As the fraternal twin of Deborah (Short) Hall (from Same Kind of Different as Me), I knew her like no one else could. And the inspiring story I share in Our Southern Breeze is like no other story that could be told: From growing up forever in transition as our family moved from one Texas oil camp to another, to cheating in school to try to win the approval of my parents . . . from facing all kinds of abuse of a troubled father as a child, to the disappointment of a failed marriage as an adult . . . from the deep pit of depression to suicide attempts, my life was a series of bad situations, poor choices, and worse consequences. My sister saw this, and after years of estrangement, held out a hand for me to hold . . . once again. It was at the Anaheim Vineyard conference in 1990 that God, through the words of a man, promised to send a southern breeze over Deborah and me. Neither of us could have ever imagined what that would look like and how many people would eventually be touched by it.
For over nineteen years Daphene “DJ” Jones has run DJ Consultants, Inc., a company that focuses on helping overwhelmed clients utilize technology to manage their time and information. Working with Fortune 500 companies, she has gained a reputation for providing simple solutions to improve efficiency and productivity in the workplace.
When Same Kind of Different As Me was released, many people asked her why she didn’t write her own story about growing up with “Miss Debbie.” She reviewed the journals she had kept and began to see how much Deborah’s life had influenced hers. Mustering up the courage to embark on a new journey, she started the first draft. Her story is about her fight with depression, fear, and attempted suicide, and the amazing way that God gives second chances to His children. This story of learning to live without her beloved twin and of experiencing the amazing restoration of their relationship, along with many others in her family, is sure to inspire. She and her husband, married since 2003, live in Suwanee, Georgia with their precious border collie, Hanna. Daphene enjoys painting, working out, swimming, and spending time with her children and seven grandchildren.
