THE LONG VERSION
Writing a bio of myself is quite an interesting task - to help give you more insight to the craziness of what I call L-I-F-E. For starters, I have lived in 37 houses! It hasn't made me crazy yet, but I wouldn't mind if I never saw another cardboard box again. lol!
My life started off in St. Paul, MN - I was only there the first year of my life while my dad finished Bible College. I managed to survive a MN winter - weighing in at 10lb 6oz. helped. From there we headed to Ohio. My mom and dad pastored there for several years and then we started the journey that will explain why I've lived in so many houses. That journey was the life of a missionary kid. I loved every single minute of it. My overseas adventure began in the Canary Islands (off the coast of Africa but owned by Spain). After 3 years there we headed to the mainland of Spain where I spent the rest of my childhood/teen years. While my parents lived in Valencia, Spain my Junior and Senior year in H.S., I was given the option to home school or go to boarding school. If you know me, home school was totally NOT for me being the social butterfly I am, so I choose boarding school in Kandern, Germany. It was a phenomenal experience!!
Backtracking a little, I started playing the piano when I was 7 years old (in Canary Islands). It was a dream of mine so when I started playing, there literally was no stopping me. I had already started my singing career at the age of 3, of course, sadly, it didn’t last too long due to me never wanting to return the microphone to my dad when he’d let me have the opportunity to sing in church….he would have to pry the mic out of my hands. So, that soon ended my singing career in which I picked back up by the age of 6 while going to church, to the store, to friends houses – everything we did and everywhere we went I put into a song. I am sure I drove my family insane with my hit song titled, “I’m going downtown!” J
From a very young age, I had a strong and unstoppable desire to create music and sing. I knew, without question, it was my destiny and pursued it with great intensity. In the quest of this dream, it also brought me to a fervent relationship with my heavenly Father. The most eye-opening moment I had with Him as a child that set me up for my life was at the age of 9. Peer pressure affected me during my tween years/early teen years and quieted my stand for God but with another powerful encounter with Him at the age of 14, it was a done deal. Knowing who I was in Christ and who I wanted to become in Him, there was no stopping me.
I know you are getting worried as I haven’t even begun my adult years and I’ve already used up 4 paragraphs. I do have the gift of writing novels but I promise, I’m really almost over, really, I am. J
My adult years started off by finding the love of my life, Mark – or I really should say, he found me. Wait – he didn’t find me, he chased me down! We had known each other as MK’s (missionary kids). He grew up in Ireland. That story is a novel itself….maybe one day I’ll share it in greater detail. He swept me off my feet as we said “I do’s” in 1990. Okay, so I just revealed that I am not 29 even though I’d like you all to keep thinking that I just turned 29. Got it? J I’m not 40 either, though! Together we mastered the art of beauty by creating 3 phenomenal children – Caleb, Faith and Jacob. They bring more joy to my life than I could have ever possibly imagined. Enabling their dreams is a great joy in my life.
In the 90’s, God began opening up doors in my life that I never even dreamed about. One of those doors was in the area of worship. By ’98, I was given the awesome opportunity to lead worship for the Oklahoma Women’s Ministries Women’s Convention, in which I was able to do through 2000. That year they recorded the Worship for the Convention – Women in Worship CD which was a dynamic experience. Through those years doors were also opened in my life to begin speaking. I started speaking at Women’s Retreats and Girls Ministries Retreats (formerly known as Missionettes Clubs). As well as leading worship at multiple Women’s Retreat across Oklahoma and Youth Camps.
From there, we moved to Dublin, Ireland, (okay, so you can begin to see why I dislike cardboard boxes) where we went as missionaries to plant churches and help with a National Youth Ministry. The worship experience continued where I led worship for Youth and College and Career Retreats, Intercession Meetings and regular Sunday services.
We eventually returned to the US – but that is where things in my life began to change. I had spent my entire life singing within the 4 walls of the church. Loving every minute of the experience and the doors that God had opened up in my life but while we were in Ireland – I literally had a life-changing encounter with God that forever messed my life up – and I mean ‘messed up’ in positive way. I realized that I couldn’t spend my whole entire life within the 4 walls but had to begin to stretch my borders of comfort and the world I knew, and begin to shine like the stars in the night into the world. From that one evening with the love of my life, Jesus, I went on a journey of writing songs I had never written. These weren’t worship songs, but what I would consider positive, everyday songs – love songs, songs about life, living, dreaming. From that one God encounter, I’ve never been the same. My greatest passion in life outside of my God, my husband, my children, is using the power of music that God has given to me to bring a positive impact to the lives of those listening.
Currently, my husband and I are Lead Pastors at The Bridge Church in Bristol, TN. I am also the Worship Pastor and the Youth Pastor – okay, I’m not done yet…haha! I’m also the Director of Girls Ministry for the TN District Assemblies of God in Nashville. I have continued doing worship events, retreats, speaking, singing at the Bluebird Café in Nashville and hitting other songwriting events in the area. My passion is being a contagious lover of God, living the life He’s given me to the absolute fullest, singing my heart out, speaking and making those around laugh – being real and being motivated to live out every dream I’ve ever dreamed. It's really just the beginning.....
Hmmmm….I wonder where house #38 will be?