What matters?

Since my blog is titled "Story of my life." I find it fitting to start with who I am.

What is MOST important is that I am a follower of Christ. I am far from perfect, but God is working in me and growing me into the woman that He wants me to be. 

I was born in Carson City, NV to parents who neither one really had a relationship with Jesus. My mom was raised atheist yet always believed there was a god, and my dad was "Catholic" (by association, mostly). Divorce is what moved my mom, younger brother, and myself to Veneta, OR. Looking back it's obvious that God had his hand in all of it, and that He was using it for our good (Rom. 8:28).  Not wasting much time a neighbor invited us to church. And my mom gladly accepted the invitation. And soon after it just clicked for us. We knew that this teaching was TRUTH!!! I, at the age of about four, accepted Christ as Savior and began this amazing journey of my life.

I have loved the Lord since then and am really learning a lot every day. In eighth grade I went to Acquire the Fire and made a couple commitments to God. I decided, with the help of the ATF crew: no R rated movies or secular music for a month. This was hard - I missed a school dance and was outcast by my friends. But it was me making my faith real and struggling for probably the first time.

Through high school and college I was very involved in church still, and also found a calling on my life for short term missions. God has taken me all over and is planning my future trips. Another thing I have discovered is a gift for teaching and working with children. Being an older sibling (I'm the oldest of 5!), being involved in church, Christian Youth in Action, and Northwest Christian University have all contributed to my teaching ability and making me into the educator Jesus would have me be.

I'm not sure what exactly my plans are for this blog, but we will see where God takes it, and where He takes me in my life here as I live for Him.