Well, it’s that time…time for me to close up blog shop for a while so I can pack and prepare for the move into our new house (squee!).  I’ll be in and out on here, and I’ll continue with the Titus 2 series after the move, but I have some fabulous women lined up to keep you enjoying your morning coffee here regularly.  Please welcome them warmly.

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Wendy, Kirk Cameron’s first wife (okay, so not really, but she was *this* close).  Enjoy!

When I was a kid, I stood in front of the television watching “Fame.” Actually I never stood. I danced around the room non-stop, trying desperately to imitate all the fancy leaps and turns. Another one of my childhood pastimes was making up dance routines to the theme song of “The Facts of Life.” I loved to perform and decided I wanted to be on the other side of that television. So I did what any nine year old would do – looked in the yellow pages and found a talent agency. I called and left a message on their answering machine. My mom was a bit shocked when she received a call back from the agent, “Your daughter left a message on our answering machine and we are calling to set up an interview with her.” My mom and dad were good sports and allowed me to drag them into the entertainment business.

I quickly landed my first national commercial, for the Milk National Advisory Board. I did numerous print jobs and appeared in over 20 commercials. But my acting opportunities were limited in San Francisco so we decided to get an agent in Los Angeles. My mom and I began driving (about a six hour drive) and/or flying down to LA for auditions. After about two years of a lot of callbacks and many rejections, I landed a starring role in the syndicated television show “The New Lassie.” With two weeks notice, I packed up and moved to Hollywood where I lived with friends of the family. My family came down and visited me several times a month and I flew home one or two weekends a month. We filmed the show at Universal Studios on Stage 19 and all around the back lot. I loved it. We filmed 48 episodes (two seasons) before the show was canceled.

During those Hollywood days, I also made guest appearances on “The Wonder Years” and “Growing Pains.” After three months of training, I performed The Russian Swing on “Circus of the Stars” alongside Mark Paul Gosselaar. I was involved in numerous charities and was the national teen spokesperson for Athletes and Entertainers for Kids. I had the opportunity to work with some talented actors and directors including Dee Wallace (who played my mom), Will Estes (who played my brother), Leonardo DiCaprio, Tony Dow (director), and Scott Baio (director).

I have such fond memories of my time spent in Hollywood. I was not a perfect kid, but I didn’t hop around at nightclubs, do drugs, rob dry cleaners or cuss out the paparazzi. And here’s why – Jesus. Prior to heading for Hollywood I made a decision to hand my life over to Jesus Christ. I didn’t grow up in a religious home, but we did go to church on holidays. I believed in God. I was interested in Him. One year I even went to a weekly CCD (Catechism) class after school. A part of me liked hearing about God, but a stronger part of me like the Ding-Dongs and Twinkies they offered at that shindig. Nevertheless seeds were planted.

Then I heard about my cousin, Shane. He had become a “born again Christian” and there was a buzz about it in the family. What was a “born again Christian?” I wondered. I asked some family members. They told me that it was weird. Jesus freaky. So I asked him and he told me it was simply about surrendering your life to Christ. Making Him Lord of your life. At that point I couldn’t quite wrap my young mind around it, but I wanted to. I wasn’t lonely or depressed. My life was not out of control. I was a “good” kid and at that point I was living out my dream of being an actress. I had much success and fulfillment. I didn’t feel empty and yet I still felt God calling me to something more. I knew there was something to this “having a relationship with God.” I began praying, “Lord, I want to invite you into my heart, into my life. But I still have to go to school and work and stuff like that.” I guess I kind of thought I would have to become a nun to truly surrender my life to God and become “born again.” After all, my cousin was a dancer in Vegas and when he became a Christian he gave that up. Would I have to quit taking my jazz classes? I just didn’t quite get it yet.

About a year later a family friend, Denise, shared her new found faith with me. She was a few years older than me and had great excitement when she talked about God’s work in her life. I remember her telling me, “I don’t know even how to explain it that well, but God has given me so much joy. You don’t have to stop taking dance classes (hooray!) or quit school (darn). You just recognize that Jesus has died for your sins. Ask for His forgiveness and tell Him you want to surrender your life to Him.” For some reason (God’s sovereignty), it made more sense to me this time. That night, alone in my bed, I prayed and asked Jesus to take over my life. There were no fireworks, no halos, no tears, no Twinkies. But God heard the prayer of a sincere and seeking 6^th grader and He has been my Rock ever since. That friend left me with a Bible and an Amy Grant tape. “Sing your praise to the Lord,
 Come on everybody,
 Stand up and sing … one more 
Hallelujah!” Anyone? Are you with me?

I began to go to a local church youth group with a friend from my carpool. My faith took off. I grew so much through that youth group and the various activities it provided. The foundation for my faith was laid and when I left my family and friends for Hollywood at fourteen years old my feet were planted on the ground and in the Lord.

While in Hollywood The Lord blessed me with some awesome brothers in Christ who I met at an Academy Awards party. They became like big brothers to me and connected me with “Media Fellowship International,” a ministry that reaches out to Hollywood. I got plugged into a Bible study and although I was by far the youngest one there, I found meaningful fellowship and was encouraged in my faith. God allowed me many opportunities to share my faith in Hollywood – on the set of Lassie, at charity events, when I won a Youth in Film award, with fans and at Media Fellowship outreaches. Before we taped “Growing Pains” I had the blessing of praying with Kirk Cameron and his future wife, Chelsea (although a few years prior I was convinced that I was supposed to be his future wife based on my connection with him via my Teen Beat magazine subscription). In the midst of the darkness, there is a place for Christians in Hollywood. Pray for them because they are few and far between.

I’m still in the entertainment business, but I don’t get paid (not in cash, anyway) and my audience is much smaller. Namely Elijah (my thoughtful, spiritual five year old), Lydia (my spirited three year old) and Jordis (my sweet and active fifteen month old). The episodes are different everyday and I don’t have to memorize any scripts, although I often find myself repeating the same lines over and over: “Eat over your plate. Stop picking your feet at the dinner table. Can you please just sit still and look at me when I am brushing your teeth? Are you going to obey or disobey? Why is there marker on your arm?” A different season of life. Walking with the same faithful God. I am blessed.

Wendy is a child of God, wife of Shiloh, mother of three, watcher of Formula One racing,  lover of baked goods, fan of UCLA sports and former child actress. She loves to blog at Hagen Hoopla about her funny and disastrous tales of motherhood as well as her experiences in Hollywood. In her free time (10-11pm), you can find Wendy working on her book Totally Desperate Mom: Keepin’ it Real in the Motherhood.  Wendy doesn’t sip warm cups of coffee, but as a mother of a 5, 3, and 1 year old there are mornings she wishes she did.  She does love iced blended mocha’s from The Coffee Bean, but unfortunately the closest one is an hour from her house….

Posted on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 and journaled under Uncategorized. Follow the coffee talks on this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a Coffee Talk or trackback from your own site. Keep up with Like a Warm Cup of Coffee by subscribing here.