My biggest thrill was seeing the Amish. Their way of life, to me, is just fascinating, that people in this day and time can still live like that.

A lot of people were wondering how they (Marshall) got here, just like they were wondering how we got here. Well, I'll tell you they're a darn good basketball team. So are we. I don't think two other teams could have played a better championship game.

You do this stuff in your own life and you figure out what kind of difference it makes. It's like the old cliche: Think globally, act locally. I try to leave the classroom with kids (or seniors) feeling they have the power to make a difference.

It makes for a good starting point. That said, we also hope it would be a springboard for people to eventually write their own original stories.

our crosses are our rights. ... Because life is not about me, because this world is not my home, because I'm tired of defending myself, and because the God of the universe is my Defender.

I've always been very bonded to animals - more so than most people. (laughs) I don't think that they can defend themselves, so we have to help them.