i am nineteen years old - my birthday is April 27. i have an amazing family, extended included. my dad is probably one of the most amazing men i have ever met. he works harder at what he does then anyone i know. he used to be a pastor @ a small church about 2 hours from where i live now. he was an amazing pastor and i loved listening to him. however, now he has his own lumber business and he is finally getting to do what he always dreamed of. he is a very hardworking man, but also very successful. my mom is finishing her degree to be a high school english teacher. she works so hard in life. im so proud of her and all she is doing. my moms my best friend. she has  worked with our youth group & has helped a lot of kids grow in their faith. i also have one brother, jake. he is sixteen years old. he's a jock... football & baseball are his passions. but he is also probably the coolest teenager i know. i also have amazing grandparents, on both sides. my nanan & papaw are like my second parents. i spent a lot of time with them during school this year because they live near anderson. they have been there for me so much. my mamaw ... she is such a strong lady. i dont know anyone who has been through as much as her and still has such a positive outlook on life. and geeze i cant even begin to start with aunts, uncles, and cousins. all i have to say is i am truly blessed with family. and if you cant tell, they are the most important thing to me. okay, okay... now about me...  i just finished my freshman year of college @ anderson university, where i played volleyball. as of now i am majoring in political science. however, working in south africa with children and teaching everyday has really sparked an intereste of education in my heart.  i have moved six times in my life, went to three different schools... but i believe that all of that has made me the person i am today. i thrive on change. i like to try new things. im never content in one place very long. moving and having to adapt to new things my whole life has made it easier for me to be in south africa away from my family. i now live in elkhart, indiana. i went to high school @ northridge. i love notre dame football. and i love the chicago cubs.  i love the color orange, or anything bright and radiant for that matter. reading and writting are passions of mine. i can carry a conversation on with just about anybody.  i love being on or around water, lakes and pools. if i lived near an ocean, well that would be great too. i have a pretty darn good sense of humor, i'm very sarcastic. i am extremely compassionate. however, a flaw ... i'm not patient at all. i tend to want things now. but... through everrything with my trip and the whole process i am really learning how to be patient. i'm learning to trust in god, and not try to do everything myself. its a work in progress. i love sharpies. i love to color. i love volleyball. i have played it my ENTIRE life. year round. it was always who i was. but i have learned that other things make me who i am. i am no longer playing volleyball, but i believe it is all for a reason. and so far... i have no complaints, god is working so many great things out in my life! :) i LOVE to travel. i love seeing new things, meeting new people. i long to see new things, meet new people. i want to impact other peoples lives.  i want to go to ireland very bad. and i want to backpack around europe when i graduate college. i WILL travel the world. its one of my biggest goals.