So here's my "basic" timeline:
1985: I was born in Everett, Wa.
1987: I moved to Palm Desert, Ca. and became a pastor's kid.
1996: I moved to Everett Wa.
1997: I moved to San Diego Ca.
1998: I moved to Tecate, Mexico and became a missionary kid.
1999: I moved to Oaxaca, Mexico (and in case you are wondering yes the food is every bit as delicious as people say it is).
2003: I graduated from High School, moved to Everett, Wa, got a job as a barista, and desperately tried to pretend I knew who Ross and Rachel were.
2004: I moved to Renton, Wa. started community college in the hopes of becoming a nurse, then a writer, then an actress, then dropped out to pursue my dream of being an Assistant Manager at the Starbucks I worked at.
2006: January- I met David; November- I started dating David.
2007: April- I got engaged to David; August- I married David. (yes you read that right and yes I know that is a fast timeline for a 22 year old)
2008: I quit a desk job I had picked up somewhere in the fog of 2007 and start working at The Met Coffee and Wine Bar.
2009: April- I move to Chicago to help my brother start up a church; June- I embark on one of the best experiences of my life, the L'Art de la Patisserie program at The French Pastry School of Chicago.
2010: The darkest and yet happiest year of my life up to this point. I found out I was having a baby and almost simultaneously realized my marriage was broken.
2011: Our baby girl was born to parents who picked up the broken pieces and learned to love one another no matter the cost.
2013: I started a cake business! (Yay Akin Cake!)
2014: I shut down the cake business to focus on being a stay at home mom while my kiddo (and soon to be kiddos) was small.
2015: May- I CELEBRATED MY 30TH BIRTHDAY AT DISNEY WORLD!!!; June- Oh yeah I had another kiddo :D 8 lbs. 1 oz, 21", cutest baby boy in town!; November- I found a lump on my neck.
2016: January- I have surgery on my neck to remove the half of my thyroid that had a tumor on it, then found out the tumor is cancerous and I have Hurthle Cell Carcinoma, then have another surgery to remove the rest of my thyroid which is now considered cancerous tissue, then found out I have a rare condition called hypoparathyroidism which resulted from aforementioned surgeries. Yeah January was a busy month; May- I went through radiation treatment; November- I found out the cancer treatments were a success, and I had beaten cancer, but my life with a chronic illness was just beginning.
My life is an absolutely beautiful hodgepodge of darkness, creativity, truth, passion, and love. I find hope in transparency and revel in discovering blissful moments in the midst of a dark time. It's taken me 31 years (the last of which has been quite hell filled) for me to embrace who I am and trust the One who gave me life. I am a mess and yet I want to share my moments of bliss in the midst of this mess.
Left to right: My mom and I enjoying Dole Whips at my happiest place on earth; baby boy at 8 months old; The smile of a blissful 30 year old woman; A joyful reunion between my 4 year old daughter and I after not being able to be near each other during my week long radiation treatment; Me, KitchenAid and my stack of meds at my side, ready to bring on this new life.