About Me

I just turned 36 this year. Five days ago, in fact (10/10/09). I’m not afraid to share my age. Chronologically I do not feel this age. Experience I feel sometimes as if I’ve lived a whole lot longer. I’m very young at heart. Naive about a lot of things. Too wise about others. What does it mean to be ‘too wise’? There are just certain things that I’d have preferred not to live, but I did, and I survived.

I was born in Idaho and raised in a small town in Montana. I hated growing up there, but long to go back, now that I have a daughter of my own. As an adult its a bit annoying to have everyone know your business, but as a parent…its imperative. I’m afraid to let my daughter out the front door where I live now. This really bothers me. I desire for her to be as free as I was as a kid. We ran outside as soon as the sun came up and came back in when it was dinner time. I feel kids nowadays are held hostage by technology and their inability to go outside and PLAY! Their imaginations and creativity are stifled. They’re being robbed.

Anyways, I’m perpetually the middle child…between two brothers and two step-sisters. Raised by parents who stayed married for 17 years and parted when I was 16. I moved from Montana to Oregon when I was a senior in high school. This could have been a bit catastrophic, but it wasn’t for me. I looked forward to the change. I didn’t have an easy childhood in MT. Kids are not nice. I was an emotionally distressed child and kids tend to pick on the owies.

I joined the Navy when I was 20. I believe everyone should serve for at least 2 years to know and understand and perhaps not take for granted the freedom we have here, and how we obtained it. Other countries make this a requirement. I think we should, too. But that will never happen. I saw a lot and learned a lot while I was in. I was in for three years, stationed aboard a Destroyer Tender (repair ship) and have sailed across the Atlantic Ocean (took 12 days). Spent six months deployed to various ports in the Mediterranean. I’d like to do it again…sober. Also spent a month in Cuba and stopped by the Bahamas for a couple days.

I’ve been married twice. First for two years (age 22) and the second, rebound marriage, for a little over a year (age 26). The longest relationship I’ve ever had was 3 years, dating and marriage combined. I had no idea during that part of my life, how to make a marriage work. I was needy and a victim and a bit co-dependent…and a runner. When things got difficult, I ran. I got pregnant from a man I barely knew, the first time carnal relations were experienced, when I was 32. And have been a single mama since pretty immediately after conception.

Relationally, I have attended the skool of hard knocks the entire way. It was not until I was introduced to true LOVE (Jesus), that I began to understand what love is really all about and what it is supposed to look like; that I’m worthy of so much more than I’ve allowed myself or ever learned growing up. I never knew my worth. Have felt very much like the junk on the bottom of life’s shoe for most of my life. I was saved from the lies 5 years ago and have been on a journey of renewal and transformation since then. I will have life no other way now. And I live to serve the One who saved me. I’m still on my journey of renewal; still unravelling lies. I’ve by no stretch of the imagination ‘arrived’, but I am in a much better place. I embrace difficulty now as short term learning curves because I know the other side will bring me closer to Truth, to my truth, and to freedom from the burdens that weigh me down. I come out stronger on the other side.

I’ve been an administrative type for over 13 years. Not a fulfilling career choice, but I can do it with my eyes closed. I’m a natural support person so I do find joy in helping others achieve their goals. When I had my daughter, my creativity was also born into photography. I was gifted with more than just a daughter on that day…I was gifted with so much more. I am crazy passionate about photography…memories are so important to me and I love to capture those special moments and memories for others.

There’s so much more to who I am and how I arrived here. I’ve been a bit stifled this year in my writing, but I hope through this blog I am able to communicate the truths, fun stuff, and random life stuff that helps glimpse further into who I am and have become.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoy your stay. :o)