One from the Heart

Stacey Whiseheart

For Stacey Whiseheart and her husband Pete, it's all about what's in a name!

The couple went about changing their last name when they got married to better represent who they were as a whole. "We wanted God to give us a 'wise heart' to be able to better express our feelings but not live according to them," explains Stacey. "Sometimes feelings are not rational, but they do impact our beliefs and vice versa, which in turn may adversely impact our behavior. Being able to express them appropriately may help to mitigate their power over us and help us to recognize the truth.

"Right before we got married, Pete decided it was archaic for the woman to have to change her name, and we just decided we wanted something to reflect us as a couple and as a family. So we took part of his last name - Whisnant - and added an 'e' with 'heart.' Our name is pronounced 'wise heart.' "

The name suits Stacey, who has dedicated her life to making a difference in the lives of others.

"I've been an interpreter for the deaf for almost 25 years and I've been a therapist for both deaf and hearing people," she says. "I got involved with a touring performing group with deaf and hearing people that does music, drama, sign language and pantomime. Living with deaf people was my education. I watched them communicate so I could learn how they talked. Many hearing people think that sign language is just talking with your hands, but it's much more than that. It's such a beautiful language."

Stacey and Pete have been married for 19 years and live in Nixa, Missouri. Pete had a bone marrow transplant last year and hopefully will have a full recovery. The Whisehearts have two daughters, Karayah (17) and Danikka (13). Just like their last name, both girls' first names have significant meanings.

"I was pregnant and we were living in California at the time," Stacey says. "Pete called me up and said, 'Hey, I just heard this great name on the radio, Karayah. It's American Indian for 'Almighty God.' We liked the sound of the name, which is why we chose it. We are not raising our daughter to think she is God! Danikka's name is Danish for 'Morning Star.' We found the name in a name book and liked it."

Stacey's tastes in cooking are wide-ranging, but she likes to focus on eating healthy.

"I avoid any kind of white pastas and white rice and use multigrain and brown rice. I try to make things lower in fat and throw in as many vegetables as I can. I cook a lot of ethnic dishes because the kids like a variety of different foods," she says.

Her husband cooks up fun times when he's in the kitchen, adds Stacey.

"Pete's very quirky when he cooks. He mixes all kinds of interesting foods together, like sausage tacos and fish sticks with ravioli. One time he was making eggs when I had just made gyros. I had some leftover meat and to him it looked like meat loaf, although why he would put meat loaf in the eggs, I don't know! He mixed the gyro meat in with the eggs, so instead of ham and eggs, he made lamb and eggs! It was strange. But we always have fun eating together as a family."

Stories:
Kathy Hartley | John Hearty | Patsy Hartung | Stacey Whiseheart

Recipes:
Spinach Dip | Spicy Rice with Almonds | Grilled Swordfish Steaks | Three Citrus Grilled Chicken | Strawberry Spinach Salad | Chocolate Delight | Panko-Breaded Tilapia | Heart Healthy Pancakes