Get To Know Me
While I enjoy working with floral arrangements, it's not my primary pass-time. Below I'll share with you more about myself~
My Husband & I
My husband Keith [KJ] & I have been married since March 11, 2018. We have been friends since the sixth grade, and have been together since 2013. We have been blessed throughout our relationship in many ways. We enjoy many of the same hobbies such as playing sports, board games, and video games.
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Baby Autumn
In September 2020 we were able to purchase our first home, and in October 2020, during a pre-op, we found out that we are expecting a baby. Little Autumn is due on June 16th (the due date has changed a few times!) and we will be first-time parents.
My Family
I was raised in a standard household with a bunch of misfit goofballs. Both of my parents are Army veterans, and actually met and married in Germany during the Cold War. My dad continued to serve in the National Guard up until 2016.
I have a brother is 6 years older than I am, and a sister who is 8 years older. Along with them, I have a brother-in-law who raised me in nerdiness, two nephews, and identical twin nieces.
My Husband's Family
My husband was also raised in a standard household, and is particularly close with his four sisters due to being home schooled for many years together. He also has two caring parents, 3 brothers-in-law, and two nieces at this time. With baby Autumn on the way, it looks like another batch of girls all around for the cousins!
We enjoy going on small adventures, vacations, playing board games, sports, and much more together, even as working adults.
Fun fact: My mother-in-law was our school nurse and athletic director, my father-in-law was the technology coordinator, my father was a teacher, my mother was a custodian, and everyone but my mom coached me in basketball.
Our Pets
Both my husband and I have been raised as major cat lovers due to growing up in the country and having all sorts of outdoor cats around. We have two dogs and a cat that stay at my in-laws house, as well as a cat (Loki) and a leopard gecko (Ollie) at our house. Loki is very rotten and known for breaking and destroying things, which is rich re-payment for rescuing him at 5-weeks old!
Our Friends
My husband has been able to maintain the same friends since junior high, even when some of them have moved around other states. I have continued with 3 high school friends, and added 5 more in college - unfortunately most of my other friends also live in other states!
Sports
Two of my biggest hobbies have always been participating in sports, and spending time outdoors. In high school I was a part of the basketball, cross country, and track and field team, as well as covering on the softball team as needed. I continued with cross country and track in college, where I was fortunate to make 4 of my friends.Â
My husband coached junior high basketball while I was coaching field events on the track and field team, and a couple of his sisters have coached volleyball as well.
Sydney's Photography
Something I have dabbled in off and on in the past is modeling for my best friend's photography business. She enjoyed photography class in high school and decided to make it her senior project, ultimately beginning her business.
Ehler's Danlos Syndrome
One unique thing about me is that I have a rare condition known as Ehler's Danlos Syndrome. EDS is just now beginning to be taught in medical or PT school, and most practitioners are not familiar with it. EDS is a defect in your collagen genes, and do you know what collagen is for you? Skin, joints, cartilage, organs, basically everything. My symptoms became much worse around age 19, but I have finally settled in with a primary care physician who knows the disease - plus I have a pretty cool PT room in my basement!
Outdoors
My dad serves as my outdoors buddy, and has raised me with hiking, fishing, camping, four-wheeling, and many other outdoor activities.
Animal Lovin'
One thing anyone who knows me knows I am crazy about is animals. I've had rabbits, horses, dogs, cats, fish, ducks, chickens, pheasants, a raccoon, hamsters, mice, and anoles in the past. My husband and I have a running joke because he doesn't believe I will pick up a wild snake when the opportunity presents itself (I totally will). You can see in the gallery photos how enthused I am just around other people's pets.
Hawaii
One tidbit I wanted to include was my trip to Hawaii, as it was the coolest and most enriching trip I have been on. I have been absolutely blessed to have gone on mission trips with my churches, as well as many vacations with friends and my in-laws, and have never had to pay to go. Hawaii is the one trip I did have to pay for, and I did so by working to raise the money at the Ohio State Horseshoe during our 2014-2015 championship season! In Hawaii we were requested to assist a poor public school with maintenance and repairs, as well as to help a church with their homeless shelter, which was also an abandoned school. I was also able to visit the Dole Plantation, Pearl Harbor, stay on the Marine base, swim in the ocean, hike a famous mountain trail, do track practice at 5AM daily (our coach was also a parent escort), and visit the Polynesian Cultural Center. While all of this probably sounds extremely expensive, our senior advisor budgeted for us well and the plane tickets and activities all cost about $1800 total - Again, most of us had to work for a year prior doing odd jobs to raise that!
