(We wanted a) normal atmosphere, a normal family environment. We wanted her speech skills.

She knows what her strengths are and she uses them to prove herself.

We think that she had more hearing as a newborn.

There are tough moments, but I see them happy and jovial, and I know that's the environment that speech and debate breeds. I valued my high-school experience and wanted to bring that to the kids.

One thing we've worked on is a family environment. Off and on the court, we've connected with each other. The kids discover their differences, but when we hit the floor we come together. We're feeling pretty good where we're at.

My father asserted that there was no better place to bring up a family than in a rural environment. . . . There's something about getting up at 5 a.m., feeding the stock and chickens, and milking a couple of cows before breakfast that gives you a lifelong respect for the price of butter and eggs.