Photo by: Jenna Karwoski (2012)

A child of the ‘70s and ‘80s, I grew up in Bellevue, WA, a suburb of Seattle. I was a compassionate and playful girl, though I was also a school-loving, type-A, straight-A, goody-two-shoes if ever you have met one. I cultivated a wild imagination through books and writing. Most of my time was spent surrounded by the kids in my mom’s home daycare and many that I babysat. My sister and I practiced the art of serious sibling rivalry until one day we matured into college students, women, wives, mothers, and best friends. Our parents raised us with a moderate amount of dysfunction, but we try to use that to our benefit in terms of character and fascinating appeal.

I attended the University of Colorado @ Boulder and graduated with a degree in Marketing as well as a teaching certificate. I’ve always been a teacher in my core and I treasured my time teaching third grade. I fell in love with my school, my students, and the teacher next door…Mr. Adam Thaler. After a date under the stars on Flagstaff Mountain, orchestrated by many teachers who’d love to take credit for our mutual adoration, our love story began. Twelve years, a wedding, 3 children, and 3 cats later, we are living our beautiful, crazy, lovely, chaotic life just outside Boulder, CO.

Over the years I’ve aimed to grow and thrive and make a difference in the lives of my family, my students, and my friends. In time, another passion has crept back in from my childhood – writing. My fourth and fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Reardon, insisted that we write in our journals every day, and that one day we would look back and be thankful to have a glimpse into what was happening at that point in our lives. Mostly when I look back I’m embarrassed at the crazy things I wrote and my outlook on the world. The words, however silly, were mine. They came from my heart and my own confused, childish mind. I kept a journal every year until I graduated college. Then life got really interesting. Instead of writing down every moment, I told myself I was living every moment. I wish with all my heart that I’d continued writing. I would love a peek back into myself throughout the events, big and small, of the past 12 years. I thought I’d remember every little detail because at the time it didn’t seem possible to forget.

Through my writing, I’m excited to continue growing and making a difference. Here I will share my thoughts, my stories, and my passions. I will use my words to explore and find myself in each new stage of life, to stay connected to my family and friends near and far, and hopefully to touch a life now and then.

Thank you for joining me as I embark upon this journey.  I hope you enjoy the ride!