It all started in a little town called Catalina

Catalina, Arizona.

A small town of about 7,569 people. Ranches, coyotes, and bikers reside in this desert oasis, all under the watchful face of the beautiful Catalina Mountains. It was here that I was born, a quaint quiet community where everyone was baptized in the same church, men built their own houses for their families and the neighbors had an in home Mexican candy store- way better prices than you'll ever find in a gas station and more authentic as well. I mean this chili covered candy could kill you. Not to mention around Christmas time all the Nana's would be ordering enough corn husks and shredded meat to feed all of Arizona. Tamale season was well under way. You also knew everyone and were probably related through some long twisted lines.

As you can imagine there were not many adventures to be found here, and neither were they welcomed by the hobbits who lived there. Staying home was paradise and walking to the fence at the end of their property was enough freedom for them.

I however, was the lucky one. For some reason fate chose me to be the adventurer.

Before long, I was whisked away by my restless mother to a bigger town- Tucson. Now don't laugh, it was not a huge change, but there , I suspect, was the start of my endless desire and craving to travel. It started like a fire within my heart, that shone through my eyes.

During grade school, we made an even bigger move to Mesa, Arizona. Going from a 7,569 community to a 452,084 sized city. The fire inside me was still small, but growing. I satisfied myself by finding all the adventure I could in books... knights, heroes, cowboys, and my favorite... adventures with heroines.

High school came along and my longing was growing my the yard. My home class decided that senior year we wanted to go to Europe together. We did fundraisers, held events, and worked our butts off.

Well this was going on, I had been applying to colleges- mostly out of state colleges. I was hungry for adventure and what better way than to start my life in another state I have never been too? I soon fell in love with Simpson College in a little town called Indianola.

While waiting to see if I got accepted at Simpson, we were all leaving the United States for the first time and having the time of our lives in three different countries in Western Europe.