It all started one January night in Michigan. I was born to wonderful parents and with them I got the best big brother ever. (He’s married now and my sister-in-law is A-mazing and beautiful.)
Because Dad’s job has moved our family around a bit [and the hand of God works in mysteriously beautiful ways] we landed in a suburb of Cincy when I was in first grade. It took a couple of years to find a close church. This is where we found the real Jesus – the Jesus who turns religion into a relationship and offers the free gift of salvation to sinners like me.
I got into tumbling and trampoline about third grade. It kinda became who I was. My freshman year of high school I landed wrong [by wrong I mean like on my face with my feet bent around] on the trampoline. A year later the doctors said I had a ruptured disk in my lower back and I could never tumble again. Ouch – Well, I never really listen to doctors but this gave me time to think. I was able to go to a youth conference instead of nationals that summer and Jesus captured my heart again. This time for His people. I gave my life to His work. Next year I was on my first of many trips with AIM.
I just graduated from Asbury College. It’s been a sweet time of reflection to see God’s hand throughout the past three and a half years. He took me to a college I didn’t even want to consider. He enabled me to be part of the tumbling team, which combines flipping
and Jesus. My first summer He put me in a traveling ministry team with four crazy people who love Jesus. He partnered me with a great chaplain to minister with to our class. He got me into a media communications major [something I knew nothing about] in order to share His stories. He gave me a heart for AIDS and let me work with some passionate people my last semester. Thank You Jesus! Each day is amazing ‘cause its another day on a journey holding the hand of my Savior.
Some extras – I’m blessed and excited to be a part of this race. [Who isn’t?] I like daisies and roses and the color purple [the real color, not the movie]. I like painting and long car rides with me and Jesus. I like climbing [anything, although me and gravity aren’t the best of friends]. I like being challenged. I like to smile and laugh. I LOVE being broken to tears for God’s people. And I LOVE to pray out loud!
