KRISTEL WIESNER, who has lived
in Leelanau County two different times
in her life, home-schools her daughters
and has two part-time jobs.

Name: Kristel Wiesner.

Town or township of residence: Elmwood Township.

Resident of county since: “I’ve been a county resident twice. I grew up in Leelanau County and lived here from 1970 to 1983, then moved back in 2006.”

Birth date and place: “I was born in 1960 in Midland.”

Occupation: “I’m a homemaker, and I home-school our children. Plus, I have two part-time jobs. I write a parenting newsletter for MSU Extension, and I also collect data for a nutrition research study through MSU.”

Marital status: “My husband’s name is Bill, and we have two daughters, Grace, 13, and Annalisa, 11.”

You live in Leelanau County because: “My parents (Peter and Carol Simon) gave us this property to build a house. We’re enjoying living in walking distance to one another.”

Last good movie you saw: “That’s a hard one, because I watch so few, but I’d have to say The Ultimate Gift,” a story about a man who discovers his inheritance from his grandfather is more than he bargains for. “It was a good lesson about learning the value of hard work.”

Last good book you read: “Because I home-school, most of the books I read are children’s books. I did really enjoy The Purpose-Driven Life, by Rick Warren. It’s a book on how life is about living for God, not ourselves.”

If you could trade places with one person for a day, who would that be: “No specific person, but I’d like to trade places with a glassblower. I’ve always been intrigued, and I think I’d enjoy it.”

Things important to you that you have accomplished so far: “A good marriage and two great girls.”

What you hope to be doing in 10 years: “To be more involved with the pro-life movement and any work that helps strengthen families.”

Things you lose sleep over: “Children who are poorly parented or are being raised in unstable homes.”

If you could change one thing in Leelanau County, it would be: “The traffic. To have less traffic, or slower traffic.”

Favorite dessert: “Chocolate Moose Tracks ice cream.”

Are you a coffee drinker: “I’m not, but I drink tea daily.”

Favorite place in Leelanau County: “North Manitou Island. It’s beautiful and peaceful, and I like to hike.”

If you have more time, you would: “I would have a very big vegetable garden, do crafts, do more Bible study, go on backpacking trips, and take classes.”

The words that best describe you are: “Creative. I asked my husband, and he added ‘compassionate and frugal.’”