Position
History Teacher
Education
BS Social Studies and English Education
About Me
I’m originally from Joplin, Missouri. I spent 6.5 years living/teaching in Tokyo, Japan, on a military base. My husband and I started a family over there and planned on teaching with the Department of Defense for the rest of our careers, but God called us back to Joplin to work for a non-profit homeless shelter. My husband is the Director of Education for True Charity Initiative which aims to teach other charities how to be more effective in overcoming cyclical poverty.
The Japanese live a very active lifestyle, and our love for nature, hiking, camping, biking, and kayaking inspired us to find an area that provides more of those opportunities. So we currently live in Northwest Arkansas and commute to Joplin occasionally. My family is from Joplin, so it’s been nice for our daughter to reconnect with all her cousins and grandparents.
Favorite Verse
Proverbs 4:23. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
There are many inspiring verses but I always choose this because I have personal experience where the Lord has answered the cry of my heart. At a young age, I latched onto this verse and believed it deep in my heart. I asked the Lord to help me guard my heart from the world, idolatry, unhealthy relationships, the wrong boyfriend, etc. As a much older person, I see times looking back that God did that without me realizing how close I was to danger. When the Bible says “above all else,” I believe we should pay attention to that.
First Job
Cleaning houses
Hobbies
Travel, nature, photography, reading, hiking, biking, kayaking, country drives, and game night with friends
Bucket List Items
I’m always adding to it as I check off some things and reevaluate others:
– Become a missionary
– Start an orphanage or run one
– Adoption
– Create my own business with my husband
– Chickens
– Buy an RV
– Travel internationally with my daughter
– Help my daughter become very fluent in a second language
– Give more than I keep
– Financial independence
– Create my own “Dear Abby” blog for young homeschooling Christian moms
– Help people
Favorite Place
Italy. It’s a perfect mix of everything my personality appreciates: history, architecture, warmth, lively personalities, amazing food, gorgeous scenery, and relaxed definitions of time.
Person I’d Like to Meet
Besides Jesus, right? Probably Paul. I have a lot of clarifying questions for him. Then Joseph, Jacob’s son.