Timeline Bio

I read a really cool blog post today by MckMamma, and it inspired me to write my own timeline. I love reading about what brought people to where they are today, and I hope you do, too! Enjoy!!

October 1981 - I was born ten days late, in the afternoon, after my parents had gone on a morning bike ride. During the ride, my mom started having labor pains and said they should probably go to the hospital later. Did they ride straight home? No, they finished the ride, and then went to the hospital...

Winter 1982 - My parents were on another bike ride (they were avid cyclists), with me a cart that attached to the back. I was bundled up in a lot of blankets. My parents got pulled over by the cops, who thought they had robbed a construction site nearby and wrapped up the goods in the blankets. They were surprised to find a sleeping baby inside...My parents love that story

June 1984 - My brother, Bryan, is born. I didn't like him the minute he came home from the hospital, and vied for my parents attention, hoping they would eventually forget about him. I eventually got over my angst, and decided that I want to be just like mommy, carrying my baby doll around and caring for it like my mom cared for Bryan.

September 1988 - I started 1st grade, and my school journey begins. I loved school SO much. I was a teacher's pet right from the start, offering to help clean the classroom and do extra work at home. I also joined Girl Scouts, and my mom was my troop leader. Little did I know, the decision to join Girl Scouts would definitely change my life in the future.

March 1990 - I got in trouble for the first (and one of the only) times at school. A boy in my homeroom class, Josh, sat in my chair during lunch, when I got up to get some ice cream. I asked him to move several times, and he wouldn't, so I shoved him out of my chair and he fell on the floor. My parents had to officially be upset, but I learned a few years ago that they laughed hysterically about my actions.

February 1993 - I won the school science fair for the 5th year in a row, and placed 1st at the District Science Fair, and got honorable mention at Regionals. I definitely can't take all the credit. My dad always helped out a lot, and it allowed us the chance to spend a lot of time together. Great memory!

September 1993 - I joined the band as a clarinet player. My grandpa was a jazz clarinet player, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. I never got to meet him, so playing the clarinet helped me feel more connected to him and his life.

June 1995 - I went on a week-long canoe trip in Minnesota with Girl Scouts from all over the country. I felt so grown-up, and even though I suffered from home-sickness at the beginning, I ended the week not wanting to leave. I had a blast and can still remember the trip vividly!!

August 1996 - I started high school as an awkward, shy band girl. My "cool" factor was playing softball on the school team. I'd been playing softball for about seven years, and I loved it. I played catcher, and sometimes 1st base or right field. Some of my best friends were on the softball team, so it was always a lot of fun.

August 1998 - I start Senior High School (our district split high school into two schools - a 9/10 and an 11/12). I was so excited to finally be a Plano East panther! I was a member of the marching band, and I was more confident than I ever had been. I made a lot of friends, and became a social butterfly. I will always have fond memories of my time at East.

December 1999 - I received my Girl Scout Gold Award (the highest honor in Girl Scouting). For my Gold Award project, I did a Family Camping display at the library, and hosted information meetings on how to make camping affordable for families.

May 2000 - I graduated in the top 15% of my class. I was also awarded with a Perfect Attendance award. I didn't miss a day of school from 1st grade through 12th grade. I know, I know, I couldn't believe it either.... Like I said earlier, I LOVED school, and I never wanted to miss it!!

August 2000 - I moved to Lubbock, Texas to begin my freshman year at Texas Tech University. I was so excited to be a Red Raider, and I still bleed the Red and Black! Wreck 'em Tech!! I decided on Design Communications for my major, but that changed seven times over the next five years... I also participated in Sorority Recruitment. I didn't get into a sorority, and I was devastated. I'd worked so hard to prepare for recruitment, I was really hurt, and felt like no one liked me.

October 2000 - A girl that lived across the hall from me in the dorms, Alison, was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She said they were hosting informal recruitment, and wondered if I was interested. I was still hurt, but I thought I'd check it out. I met with a few of the members, and immediately felt welcome and at home. I joined the new member class a few days later, and was so happy. I met so many wonderful women, and our sorority raises money for children's advocacy and Girl Scouts, both important organizations to me.

January 2001 - I worked at the Outdoor Pursuits Center in the Texas Tech Recreation Center. We led camping, canoeing, and backpacking trips. I met so many cool people, and got to see a lot of beautiful Texas and New Mexico country. I'd been camping and backpacking with my family since I was four, and being able to lead trips was a dream come true.

