Lonita is blessed to be married to her best friend, Derlyn, and together they are raising 4 amazing children, Jansyn (8), Kowyn (6), Kreedyn (4) & Lakia (15 months). They keep Lonita and Derlyn’s days full of laughter, adventure, and just enough chaos to remind them they are making memories. The Wise family lives in a cozy log cabin home, tucked away at the end of a long winding lane in the beautiful mountains of Perry County, PA. 

One of their favorite parts of living in the woods is seeing all the wildlife. They see many deer while driving in and out their lane, from nice big bucks to little newborn fawns. The many squirrels, chipmunks & rabbits are in a constant state of alert as they never know when the oldest of the Wise boys will sneak up on them with his BB gun. The birds provide a constant soundtrack outside their windows, and at night the family can hear the occasional howl of coyotes nearby. Along with that also comes experiences such as pulling 5 foot long black snakes by the tail out of the boy's rabbit pen before one of their pets becomes a snake's lunch!

Motherhood has taught Lonita that joy isn't found in perfection--it's found in togetherness, and making the most of the moments we've been given. Life isn't always neat and tidy, but she wouldn't trade it for anything! As a family they enjoy crackling campfires in their backyard, complete with sticky marshmallow fingers and tasty s’mores. Cabin trips to Pine Creek are always a favorite, with campfire conversations, biking on the bike trail, swimming in the creek and hand-dipped ice cream cones from the local store. Lonita’s greatest desire isn't to have a perfect home - it's to have a home where Jesus is welcome. She wants her children to know that faith isn't something to only practice on Sundays. It's woven into our conversations, our songs, our prayers, our laughter, and even our hardest days. Simple things like singing 'Jesus Loves Me' while combing her daughter's hair or 'Building Up the Temple' on the drive to church, may seem small, but Lonita prays they all become the memories her children carry with them for the rest of their lives.

 When Lonita became a first time mom, she quickly fell in love with unique, one-of-a-kind silicone baby toys. What started as a simple hobby during nap times eventually grew into Wooded Cove Collections- her little creative corner of the world. She enjoys designing baby toys, keychains, wristlets, pacifier clips, and other accessories. Sometimes, when there's dishes to do, laundry to fold, or floors to sweep for the umpteenth time, Lonita finds herself 'proCRAFTinating’. She slips back into her little 'cove' and creates a fun new toy for a cute new baby. Lonita has found this creative outlet to be so helpful in learning to thrive/cope during the hardest season of her life.....

In 2024, Lonita was diagnosed with achalasia. Before then, she had never even heard the word. It's a rare disorder that affects the esophagus and makes something as simple as eating a meal or drinking water become a daily challenge. It has been a difficult journey filled with uncertainty, difficult days, and learning to trust God in ways she never expected. When you have a rare disease you face two battles - one being the disease itself, and the other, living in a world where so few people understand what you're up against. 

While it isn't a path Lonita would have chosen, it has strengthened her faith and reminded her that God's grace truly is enough - even in the hardest seasons. One quote that has inspired her many times is: “God has a purpose for your pain, a reason for your struggle, and a reward for your faithfulness. Trust Him and never give up.”

 For most of her life, Lonita assumed she didn't like coffee at all - until someone introduced her to iced coffee and she discovered she had been missing out! Since her achalasia diagnosis, though, ice-cold drinks have become difficult to swallow, so these days she happily reaches for a hot latte instead. The Messy Bun is her favorite; add a splash of caramel syrup and heavy whipping cream and you have perfection in a cup! Rarely does she get to drink the whole cup by herself, as her little ones beg for sips when they see mama with coffee cup in hand! There are many foods and drinks which Lonita can no longer eat and enjoy, and she is extra thankful that a hot Mama Java latte is not one of them!