Getting to know me...

Before I am anything, I am a wife and mother. I met my husband and his son in 2005. We married in 2010 and were blessed with our daughter in July of 2013. Our second son came in September of 2015. I came from a blended family myself, having three stepsisters, one stepbrother, and six nieces and nephews through marriage. I know first hand that family is the bonds of love, not blood. I am so proud of the beautiful family my husband and I have created.

A son is a son till he takes him a wife, a daughter is a daughter all of her life.  ~Irish Saying

I have an amazing mother who worked her butt off to give me the best life possible. She did this primarily on her own until she met my stepfather. She is my best friend and my inspiration. She has encouraged me to do what I felt was right, even if she disagreed, and has supported me in my troubles and shared my triumphs. I hope I can be the mother and woman she believes me to be!

I love to travel! I have been fortunate enough to see parts of the world that my grandparents only dreamed about. I lived in Manchester, UK for six months while attending a semester abroad and was able to go through Europe. I try to incorporate my travel experiences in my lesson plans and I encourage my students to expand their horizons past their local communities. It is a great, big world and it's meant to be explored! I hope to travel to Australia, South Africa and India before I die.

Jody and I in Paris, on the bridge where Carrie and Big made it official!

The Eiffel Tower lit up with the EU colors!

Jungfrau Joc, Switzerland

Venice, Italy

"Look kids, Big Ben... Parliament." London, England 

Loch Ness, Scotland

The "Quiet Man" house, Connemara, Ireland

In the little spare time that I have, I love to read, sing and go to concerts and plays. I've always enjoyed the performance arts. I originally thought I might teach chorus or drama, but my love of literature overran my love of the stage. I still try to sing whenever I can, usually with my church or karaoke. My love of acting has shifted from performance to facilitating, taking on the Drama Club in my alma mater. I hope I can do it justice!

Where Did I Come From?

I am from Masterpiece Theatre and ALL of my friends not calling me on Sunday nights,
Being the nerd, embracing the bizarre, believing that I am awesome in who I am.
From "Wibbly Wobbly" and "Don't Blink"
To a "truth universally acknowledged..."

I am from baby blankets, tumbling in the dryer
from Mr. Bubble bubble bath and the CeraVe I rub on my aching feet
I am from a big house full of love and laughter, that always smells like Dreft and PineSol
I am from the Magnolia that named my first child and blooms in my mother's front yard,
The fragrance, an aromatic reminder of my heritage.

I am from Sunday dinners and Christmas cantatas, where Jesus is King and farming is life.
From Dot, and Nanny, from grudges and red-eye gravy.
From strong women who don't take shit from anyone for any reason.
From Pocahontas and Boudicca, trailblazers and fast talkers,
Women who can smile while vilifying you at the same time.
I am from two strong men who named my second child.
Although we never met, they shaped my entire upbringing.

I'm from "do unto others..." and "honor thy mother"
From the yellow sundress I never took off, the hand-made quilts spread out on the lawn,
From Heart and Joni Mitchell, my mother singing James Taylor songs.
I am from stretch marks, grey hairs, fat rolls and sleepless nights.
I earned every pound, every wrinkle, every inch of my motherhood, traced like a map across my body.

I am from my husband, strong and patient, who gives me more love than I ever thought I deserved.
From his kisses and caresses to jokes and silly dances.
I am from the life we have created together, full of wonderment and adventure,
Joy and pain, love and loss and beginning again,
Knowing our love for each other can carry us on.

Take a look, it's in my FAVORITE BOOKS!