Bethany Reformed Church
705 Cajon Street, Redlands CA 92373 (909)793-1966
Getting to Know…
Kathleen and Isabella Giorgianni
It was a gorgeous morning, cool and inviting with air so clean the mountains seemed twice as big, when I arrived on the front porch of the charming cottage where the Giorgiannis live. With Isabella at kindergarten for only her second day Kathleen and I sat down to have a little chat. I soon found out that we share a number of interests.
Kathleen was born in Redondo Beach, California and shortly thereafter moved to Hermosa Beach, eventually making her way to Redlands. Kathleen was the youngest of five girls. Her mom, Elaine Winget Barber, was a nurse and her father Charles, a CPA. Charles passed away when Kathleen was only 10 years old leaving Elaine to raise five daughters all alone…and according to Kathleen, she did a terrific job! As a kid, reading, sewing, volleyball, swimming at the beach, bike riding, and cheerleading were all activities that she enjoyed.
In the eleventh grade Kathleen made friends with a girl named Kim. As all of us know, growing up means asserting our independence. Kathleen and Kim were no different. They decided to change their names. Kim became Kimarie and Kathleen became Clarissa. They changed their driver’s licenses and signed all their papers with their new names. Well, since I’m writing about Kathleen and not Clarissa you already know that she changed her mind and kept her birth name but not Kim…..to this day she remains Kathleen’s best friend and Isabella’s “Aunt” Kimarie. Kathleen and Kimarie love to travel and over the years have journeyed to every state with the exception of Hawaii. They have been all over Mexico, to Puerto Rico, England and France.
Kathleen was introduced to Sean Giorgianni by her older sister Carol. Their five year marriage produced a precious little girl named Isabella who is the spitting image of her mommy. Sean is a great daddy and remains a very important part of Isabella’s life. This was an exciting week and both mom and dad took turns bringing her to her first week of school.
Kathleen has held various jobs thru the years including account manager, an interior designer and her last job as a project manager in the building industry. She recently lost her job due to cutbacks because the building industry has slowed down. Her dream is to open up a Christian Latch-key program for kids to come to after school. She stated that so many kids are so neglected and they need caring, loving, Christian people to take care of them. She and Cate Sinclair are working on a plan right now to make their dream a reality.
Being a parent to Isabella is Kathleen’s top priority. Reading, entertaining, cooking, home decorating and being the neighborhood “mom” are other interests she has. Isabella enjoys riding her scooter and her bike, painting and dressing up. She also loves snakes and bugs; she even held a hissing cockroach!
Kathleen and Isabella came to Bethany thru Women of Faith and MOPS. She attended a WOF conference where she became friendly with Patty Young. At the conference she and Patty prayed that God would somehow make it possible for her to attend church on Sunday. God answered her prayer and changed her job situation so that her Sundays were free. Pastor Leon, Harriet and Patty were chief among the reasons that she stayed at Bethany. The loving care they showed her during the divorce process made her feel right at home. Kathleen was raised in the faith but said she never really gave her heart to Christ until she made her confession of faith here at Bethany. In the two short years that she has been here she has learned a great deal, i.e., it is so much easier when you turn your life over to God and let Him be in control. She trusts God to lead and take care of her and because of His love for her she wants to set a good Christian example so others will see Christ in her. The book of James speaks to her because it is such a grounding book, very positive. James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights….” is the verse she painted above Isabella’s dresser.
Welcome home Kathleen and Isabella; we’re glad you’re a part of the Bethany family.
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