Meet the Author

Denise Mira grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, loving Barbie Dolls and planning to follow in Barbie’s footsteps. All she needed was a briefcase, a sports car, an extensive wardrobe and a ‘Ken’ to complete the picture! At the time, Barbie didn’t do babies - and to Denise, snotty-nosed kids seemed only to be extra baggage that could severely limit her professional career pursuits. At 16, Denise had already wholeheartedly embraced the feminist agenda and postured herself toward such a future.

Boy oh, boy, does God ever have a sense of humor?! Now - fast forward to today -- and we find Denise the mother of five sons; young men who love the Lord, the church and the Kingdom of God with all their hearts. Denise met and married Gregory in 1980 at the age of 18. Twenty-seven years later, their adventure continues!

In 1979, Denise came to know Jesus Christ and her life has never been the same. After her marriage to Gregory in 1980 she began ‘warming up’ to the idea of kids as she hung out with lots of pregnant friends, taking part in their joyous journeys of mothering and finding her heart changing about the issue of children. During these years, Denise also became deeply involved in children’s ministry at her local church; first teaching Sunday School, then directing children’s churches, overseeing a bus ministry to unsaved families and teaching pre-school. She was falling in love with kids.

In 1984 her firstborn, Gabriel Alexander, arrived to change the world! She and Gregory enjoyed him so much, they decided to have another and another and another and another...as you can see, when God changes a heart, He really does the job! As it became time for the boys to go to school, Denise found herself torn about the prospect of sending these little boys away for the day. Coincidentally in that season, they found themselves connecting closely with a family who ‘home schooled’. At first, this concept boggled Denise’s mind as she relegated this practice to hippies and gypsies. But what she was seeing in the outstanding character of this home-educated young girl, defied her preconceived ideas about home schooling being for weirdos. The Miras soon became a home-schooling family. Several years later, they gave private school a try for a brief season, but home education has proved to be the most effective fit for their brood.

The last decade found Gregory and Denise pouring their lives into the local church they led in the Seattle, Washington area, while ministering trans-locally as well. Recently (summer of ’07), they turned the leadership of their congregation over to a son in the faith and relocated to Northern California, where they base and build into another local church, while ministering fulltime trans-locally. Their two youngest children are still living at home, while the three oldest sons remain in Seattle, continuing to build the local church they handed off. By invitation of the elders, the Miras frequent Seattle to continue to strengthen and encourage the local church they built.

The Miras have lived in Nebraska, Missouri, Texas, California and Adelaide, Australia. They’ve
led churches for over 20 years and served in trans-local ministry during that time as well. They’ve considered it a privilege to have their sons at their side, ministering along with them
through the years.

Denise has not only survived the long haul of raising boys to men, but has watched God build them into leaders before her eyes. She has traveled extensively, inspiring change as she shares the message God has given her for families. She is passionate about helping moms and dads train up No Ordinary Children for the glory of God.