About Me
I combine twenty years of my midwest upbringing with a decade (or two) of city life to share stories and life lessons from the heart. My husband Marc and I have three kids and live in Geneva, a suburb of Chicago.
Read my full bio below.

What you need to know!
Let's start from the beginning!
I grew up in a South Dakota town that was so small it put 647 as the population on the city limits sign. Not 640. They needed to make sure that last farm family that moved to town made it into the head count. I loved my small town upbringing. Where else can you lead your basketball team to the conference championship, edit the yearbook, run track, play third base in softball, and make a random decision to switch from flute to oboe in band your senior year? (“It sounds like a cow is dying, Ortman!” yelled the track coach as he walked past the band rehearsal in the gym...he was right.)
A small town girl at heart, I loved my family of five and my diversified life, but I spent my fair share of time dreaming of faraway places.
After graduation from Northwestern College, I took an internship in downtown Chicago that turned into a marketing position. After several years in the hospitality industry, I became the Director of Communications at Park Community Church in Chicago. I then attended Moody Graduate School pursuing a Masters in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship.
After moving from the city I became the Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor at Blanchard Alliance in Wheaton and the Digital Media Coordinator at Christ Community Church in St. Charles.
I currently manage the social media marketing for Prepare The Nest childbirth education company in Seattle, WA.
My loves!
The mountains of Colorado
Secondhand shopping
Classic black and white movies
Broadway shows
Soulful conversations with girlfriends
Any time spent on Third Street in Geneva
Small group leadership
My amazing Italian husband
Listening to our son tickle the ivories
Watching our daughter care for all the animals on the planet
Watching our youngest son tear it up on the field