern Kuwait, sends weekly emails, which bring Bradley-Ring comfort. Bradley-Ring's son, an officer in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare stationed in Iraq, e-mailed his mom on April 10 and let her know that he was fine.
"A typical day for us begins at 7 a.m.," she says. "They have breakfast, go to school, I pick them up, we have supper and then it's homework, baths and bed. On Mondays and Wednesdays Brian plays soccer."
Bradley-Ring admits to some bad days, but those are rare. "The kids spend a lot of time making plans for when mommy and daddy come home,'" she says. On weekends, activities include watching videos, Nickelodeon and the Cartoon Network, along with flying kites, watching dolphins at the beach and attending church. Before bedtime, Brian usually reads to his grandmother and Tylor. His book of choice: "Henry and Mudge."
While the kids don't see the war on television, Bradley-Ring says Brian does want to read the newspaper. She allows this and answers his questions. Sometimes, carefully selecting the least offensive websites, she shows the children pictures of the war so they can see where their parents are. She knows that both parents told the children that if they went to war they would be going "to take care of the bad guys and make the world a safer place for them to grow up."
Many of Brian's and Tylor's friends have one parent in the war, but they are the only ones they know with both. Brian participates in a support group at his school with other children whose parents are away at war.
Bradley-Ring also has her support network, including regular e-mails from friends and professors from Bangor. A candle is lighted daily for her and her family in Bangor's prayer chapel and their names are lifted up in daily prayer. Bradley acknowledges that her faith is tested every day. "I know I'm supposed to learn something from all of this," she says, "but I don't quite know what. I do know that God didn't bring me down here on a fluke."
Even though seminary is on hold, Bradley-Ring plans to complete her last three semesters. She worries about her son and daughter-in-law and wonders when they will be back, safe at home.
"My daughter-in-law and my son have chosen jobs that serve their country," she says. "What will they do will help their children and the children of others." Contemplating their work, Bradley-Ring thinks of the words from the third verse of "America the Beautiful: Who more than self their country loved..."
These words are a constant reminder of Elijah and Tiffany's career choices, whether it be in war time or peace. Those words make Bradley-Ring proud of them, and pleased that she, too, can do her own tour of duty."
I would be honored to be the officiant at your marriage ceremony, to become part of your story, and to make you part of mine.
Blessings,
Rev. Paula Bradley
Lisa said...
Paula was a true professional. Plus her purple hair is absolutely fabulous
Paula was a true professional. Plus her purple hair is absolutely fabulous