How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
Since 2021.

Were you raised in a faith tradition?
I was raised in a non-denominational, evangelical church but attended an Episcopal church on occasion.

How did you find your way to Saint Philip’s?
My husband, Kyle, wanted a more liturgically-based service. We attended a Presbyterian church in Seattle before moving to Tucson, but I was familiar with the Episcopal liturgy and was willing to explore it.

What about Saint Philip’s appeals to you?
I love the community. We were welcomed right away and that made a huge difference in how quickly we were able to settle in. And Miss Harriet and her teaching style also made our children feel at home.

How are you involved in the parish?
I volunteer twice a month with StoryMakers—the formation group for grades 4 and 5.

I also helped with food for Vacation Bible School this past July. It was a lot of work but it was also a wonderful experience. I got to engage with other parents who volunteered, as well as with the children.

What do you do professionally?
All sorts of things! Right now I work part-time as the Brand Coordinator at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy. I’m responsible for print and public facing elements.

I also have a business license for my interior design work. I worked in the design industry in Seattle for 20 years before moving into graphic work.

What’s a lesson you’ve been invited to learn more than once?
Letting go.

I like control. That can benefit me in the design realm because there are a lot of details. At the same time, the creative process asks me to hold my vision loosely so I can work with what I have.

It’s the same with my family. I want our life to function a certain way but I’m reminded—again and again!—that I need to allow life to unfold as it will.

That’s especially true with our children who are 10 and 12. They need the freedom to become who they will be. I try hard to let them make appropriate choices but I definitely stumble. I’m grateful to Kyle for encouraging me to let them figure things out.

What’s something that scares you?
Not being present. Not living with intention.

I’m very much a “doer” and this season of life is so busy with work and family that it’s easy for me to forget to pause and savor moments.

How do you relax and replenish yourself?
In the past my answer would be to enjoy time with people. But I’m more introverted now and need time to read or just zone out.

How do you zone out?
Usually with a tv show or movie—so long as it creates a storyline that lets me connect to the characters. I appreciate anything that’s well done—from Quentin Tarantino films to comedies, like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

What’s something you’re proud of?
I’m proud that I’ve raised children who are kind. That’s a big thing for me, and one of the reasons I appreciate Saint Philip’s so much. The community here is a huge blessing in that respect.

What’s something you’re passionate about?
I really care about health—mental and physical.

Having kids prompted me to begin researching how what we take in affects us. I think it’s important because God calls us to care for our bodies and our minds, as well as the planet. I often miss the mark but I care about making the effort.

Can you think of a decision you made that made a real difference in your life?
After finishing college in California I planned to move to New York City. That didn’t work out so I accepted my cousin’s invitation to join her in Seattle. That changed my life.

So many things made it clear that I made the right move. My first job was at an interior design firm and that launched my career. I met my husband in Seattle. I lived with seven girls for several years and those relationships are some of my deepest and most important to me still.

My time in Seattle is where I was enlightened. I met so many people with perspectives I had never been exposed to; it was a time of real freedom for me.

What’s something you know now that your younger self didn’t?
That kindness matters.

I wasn’t an unkind child but I wasn’t as aware as I am now of how words and actions can affect a wider circle.

Just yesterday I thought about a childhood book. It told the story about a family where one person woke up angry, said something unkind to another person in the family, and that person carried the sting of that unkindness with them all day, spreading it in their interactions with others. I’m often reminded of how my reactions and words affect my husband and children.

So if all I do in a day is engage someone genuinely and with kindness, then that’s enough. The impact will be an ongoing one.

What role does faith play in how you live into life?
It helps me trust that God will take what I can give and do what he will with that. And that if I can’t do something, then that’s ok. It’s ok not to be perfect. And it’s ok—and likely—that not everything will go as planned.

What’s one of your guiding principles?
Awareness. My actions—our actions—affect others. We need to pay attention to each other.

What’s one of your super powers?
I’ve been told that I make people feel welcome.

How is that a super power?
Because it makes such a difference; it affects how people feel in a good way. I think it brings us into community which is what I think we’re built for and have lost so much of. Relationship is so important.

What’s something about you that friends have said they really appreciate?
They often say they appreciate how real I am.

I think that stands out in a culture like ours that is so driven by how we’re perceived by others. Sure, I care what people think but it’s not my driving force.

What is your driving force?
I think connecting with people and showing up as I am—for better or worse.

Recently I had on a pristinely pressed white blouse. Well, it was pristine until I spilled my morning caffeine drink (which includes chocolate) all over it. I dropped the kids off at school looking a hot mess. But I thought, “Here I am. This is what you get this morning.” and I was ok with that. I don’t want to hide.

I’m especially aware of this because I was such an anxious child. I’ve learned I can’t change the moment so I try to lean into it and do the best I can.

What’s one of your core values?
Relationship. Part of the “real” factor is asking questions, remembering details about people’s lives, and not performing.

What’s something you’d like to do that you haven’t yet?
I’d love to travel internationally with our children.

Kyle and I have both traveled widely (and even lived overseas)—and we do road trips with our kids—but they haven’t been outside the United States.

The irony is that I’m afraid of flying. I grew up flying and have been in lots of planes because of my work, but it’s still hard for me to do.

Where would you like to visit first?
A Scandinavian country. Maybe Denmark because I’ve read that people there are some of the happiest on earth. I’d love to learn what they’re focused on that we aren’t.

Do you have a special memory from your travels?
During college I spent three weeks in Israel. My friends and I spent a night in a Bedouin camp. We slept under tents among cushions, and the next day rode camels. It was like something out of the movies. We also spent time on a kibbutz.

What I found so interesting and amazing about both experiences was how welcoming people were.

Is there a decision you made when younger that you would make differently now?
I’m a conceptual artist which means I bring colors, textures, and textiles together. But I secretly want to be an artist with a canvas. My initial major in college was art but I was too much of a perfectionist so I changed paths. I’m disappointed I did that.

You have a small tattoo of a bird on your wrist. What meaning does that have?
It represents our first-born child, Paxi. She died in my womb at six months.

Our first ultrasound at 20 weeks revealed a chromosome disorder that we later learned was Turners Syndrome. She had all sorts of medical issues, and the doctor said Kyle and I had to make a decision about whether or not to continue the pregnancy.

We chose to continue the pregnancy, and I worked with Swedish Hospital in Seattle which had a high-risk practice. So many things happened, including working with an in-utero echocardiologist. But ultimately, her heart stopped.

The tattoo is of a bird because when my niece (who was three years old at the time) learned I was pregnant she said I had a little baby girl growing in me with feathers. And throughout my pregnancy lots of other people kept referring to her as a bird.

Is there something you’d like readers to know that you haven’t been asked?
I appreciate these conversations/interviews so much because everybody has a story. When we interact with each other casually we have no idea what someone’s experience has been. Taking time to learn about people honors them—and I think that’s important. That is relationship and awareness in action.