I was born in Grand Junction, Colorado. I lived there for a few short months before my parents moved to Denver in the Summer of 1984 for my dad to work. I don't think they really wanted to move away from their families but they now had 3 kids and they needed to support us. So, I don't remember living in Junction. But I came back.
I grew up in Broomfield, Colorado. I lived there from infancy until I was 18 and graduated from high school. I loved growing up there. So many green open spaces and parks. Looking up at the Rocky Mountains every day was a luxury I never really thought other people didn't have. I loved to be so close to Denver and all that it offered while being able to go to the mountains and visit our family in Junction with all that it offered. I loved Broomfield Days and going to my brothers football games and baseball games. I loved 4th of July breakfasts at church and I loved my friends and family. I loved playing kickball for family night and I loved watching movies with my sisters. I had my first jobs there. I benefitted from so many relationships with my adult leaders at church and teachers at school. I learned so much about who I wanted to be. I was so close with my siblings. I looked up to Jen and wanted her to like me so bad! We fought a lot at times but I only ever wanted her to think of me as her friend. That happened but not until much later. I loved going to high school with Adam. He used to be so protective and in tune with me. We were in choir together and shared a love of music. I marveled at his confidence and popularity. Not things that I excelled at at that time. He took me to a movie one night cause he could tell I had had a bad day. I love that about him. I was close with Holly and we hung out a lot in high school. We both sang and had some friends in common. We would go to activities together and had lots of talks in the car and at friends houses. I looked up to her so much for her intelligence and sense of humor and confidence. Lisa and I got super close in high school (and college). We even had a few classes together. It was so fun for me to get to know her. We worked at summer camps together. We share a love of music and we would go to movies a lot. She came with me to drop me off at college and I was so grateful to have her presence at such a transitional time. Kelli and I shared a room. We laughed a lot and we fought a lot. Mostly about how messy she was. Haha. We would do fun things together and I loved having her around. She was 10 when I moved away.
I moved to Grand Junction for College. My college years shaped me in ways that I couldn't have imagined. I loved having some independence. I lived in the dorms for 2 years and made some amazing friends. I was very involved in church groups and in the music and communications programs at MESA. I enjoyed strengthening my relationships with my family who lived in Junction. My Unle Dan used to pick me up on Wednesday nights from the dorms and take me out to dinner. I got to know him so well. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents and got to know them so much better than when I was a kid. I went home to Broomfield for the summers too. I lived with my grandparents for the last 2 years of college. Again, my relationship with them grew so much and I am forever grateful for the late night talks with grandma. Watching a movie and eating popcorn for dinner on Thursday nights with grandma while grandpa was at the Archery course. I loved listening to my grandpas stories and having him laugh at my shenanigans. They came to my concerts and recitals and were as proud as any parents could be. Grand Junction also brought into my life the most important people. My best friend in the world, Christopher, and my husband, Matthew. We currently go home to Grand Junction where we have a lot of family still.
Matt and I lived in Junction for 1 1/2 years before we moved to Nashville. Almost 7 years and 3 kids later we love it. We have an amazing framily! Matt's career is going really well. We love the arts and music, we love the zoo and the parks and the family atmosphere. We love downtown and we love the river and the scenery. We love the fireflies and the colors in the fall. We love the people and we love our little house.
I have to say, my favorite place to live is Nashville. Probably because I have given birth to all of my kids there and all of our sweet family time and memories have been made there. I love it. It took a few years but I really do love it now. I am grateful for the places I have lived and the people who have shaped me. I am happy with who I am and who I continue to become and that has to do with the places and people who have been a part of my story.
