I have been married for 16 years! Nate is a LOT of fun to be around, full of personality, imagination, wisdom and just the right amount of humor. 

We have a little one around the house. Mateo is my miracle baby that is now a little boy. What joy and challenges he brings to my life. Parenting is a WHOLE thing.  He is strong-willed and challenges me.This has built my patience and tolerance for insanity.He is a bundle of energy, which keeps me on my toes, he is kind and creative.The best combo of perfectly wild and cuddly. I’m more than excited to be here helping to shape the kind of man he will become.

We also have Japanese "daughters"! We are a host family for a homestay program. We host our daughters anywhere between 3 months to 1 year while they study at ASU. 

And also to note my Mom is my BEST friend in the WHOLE world. Which is funny because as a teen/young adult we have a bad if any relationship. Man what a beautiful story! 

Family

I guess I don't consider myself a faith driven person anymore because it's not something I talk about but if you look at my core values and how I live my life they would 100% align with my belief system.

I was raised  "Christian" and I still at the core identify as such- but I suppose most Christians would disagree. lol. I've read the Bible and found Jesus/God/Creator from a different perspective since I read the book " Reading The Bible From The Margins". It's an amazing read that was the start of me challenging my belief system. My beliefs are now considered very liberal for the westernized christian system but I believe they are actually truth. When I think about the Bible and Jesus I think "what a beautiful story of unfathomable love & humility. The Creator of the universe became a poor, outcast human JUST to spread love and break the distance between us and him. To break religious lies and broken systems- simply to connect with us and give us LIFE and life to the full (hense "Fully Alive")"

So my faith and life is truly is guided by the radical example of the life of Jesus. -Flipping tables against injustice, creating love where there was none, giving a voice to the oppressed -women, children, homeless, and all races & tribes. He fought against sexism, ageism, classism and beyond. In my opinion-He wasn't the person many modern churches claim him to be, in order to support control and patriarchal systems.. 

This is a message of freedom and equality and love- and it was RADICAL for the time.

I would be a fool to say I am not WHO I am because of God. My faith is the reason for my moral compass and every decision I make in my life. 

I don't talk about this much on my site, because I know the "Christian" faith has gotten a lot of things wrong over the years, and never want anyone to get the impression that I am in any way judgmental, nor do I believe many of the teachings of the modern church. -I honestly don't believe that other faiths and spiritual practices are wrong- in fact I support other faith systems AND people who don't have faith at all. I would consider myself a Christian Universalist, or possibly an open and affirming methodist. At this time we do not regularly attend church but my beliefs are the entire reason I am the person I am, why I make my life choices, and they are also constantly updating and open.

my Beliefs 

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I have a lightening bolt tattoo. My cats are named Luna and Ollivander... I am a Slytherin.. no shame- I am ambitious and resourceful! But I also rank high with Ravenclaw! I value wisdom and personal development. I am a lover of administration and strategy -I’ll task the hell out of you if you come near me. (My husband has learned to stay away when I’m in work mode)

Mostly I just love good stories! I read every day! Mostly young adult post-apocalyptic fiction stories - but also my fair share of personal development books - but those are usually podcast or audio books- cause I have ADHD so you can find me reading something, listening to something and watching something at the same time....

Harry Potter & Other great Stories

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It's a possible obsession...  it's called the "Tracy Loves Taylor" playlist for a reason. It's all I listen to. Can't sleep at night sometimes because her lyrics are on repeat... Also I named my dog "Lavender Haze"

I've been a fan since her country album Debut (I was still in my country era and I bought that cute little floral dress she wore... I still have it.)  She actually released that album the SAME month I launched my first company "Fully Alive Photography." As such I've grown not only as a person but my business grew alongside Taylor.

Even when I got made fun of for loving a girl who was "flighty and shallow" I knew she as awesome and never doubted her. I've always loved her and been proud of who she was as a storyteller, songwriter, and a young woman just trying to survive.  I'm a proud Swifty still and I'm thrilled she's proved everyone wrong with her badassery. 

Taylor Swift

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All the other things.- like glitter

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but wait... there are more things I love

So that's Me!