November 2001 - I ran for the council position of New Member Educator for Kappa Delta, and WON! I couldn't believe it. I was responsible for holding meetings and hosting events for the new members, and preparing them for initiation. It was so much fun, and I got to plan events and lessons, which I loved. My major changed to Education.

November 2002 - I was elected as President of Kappa Delta. It was such an honor to serve as the president, and I worked hard to help our sorority become stronger and more visible on campus. I'd always admired the president who served before me, and I wanted to carry on her hard work.

May 2005 - I graduated college with a BS in Education (same degree as my mom). I also got hired as a recruitment coordinator for the Texas Tech Office of Admissions. I worked as a student in the Office of Admissions, hosting freshman orientations, and I was eager to be a staff member!! I got to travel all over Texas hosting recruitment events for high school seniors, and helping them see that college is always a possibility. I loved my job!!

January 2006 - I was admitted to the hospital with major chest pains. It turned out that my lung was collapsed, and I had a spontaneous pneumothorax. The doctor said it usually happens to really tall men in their 40's. He had no idea how it happened to me. I spent a week in the hospital, after having a surgery where they re-inflated my lung and coated it in a powder that helps it stay inflated and stick to my ribs. Weird right?!?

June 2006 - I left my job at Texas Tech to move to Columbia, Missouri for Graduate School. I enrolled in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism program (the same degree as my dad - now I have one for each parent!). There were only six of us in the program, which I loved. My cohort was a lot of fun, and we always enjoyed our Thursday happy hours after a long week of classes. I also volunteered with the Mizzou Kappa Delta chapter and worked as a tutor at Sylvan. I lived with a friend who moved to Columbia from Lubbock for Law School. My brother was also attending Mizzou, majoring in Journalism.

May 2007 - I moved to Alaska for my summer internship as the Art/Drama Director at a Girl Scout Camp. I was SO excited to embark on my Alaskan adventure, and the summer changed my life! I met a lot of great women and began to reevaluate who I was. Living minimally really refreshed me. I met Marcy at camp. She was hired as the Wilderness/Climbing Wall Director. I found myself attracted to her, and I didn't know why. I spent a lot of time journaling, and realized that I am a lesbian. At first, it was shocking to me, but the more I thought about it, the more right it felt. I am so much more happy now, and I feel more comfortable in my own skin than ever before. I struggled with telling my parents, family and friends, afraid that I would be alienated. My brother was so great - he helped me tell my parents, and was supportive from the first minute. Most of my friends are incredibly supportive, and my parents and family are working on it. It's a work in progress, and I just hope they know how happy I am now.

December 2007 - I graduated from Graduate School and moved to Red River, New Mexico with Marcy for the winter. We worked at the Red River Ski Area. I worked in the kid's center, and Marcy worked in the rental shop. It was so much fun being mountain bums. We loved it!!

January 2008 - Marcy and I were traveling back to Red River after visiting friends in Colorado, and we hit three elk on the drive home. I was asleep, and then knocked unconscious, so this is what I was told: One of the elk came through the windshield and the other two were thrown over the vehicle. I must have opened my eyes right when it happened, because I had glass in my eyes. Marcy got kicked in the head by the elk, and has a footprint scar on her forehead to prove it. It was definitely the scariest thing that's ever happened, and we are so thankful that we were wearing our seatbelts. You wear yours all the time, right?!? Please do!!

March 2008 - Marcy and I moved to Estes Park, Colorado to teach Outdoor Education at the YMCA of the Rockies. It was Marcy's second season there, and my first. We LOVE the people we worked with, and made so many great memories there. We were mere feet from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, and spent many days hiking and staring at the mountains.

June 2008 - We moved to Seattle, driving a giant Budget truck across the country (we had to go get my stuff from Missouri, and Marcy's stuff from Wisconsin). It was definitely an adventure. We got to spend some time with my relatives in South Dakota during the drive, and saw some beautiful country, too!! I got a job at Starbucks during my first week as a Seattle-ite. Marcy started Graduate School at the University of Washington School of Social Work.

September 2008 - After months of searching, countless interviews, and a lot of disappointment, I was offered the perfect job - working as a program coordinator for Girl Scouts of Western Washington. It's such a great job, and I feel so blessed to be a part of a program I really believe in!! I kept my Starbucks job, because I love it and the people so much!!

2009 - I'm excited about all that 2009 holds. My brother and Leann are getting married in May. My best friend Whitney is also getting married in May. I get to continue exploring all that Seattle and Western Washington has to offer, and I hope to explore Western Canada, and the Oregon coast.

Best wishes to you and your family for a WONDERFUL 2009!! What's your timeline?