This week it’s my 25th birthday, so just like we did for my husband’s birthday, I’m going to answer 25 questions to help you get to know me a little better! So let’s jump right in!

1. If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

A: Silly. I think most people would probably call me organized, but when I’m most comfortable, I’m outrageously silly and child-like. It’s my favorite state of mind and why I love to teach children so much, and also why I’m so obsessed with Disney.

2. What would you do if you had a million dollars?

A: Buy annual pass holder tickets to Walt Disney World for my entire family, plan an overseas vacation for Russell and me, and then put the rest into retirement accounts and savings.

3. What expectations do you have for yourself?

A: To be respectful, humble, and kind. To live so that God’s light shines through my actions. To put others first. To be open to new adventures.

4. What are your personal goals?

A: Currently, my biggest goal is to finish our living room “remodel” (we’re calling it a remodel but really we’re renting on base housing so we’re just doing a total redecorating of everything in our living room), but by the time this is posted that will *hopefully* be done. A big goal I have for the summer is to rest. That sounds funny as a goal, but I spent all of last summer working nonstop, and I didn’t give myself a chance to rest at all. The cracks showed during this past school year because of it. I’m working on learning how to slow down and rest in a healthy way right now.

5. Where would you like to move/live?

A: My dream is to move back to our hometown in South Carolina. I’d love to live near our family again. Living so far from them has shown me just how important they are to me.

6. What is your dream vacation?

A: If I had to pick something I’ve never done, it would be Aulani (the Disney hotel) in Hawaii. But truthfully, I’m a creature of habit so going to Isle of Palms, South Carolina, and Disney is just fine with me.

7. What is your favorite food?

A: Zaxbys. Another thing I desperately miss living in the PNW.

8. Cat or dog person?

A: Definitely cat. I’m absolutely a crazy cat lady.

9. What kind of animal do you love the most?

A: I think I’d have to go with Red Pandas. We once drove all the way to the Seattle zoo (despite there being another zoo much closer) just to see the Red Pandas, and the only one they had was asleep. So I’ve yet to see one in real life. One day….

10. Describe your perfect date.

A: Any date that involves being by the water has my vote. I didn’t realize how much I loved it until we moved out here and it’s too cold to be on or near it most of the year. My soul desperately craves being by the water. I love when Russell and I will just grab Starbucks and walk hand in hand along the water. Or when we go out and paddle board and kayak. Those are my favorite dates.

11. What kind of music do you like?

A: My taste in music varies greatly. One minute I want to listen to country, the next rap, the next worship music, then pop…It’s all over the place.

12. What has been the happiest event of your life?

A: Getting my husband back after his first deployment. Holy cow that was the weirdest feeling ever. So many butterflies, so much excitement, so much everything! Watching him walk off that plane was one of the best moments of my life because the other half of my heart was finally home! 

13. Do you snore while sleeping?

A: I don’t think I do..unless my nose is sort of clogged up.

14. If you had to step into someone else’s shoes for the day, whose would you want to be in?

A: Russell’s. I’d like to see our days (and my craziness) through his perspective.

15. What 5 words would someone close to you use to describe you?

A: Organized. Hard-working. Busy. Stubborn. (I don’t really like these descriptors, but I think that’s probably how others see me. I’m working on changing those things within myself and eventually, they’ll change to the outside world, too. Except stubborn. I’ll always be that.)

16. Do you believe in love at first sight?

A: I believe that it’s possible, but not that it has to happen for it to be real love.

17. What is your most treasured possession and why?

A: Ironically, I think it’s my recipe book. (I really don’t like to cook…) At my bridal shower, my aunts had everyone bring a recipe on an index card and then gave me a photo album to put them in. Even though I don’t love to cook, I do love collecting recipes. Each time someone I know gives me one, I write who it came from in the corner. It just makes me feel close to them whenever I use their recipe, and it does make the cooking of it a little more enjoyable.

18. What’s your favorite holiday?

A: Either Halloween or Christmas. Russell and I have created so many traditions that I love around these holidays. I look forward to them all year long.

19. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: Close-mindedness.

20. Beach or mountains.

A: Beach for sure.

21. Are there any causes you strongly believe in?

A: Adopt don’t shop. Unless you have a specific reason, such as allergies, or you’re putting your animal into shows, the average person really doesn’t need a dog/cat from a breeder. There are so many animals in shelters that are put down simply because there isn’t enough space (most shelters are not no-kill shelters and even those that are no-kill still put animals down occasionally) or they’ve been there too long. Also, spay and neuter your pets. Please. Being proactive about not creating more animals that will just end up in shelters can help reduce the need for space in shelters, thus reducing the need to put animals down.

22. Netflix or Hulu?

A: Hulu without a doubt. Although I’m kinda mad at both right now for passing on picking up Brooklyn 99 (shoutout to NBC).

23. What are your hobbies?

A: Reading. Bullet Journaling. Taking walks/just being outside. Playing the Sims.

24. What is your biggest accomplishment from the last year?

A: I taught myself how to semi-play the piano so that I could help out with music during youth group. It’s been a pretty cool accomplishment and it’s really exciting when my ears can pick up on what I should be playing. Once I went over to a friend’s house who had a harp (seriously how cool is she?) and I just started playing Mary Had a Little Lamb. It was one of the coolest moments of my life. It’s like my ears and hands knew what to do even though my brain had zero idea what was going on.