About Loni

Hey Y’all—I’m Loni. If I were sitting with you face to face, honestly—I’d want to ask a thousand questions about you. I’d ask about your family. About you and all your favorite things. And I’d sure want to know about who Jesus is to you. So, I guess if I’d ask those things of you, I should tell you the same about me. So, here goes!

My Family

I’ve been married to Gary Hodel for a little longer than Jesus walked the earth, and I’ll thank Him for my man as long as I have breath. We have two beautiful daughters who married two amazing men. Hope and her husband Casey were the first to make Gary and me PopPop and Shugie in 2017 with Adeline who’s now six and Sophie who turns four in August. Grace and her husband Austin gave us another angel-faced baby girl just days before Thanksgiving 2020. Her first name is Haddie and bless it, she has my middle name: Paige. The arrival of our sweet LillyKay in 2023 made Haddie a big sister, so our lives and our laps are full! And praise You, Father—so are our hearts.

Me and My Faves

My favorite thing in the world is to be with any and all of those people I just named. If I’m not with them, I want to be with those closest to my heart. It doesn’t matter what we do, just that we’re together.

I have the great privilege of teaching God’s Word each Sunday morning around a beautiful table surrounded by women with even more beautiful hearts. 

We have a Yorkie we call Bitsy but her given name is Noel. (She and Jesus share a birthday).

I. Love. Birds. All the birds.

I’m kind of loud. And I have no sense of personal space if I love you—(I’m an Enneagram 2).

Affectionately known as Lonikkah, we celebrate my birthday for eight days around my house.

Diet Coke. Extra ice. Foam cup. 

I love alliteration, and will think, talk and even text in it. (If you don’t know what that is, it’s okay; read something I’ve written—you’ll quickly see). 

If you’re around me long enough, I’ll likely give you a nickname. 

Favorite Scripture(s)—who can pick just one? Zephaniah 3:17. Lamentations 3:55-57. All of Psalm 124.

My Faith

Even though I accepted Jesus as my Savior as a little girl, I was ensnared by the lies of Satan that I was unwanted, unworthy and unwelcomed by God. It wasn’t until years later that I understood that He is my Father, and that Holy Spirit is my Best Friend, and I was a captive no more. I am passionate to expose the enemy for the spiritual identity thief that he is, and to celebrate with you when you discover your own, true identity in Christ.