I grew up in extreme rural West Texas within a white, middle-upper class family, and it wasn't until 1983 that we had a home phone.

While I have a deep spirituality and faith in God, I consider myself non-religious, seeing religion and faith as separate entities.

I was spiritually raised in Evangelical Christian beliefs, mainly within Lutheran and Methodist traditions.

I am the youngest in my birth order, a twin daughter of divorced parents, and my biological father is deceased.

I underwent inpatient treatment for an eating disorder and addiction in my early twenties and have navigated and healed from infidelity.

I am the daughter of an alcoholic and sex addict, and actively engage in 12-step recovery work and Al-anon.

I acknowledge my privilege as a white individual, with a family history of land ownership in West Texas, understanding the historical impact that my ancestors had with Comanche Native Americans.

I am working to recognize and deconstruct the negative ethnocentric influences within my upbringing; including encounters with racism, gender discrimination, homophobia, legalistic Christianity, and a fundamental distrust of government.

I continually work to deconstruct my own biases, acknowledge and understand my privilege, and actively seek opportunities for learning and growth.

I am actively committed to personal growth, striving to be an ally and accepting individuals regardless of gender identity, religion, race, and/or sexual orientation.

Recognizing the limitations of my knowledge, I am committed to the ideals of grace and authenticity, firmly believing in the intrinsic value of every human being without exceptions.