I have a storied background of loss, grief, confusion, chaos, and suffering, however I also found growth, healing, clarity, peace, and joy in the midst of all the stages of life’s journey thus far. 

I grew up in a small college town surrounded by the pine trees, bluebonnets, southern drawl, kids in 4-H club, and humidity that define that part of east Texas. I was a lonely, awkward child who often felt out of place, misunderstood, and dismissed. I was the oldest daughter in my family, with two younger sisters.

I was homeschooled until I was in high school, when I attended the only local high school. I was known as the quiet and mysterious girl. I did my best to lay low and stay below anyone’s radar, not drawing attention to myself in any way. I had a few excellent teachers; I had many more mediocre ones; I had a couple who were actively awful.

After finishing high school, I went to college in the same town where I had been my entire life– mainly because I had very little ambition and hadn’t filled out any other college applications. I completed university with a degree in English, and a minor in Spanish. I loved (and still love) language, words, how we can derive meaning from marks on a page, how we can move others to tears, to action, to deep feeling with our words and how to use them.

After I graduated from university, I attended a two-year Bible school in southern California. Without getting too detailed, I entered into a marriage with little knowledge of my chosen life partner. We had a little house. We tried to get pregnant. Infertility treatments were unsuccessful. After five years, we adopted our daughter from foster care.

When she was five, we got divorced. On the day of my divorce, I learned new information about my soon-to-be-ex that confirmed that I was on the correct path. I began dating for the first time in my life: exploring, finding my way, discovering what I did and didn’t want in a partner. About a year later, I met my now husband, my perfect-for-me, balancing, handsome, loving, intelligent, safe partner. We have one daughter together.

My life’s joy and heart is contained in our one-story brick home, surrounded by love, my little family, and the expression of their various interests (plants, records, video games, maps) and pleasures (books, coffee, movies). This is the fullest and most beautiful life I can imagine. I look forward to waking up each morning for breakfast, coffee, and our boring, peaceful family routine.