Who am I?

Hometown: Boring, Oregon

Current City: Český Těšín, Česká Republika

Age: 30!

Survivor Luxury Item: Aveda Chapstick

Countries I’ve Visited: 40 and counting…

Fact: I graduated with an African Studies degree, studied Spanish in Buenos Aires and live in the Czech Republic!

25 Random Things About Me

1. I think that tattoos are mad sexy, the whole vibe works for me. I just have never had the nerve to commit to one for all eternity. But maybe someday soon…hmmm?!

2. I have two middle names, the second one is Dibble. “Dibbles’n'Bits” used to be a high school nickname.

3. I love the faint smell of cigarette smoke on a sunny day with fresh cut grass and dirt. Reminds me of years growing up playing softball all summer and there would be one parent that would be smoking in the distance, weird I know. But if you love the smell of gas stations…you can’t talk.

4. I used to be a radio DJ in Northern Ireland for one month, every Saturday night.

5. I think the South African accent is super sexy, Australian and British take a close second. Although Spanish can be nice too…I guess anyone with an accent step right up, anyone from Fargo, North Dakota or Hicksville, USA need not apply.

6. I’m an adrenaline junkie and like to be near the action. I have Skydived, Bungi Jumped, White Water rafted and am up for the next challenge.

Skydiving Perris Valley, CA 2004

7. I think that Disneyland is still a magical place to go and have been 20+ times.

8. I have seen my sin and it’s hard to look at and deal with.

9. I am loved by my God who is forgiveness, grace, mercy, strength, faithfulness and love.

10. I have never had a boyfriend (unless you count my 5th grade steady – which I don’t)

11. My sisters, Tiffany, Nicole and Anna have shared their lives with me and I am thankful for the blessing of their friendship and love. My sisters and my mom, Jana, are the most important women in my life.

12. I LOVE showtunes. Top favs: Les Mis, Miss Saigon, Wicked, In the Heights and all the old classics Music Man, Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, ah! such great happy music!

13. I have toured the US twice. Once with Tony Hawk and the Boom Boom Huck Jam and the second time with So You Think You Can Dance. I have been to every state except: Hawaii, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Louisiana.

14. I have had to dig a hole in the dirt to bury my passport in Zimbabwe because people would kill you for an American passport, for what it was worth on the black market.

15. I have had my nose pierced four times – count em! 4 (Four) times

16. I once got stuck in a cave deep underneath Mt. Adams in Washington State for over an hour. My pants got stuck on the volcanic rock and I panicked and couldn’t help myself. The guys told me to take my pants off so that I could slide out but I was too shy. I ended up ripping the entire back out of my pants when they pulled me free, oh well. I would rather be alive and seeing daylight with my butt out then die in a hole with my pants on.

17. The week after 9/11 I impulsively wanted to respond and help. I spent many long hours looking at going to grad schools in DC so that I could be in places of government that could influence our security measures.

18. My freshman year of college I was ranked the 4th Top Novice Speaker at the National Parliamentary Debate nationals in Nebraska, kinda cool.

19. I think I’m much more of a Martha, instead of a Mary. In fact some obnoxious guy told me once, “Stop being a Martha.” Punk! The kitchen isn’t going to clean itself!

20. I once did a solo hunger strike to raise money for The Bible League and didn’t eat for 16 days straight.

21.I preached a sermon in Zimbabwe once from the book of Hosea and the congregation started filing forward for a spontaneous alter call. For a 20 year old white girl from Boring, Oregon from a conservative Baptist church this was a bit new for me.

22. I have sat in front of a woman in Honduras with her three children and her day old baby and she looked at me and told me that she had no food and no breast milk to feed her children. Her children were days away from dying of malnutrition. I gave her the food that I had in my bag but I left her hut that day not knowing if the help that she needed would come in enough time to save her kids. I have thought about her from time to time and hoped that she is alive today.

23. I haven’t seen my natural hair color in over 11 years.

24. I have serious insecurities about always being the taller bigger girl growing up.

25. Of all my travels, adventures, exciting challenges my greatest peace has been found and experienced when I have humbled myself before my Creator and God and realized I am absolutely useless and empty without Him. He is the only one that brings ultimate peace and fulfillment, not always ‘easy’ and ‘happy’ but fulfilled and purposeful life.