Fan of small-community lifestyle

Donna Barrera has been in Portales for nearly 27 years after her husband and her moved here to raise a family in the 1990s. She says she loves the small-community feel and how the faith in the community is strong.

Barrera shares two children with her husband Miguel and together they are expecting their first grandchild in June, which she's excited about.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm 46 years old. I was born and raised in Santa Fe. I came to college at Eastern New Mexico University in the early 1990s where I met my husband, Miguel, who happened to be from Portales.

We've been married for 23 years. During the first year of our marriage we tried the Santa Fe lifestyle, but then our son came along and we just decided that a smaller community would be a better place to raise a family.

My husband asked if I wanted to return back to Portales, and I said yes in a heartbeat, because the town had actually grown on me while I was here for college. And we've been here ever since.

My husband and I have two children together, my son Miguel Felipe, 21, my daughter Dominique, 18, my daughter-in-law Makayla, and also my niece Alex, who I consider one of my children as well.

I've been with the (JP Stone) bank for over 18 years now.

We're all one big family here at the bank. One of the reasons I've stayed here so long is because family values have always been very important to the Stones and to the bank in general.

Tell us a little about you and your family's lifestyle.

Our faith is definitely a priority for my whole family. I think that's why I enjoy this community because faith seems really important in this small community and it's important to us. It's a big part of everything that we do.

I would say our lifestyle is striving to be Christ-like; building relationships with those around us and loving on people.

My husband and I are active members of the Emmanuel Baptist Church here in Portales. I serve there on missions and outreach committee and personal committee. I strive to be an encourager to those around me and to be a momma to more than just my two kids.

Whether it's my younger coworkers, my friend's kids, or just anybody that comes my way; I just have a natural motherly instinct. Some of my younger co-workers joke around calling me "mom" but I enjoy that. I enjoy building those relationships, building trust, and being there for them not only on a professional level but on a personal level.

What would your idea of a perfect day be like?

Well since I'm from Santa Fe and I'm used to being around the mountains, my perfect day would be sitting on a comfy chair on a lake front, surrounded by the mountains, with all my family being around.

What's your favorite song? Why?

My favorite song changes all the time. But right now, my favorite song is called "When the Crazy Kicks In" by Francesca Battistelli.

I like this song because I can relate to it, because it talks about having a lot of responsibilities and how important it is to spend time with God before you start your day.

I just have so many roles as a mother, a wife, a supervisor, co-worker, church member, and I have a lot going on and I'm always pulled in different directions.

What are some of your long-term goals in life?

I'd like to continue to advance here at the bank. I'd also like for my husband and I to retire and be financially stable to be able to spend some time with our kids, grandkids, and travel.

I also want to be able to watch my kids continue to grow in their faith and in their adult years.

What is the first thing you notice about a person?

Probably their eyes and also whether or not they smile. I also notice if they're open to conversation.

Aside from necessities, what is one thing you couldn't go a day without?

Music. Music is how I express myself. I'm constantly listening to music from the moment I wake up. My daughter is a musician so there's always music being played at home. I drive her bonkers sometimes when I beg her to play songs for me.

I think music speaks to the soul and can express how you're feeling in many ways.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

I in general love all the holidays because I get to spend quality time with my family. But Halloween is my favorite. When I was in college, my husband and I had gone to a Halloween event and after the event he asked me to be his girlfriend. Then we got married two years later on Oct. 26, 1996, close to Halloween.

What's the best pizza combination?

Thin crust, light sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, bell pepper, and mushrooms.

- Compiled by Correspondent Nicole Trujillo