I am married to a fearless, opinionated fire fighter who takes care of me how I need to be taken care of. I may complain about his “taking care of me”, but it’s what I need and it has only taken him twelve years to figure out. I think we’re getting pretty good at this marriage stuff. My husband, Jeremy, is an Anna native who graduated from Anna High School in 1998. He went on to attend The University of North Texas and graduated from the Collin County Community College Fire Academy Class Number 35 in 2006. He is a fire fighter for the Plano Fire Department. I am so proud of the selfless job he does for our community.

Along the years, we have had two boys—Jackson is a shy but marvelously charming & witty 12-year-old and Grayson is a 9-year-old who will steal your heart with the wink of his crystal blue eyes. I am so blessed to have such wonderful, healthy, beautiful children and I give thanks for them every day. Jackson has turned out to be quite the athlete… by his own choice, of course. This fall, he played tackle football for the Anna Coyotes. He also plays basketball and baseball. Jackson’s secret passion is building Lego creations. He someday wishes to take a family vacation to Lego Land in San Diego, California. Grayson takes after me and is my social butterfly. He has such a kind heart and a free spirit. He recently found his niche in Tae Kwon do and has already promoted to a self-disciplined orange belt. Being a wife and mother are the two most important parts about me.

I live near my home-town where my parents still live. My sister, Lori, and her family also live very close by. I have known her husband, Nick, since he was a teenager and they have given me a charismatic nephew, Carter, and Olivia, the most beautiful niece to ever walk the face of this earth. I am so blessed to be near them. I am possessive about my Sundays, as my family converges together for a magnificent meal most always cooked by my mother. It’s the only time my boys and I get a home-cooked meal as I DO NOT cook.

Teaching is my passion and I am so fortunate that I get to go to work every day to a job that I couldn’t live without. In my opinion, being a teacher is the most rewarding profession there is. I am not a teacher because of the money. I am not a teacher because it runs in my family. I am not a teacher by chance. I am a teacher by choice. Each year, with each class, I fall in love with those little people who walk through my door. I give everything I have in to everyday I can. I work very hard to build a relationship of mutual trust and respect with each and every single one of my students. I started working with kids when I was 18 years old. I worked for at an afterschool program for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County. I knew, without a doubt, that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

As if teaching everyday is not enough, in January 2011, I chose to go back to school to get my Master’s Degree. Just typing that is exhausting. Graduate school is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do… but as hard as it is, and as much as I complain, and as stressed out as I get, I love the challenge and the intrinsic reward with which I was filled is inexplicable. I graduated from Full Sail University with a Master of Science Degree in Education Media Design and Technology in February 2012. Told you it was exhausting.

In 2006, my book The Busy, Busy Caterpillar (Xlibris, 2006) was published. I wrote and illustrated the children’s book. The story was originally a project for a college class. The inspiration for the book came from a science course for teachers during a discussion about the metamorphosis of a caterpillar. I decided to do my own research and found many interesting facts about metamorphosis. My research turned into a rhyming and counting book for elementary-aged children. I am currently working on my second children’s book.

And as if being a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a teacher, and a student was not enough, I am also an avid softball player. Coed softball player. In a recreational league. It’s really not that serious, but I would feel empty without it. Ok, that’s a bit dramatic, but I absolutely love playing. I love the people on my team, I love the freezing cold and sweltering hot weather we endure and I really love hitting the tar out of a softball. I play most Monday & Wednesday nights and that’s what makes my Mondays bearable. I could live without softball, but I would be pretty darn grumpy without it.