If you'd have asked me in high school what I was going to be when I grew up, I most definitely wouldn't have told you Published Author. In fact, I had my life pretty much mapped out by the time I was 10. That big bright future consisted of marrying my prince charming, having a gaggle of children, building a house in the mountains, and becoming a successful Architect. Little did I know that things have a way of working out even better than planned.
Sure enough, I married my prince charming!
And the gaggle of children? Well, if you consider 4 a gaggle, then a gaggle I have.
You might even say that I have a "giggling gaggle." We laugh.... A LOT!!!!
And that's a good thing. Life is full of opportunities to find joy. One of my biggest joys comes from the opportunity I have to associate with teenagers. Our youth are fantastic and fascinating creatures and I consider it an honor to volunteer my time in their service.
As for that mountain home? Yah, I got it. I even designed it myself.
Three out of four isn't bad, right? But, honestly, sometimes giving up something you think is important leads you to something that is a hundred times better.That dream of owning my own architecture firm changed when I became a mother. Don't get me wrong, creating and designing are in my blood, but every minute I get to spend with my family is priceless and I wouldn't trade it for the world. That being said, I am in a constant state of creation. My brain never shuts down. I suppose that's where the writing comes in.
I think writing has always been in me. It's part of that creative spirit. The summer after 4th grade I wrote my first short story. I don't remember the specifics of the plot line, but I do remember that ultimate feeling of satisfaction from having created my own little world on paper. For years I tinkered around with ideas as I raised my little children, but the only writing I did was in the form of letters and journal entries. When I sent my youngest off to kindergarten, that all changed. Suddenly I had a few hours of "me" time every afternoon, so I followed that voice within me. The result? My novel: Hope's Journey. 
Hope's Journey is my first published book, but certainly not my last. If romantic fiction is my butter then non-fiction is my bread. I dabble a bit in both genres, writing whats in my heart. My first non-fiction title, Everything you Need to Know about Girls Camp, debuts in Feb. 2013.
The best way to learn how to write, is to read.... I'll admit, I do a lot of "research." Some of my favorite authors are Nicholas Sparks, Susan Collins, and Karey White. I'm excited to get to know many authors and love, love, love the chance to interview them and review their works.
I also like photography, drawing, painting, landscaping, and building things. I have my own collection of power tools and I'm frequently looking for an excuse to use them. I always have at least one project underway... okay, who am I kidding? My list is usually 3 or 4 projects deep!
I spend a lot of time outdoors. I love to landscape and kick around in my yard. There is no artist that can fully capture the beauty of what God has created.
One of my favorite activities is camping with my family. We have a great time playing games, four wheeling, fishing, hiking, enjoying each other's company, and building memories in the beautiful mountains.
I'm pretty sure heaven is on a beach. Find me some sand, a book, and some sunglasses and I'm there... at least for a few days, then I'm sure I'll find a project that I need to create!
I am always going... sometimes KRAZY... but most of the time with a smile on my face. I believe that life is what you make of it, and I think I've made mine into something that is pretty darn good!
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