my story and I'm stickin' to it

I began my writing and journaling journey when I received my 1st diary at 10 years old. Back then my diary was about friends and boys. As I moved into my post college years my journals were about living the life of a young adult in the 80's culture. Once I moved back to the midwest, they were about living an anxious culture.

My journals are expressions of prayer, lament, psalm, gratitude. In other words joy, sadness, confusion, and happy.

That 1st diary now sits upon a shelf in a closet full of cloth covered journals and spiral notebooks.

I noticed at a young age that people tell me their stories. I listen. I don't give advice 'cause I suck at it—I can't even give myself good advice. I pray. I notice. I'm an observer. I'm analytical.

I believe our lives have meaning and purpose.

I believe we all have stories. I believe we can't run from our stories. I believe that our stories from our past affect our present. And what we do with our present can change the future. What's your story?

I'm a regular "girl". I grew up on a farm in Iowa with my dad, mom, 2 sisters, 1 brother, a dog, and lots of cats. Summer memories are hoeing in the garden, mowing the yard, and my sister and me racing our bikes to the top of the hill to watch the train.

I always liked school. Even more I liked friends and socializing around activities like band, choir, cheerleading at basketball games, joking around with friends and teachers in class.

I went to a small, private college in Kansas—one of the best decisions I ever made. B.A. in English. The relationships I made there are still a part of me. I think of those times as hilarious, forming, fun, true.

Got "Life of Hard Knock's" degree in Greeley and Denver, Colorado. Worked in a 1-hour photo lab processing people's vacation photos, the county jail's mug shots, and various voyeurism pics. Learned the only way to learn about relationships—by failing at many. Still learning. Yeah failure! I didn't have a car, couldn't afford one on a part-time job. Walked it, bused it, or biked to work and the grocery store. Try carrying a jar of pickles in one of those flimsy plastic bags in the racing position on a bike. Ramen was a staple, as was bread and peanut butter.

Moved to Denver and worked at the Denver Post taking classified ads over the phone (that's why I'm not much of a phone talker), my first copy editing job was for Summit Media turned Transmedia Partners, the foothills were alive with the smell of pine and buffaloes nearby. My first layoff happened at this job. Spent 11 months unemployed, although paid my rent by working various temp agency assignments. An active night life style with some regrets...

In my 11th month of unemployment, I was 1 of 500 applicants to get a coveted job at the Jefferson County Public Library. One of my favorite jobs everrr. Loved the people, loved the books.

Decided to move. Made a list of places I'd move. Des Moines wasn't on the list. It's where I landed. I've lived here 16 years.

By day I'm a copy editor for the Legislative Services Agency.

By weekend I train for 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons.