Earlier this week, I met up with a friend just to chat about life. We said hello, ordered coffee and for the next hour and a half, compared our life history, each going back a few years, doing that thing where you cock your head to the side and scrunch your forehead in concentration to remember. The conversation was decorated by a lot of gasps, jaw drops at VERY interesting details, nodding along in complete understanding and exclamations of, “yes! me too!”
I grew up in southwestern Virginia, so visits to historic Williamsburg came with the territory. Here’s me, my 4-years younger brother and 5-years younger sister. Also, my dad’s legs and high socks.
I know we’re not supposed to live in the past, but I love a person who genuinely wants to know where I’ve come from. Because our history gives context. It exposes areas of relatability, and it helps you feel more understood. Plus, it opens up areas of experience and wisdom that may help others out.
Today, I’m feeling reminiscent. I dug back through old Facebook photos (I’m too old to have my WHOLE life history there, thank goodness).
Here are a few things about me you may not know, supported by horrible photography.
I went to Virginia Tech for communications and music. I graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism and minor in jazz vocal performance. I met some great friends there, a few of whom I still keep in touch with.
My brother and sister also went to Virginia Tech so we’re quite the Hokie family now.
Philip and I got to know each other through doing ministry side-by-side, which has been the foundation of our marriage. We joined forces to lead a young adult group at church, myself mostly doing music and him leading the weekly teaching. Leadership has always been natural for us.
Yes, that’s philip on the drums and me leading worship at the piano, something I still really miss doing.
When we met, Philip had a Honda motorcycle he was obsessed with. In this photo, he’s taking my little sister out for a ride at her high school graduation party. About two weeks later, he would propose to me and by the time we got married that september (yes, we planned our wedding in 10 weeks), he would have sold the motorcycle to pay for our honeymoon in Jamaica. I know.
I love, love, loved our wedding. It was the most perfect September day at gorgeous Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. instead of a unity candle, we did a foot washing.
About six months after we got married, I did the cliche hair chop thing. Only I did it to the extreme. My one and only pixie cut. Cute and low-maintenance, but I preferred it a little longer, so back out it grew.
I’ve had extremely long hair, chin-length hair, platinum hair, taylor swift straight bangs and everything in between.
Even pastel pink hair.
I guess you could say I’m a pianist. I took for nine years growing up and self-taught chord reading so I could lead worship with a band. I taught lessons for about five years, too. I still dust off the keyboard now and then with the hopes that one day I’ll be able to pick back up where I left off a few years ago.
This year, we are building house #2. The only other house we’ve ever owned was a new build and that time, we didn’t go through a developer. We lived and breathed drywall, paint, tile, sanding, cutting, grouting, flooring and caulking for 9 months. Hosanna Hill, what I named that house in Virginia, was stunning by the time we were done with it.
I’ve run 12 half marathons and two full marathons. The Virginia Beach rock & roll half is my most frequent race, which both Philip and my dad have also completed. I’m not competitive at all, running is one of the ways I process life and take a little “me” time.
Thank you for taking a trip down memory lane with me. You’ve won me over with your interest 😉 I’d love to know what some of your best memories or most interesting, little-known facts about you are. Leave me a comment – or better yet, a link – so I can return the favor.
I love this! Especially the ones where I got to say, "I remember that!"
Also, not many people could pull off all those hairstyles (or have the confidence to try!)
xo
I know, cue "memories" from Cats 😉 I love reliving some of these highlight moments, and I won’t apologize! Love that you’re in many of them too, friend! Miss you! xo
Loved the wall down memory lane! I’m SO thankful Facebook doesn’t document our high school years!! 🙂
you and me both!