I was born and raised in a small town in the Foothills of North Carolina. My love for music and God were evident at a young age. I loved to sing and play piano. I also loved to go to church and begged to go to Sunday school any chance I could. I began taking piano lessons at the age of 8 after having played "by ear" for years. I later picked up mandolin, guitar, recorder, and percussion. I began singing and acting in church children's programs, which led to writing plays and skits on my own. I became active in the local theater and found a love for directing as part of my time there. In addition to artistic pursuits, I was an active in 4-H, winning state demonstration, portfolio, and judging team competitions. I was inducted into the NC 4-H Honor Club, served as a delegate to National 4-H Congress, and was the Grand National Winner in Fruit and Vegetable Use Demonstrations. I was one of two recipients of the Southwest District 4-H Development Scholarship in 2000. I married my high school sweetheart, Josh, in December of 2011. Our son, Peter, was born in May of 2014. We live in an 80-year-old home in Hickory, North Carolina with our hound mix, Bandit, and our two cats, Cat Von Di and Liberty. In my spare time, I like to read, watch movies, cook, and sew.