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In this post, you’ll get to meet Deborah Fields, the one woman who completely surprises Victor in many ways.

1.  What are your basic statistics?

I like that question. I guess you need them so that people can get an idea of what I look like and who I am. I’m Deborah Marie Fields. I go by Deborah or Deb, most definitely not Debbie. That’s a quick way to get on my bad side. Both of my parents are dead and so is my husband. Though he was a Delta operator, he didn’t die in battle. Instead, he died when a deer hit his car one dark November night several years ago. I do have four little reminders of him. Anna is the oldest, then DJ, my only son. Gracie and Marie are my two youngest.

I’m fairly tall. I’ve got blonde hair and slate blue eyes that Derek said are my best features. I dress pretty casually, mainly business casual for my part-time counseling business. I do have a few dresses in my closet, but honestly, when it comes to clothing, the kids come first, which can be kind of a hard stretch on my salary plus the money I pull down from Derek’s retirement, plus the money I get from being a web hunter for the FBI.

2.  What are your likes and dislikes?

I love to see the children learn and grow. Nothing makes me smile more than to watch the light bulb turn on in their heads. I also like both of my jobs. The counseling work allows me to see when people work hard to save their marriages or improve relationships. In my web hunter work, I derive a great amount of satisfaction in helping the FBI bring down the bad guys. So far as dislikes? I definitely don’t like graphically violent or sexually explicit television shows. Or reality shows, for that matter. I also don’t like fake people. Laugh if you want, but I don’t like zucchini.

3.  What is most precious to you and why?

Derek’s wedding band is most precious to me. In all the times he was away, he never strayed when many a married man did. I’ve set it aside and will offer it to Anna when she weds her husband one day.

4.  Who has impacted you the most and why?

Oh, I love that question. I’d have to say Derek. We married when I was only 21, a child still in a lot of respects. He encouraged me to grow and to keep that independent streak he said attracted him to me. I like to say that he taught me all I knew about being strong and independent. I had to be since he was gone almost half our marriage because of his job. It served me well when he died.

5.  If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

Independent.

6.  What is your greatest strength and weakness?

I think that my greatest strength is my independence. I mentioned that as my one word to describe me, and I think it does. I’ve had to be. I’m also organized, again out of necessity. Being the single parent of four active children requires it. I’m also a good listener.

In terms of weaknesses, probably my big one is that I can be hard on the kids if I’m not careful. I think that stemmed from many times feeling the weight of having to be both mother and father in terms of discipline on my shoulders. My friends have helped me to see the signs in my kids’ faces. When they get that look, I’ll often call someone and have them stay with the kids as I take an hour to go horseback riding and cool off. I’ve found that immensely helps.

7.  What’s your biggest regret?

Wow. That’s a great question. It’s a hard one too. Probably taking Derek for granted. He survived Mogadishu in the nineties, Gulf Two, plus three additional highly hazardous tours of duty before retiring. Never did I imagine he would die in an accident with a deer. I still feel a profound sadness if I think about it for too long.

8.  What drives you?

Where? In my counseling practice? Helping people, especially military couples, fight for their marriage. In my work with the FBI? Serving my country by helping them bring down the bad guys. With my kids? Helping them grow as young people and as Christians.

9.  What do you want the most? What do you fear the most?

What I want the most. Again, that’s a great question. I’d like to be married again. I know how good it can be when married to the right man. And I’m smart enough to know that I’ll never have the same marriage that I did with Derek since marriages are as unique as the people who are in them.

What do I fear the most? Probably failing as a parent. On my good days, when I’m walking with God’s strength, I know that I’m teaching the kids to love the Lord and to grow up strong and right. But on my weaker days when I’m trying to walk under my own strength? That’s when I start worrying that I’ll mess them up somehow or fail.

10.  What are three things you want people to learn from Operation Shadow Box?

God has many surprises in store if we trust Him. Steadfast love entails sacrifice, even of one’s life. We can serve our country in lots of different ways.

I have not received any compensation for writing this post. The work mentioned in this post is of my own writing. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”