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THE LIST

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In a future-focused world, the list is a means for reflection. It's a record of life experiences, big and small, that have shaped me into the person I am today. Some of these things I've worked hard to accomplish and others have been unexpected, yet incredible, blessings. 

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Like me, the list is always growing.

  • Rode a donkey to the top of the island in Santorini, Greece

  • Met the real Coach Herman Boone (think Remember the Titans)

  • Listened to a street musician (or five) in Prague

  • Saw the Eiffel Tower at night – it really does sparkle

  • Hiked in 10+ Midwest state parks & 3 National Parks

  • Attended more than 50 concerts

  • Witnessed Def Leppard's one-armed drummer play a set, flawlessly

  • Tossed a coin in the Trevi Fountain (I've yet to return to Rome, but am ready any time!)

  • Explored the ruins at Pompeii, then climbed Mount Vesuvius
    (they assured me that it's dormant)

  • Photographed three weddings, two engagements, a few families, numerous senior and headshot sessions, as well as pro dancers 

  • Missed my connecting train to Paris and spent a night as a homeless wanderer in a small French city

  • I was baptized at ITOWN Church, devoting my life to Christ

  • Survived my first job as a corn-detassler

  • Rode a bike all the way around Mackinac Island, MI

  • Got my B.A. from Butler University in Art+Design

  • Walked through Madame Tussaud's House of Wax (NYC), even though I'm terrified of mannequins

  • Saw some of my favorite contemporary works in Amsterdam's many art museums – Banksy, Dali, Warhol, and Lichtenstein

  • Sampled German beers in Cologne – Kölsch is my favorite

  • Ran a Ditka Dash 5K (without stopping) in a mustache (Da Bears)

  • Re-branded a 44-year-old theatre, the largest in Indiana

  • Saw the Beach Boys perform live

  • Moved out of my hometown (I'm the only one in my family)

  • Watched the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy in one day, exhausting

  • Survived the Angel's Landing Hike at Zion National Park

  • Sit on the Internship & Career Services Board at my alma mater

  • Have attended countless basketball games in the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse – go dawgs!

  • Sat three rows from Shania Twain in concert, a childhood dream!

  • Participated in the Indy Racing Experience (Sat in the backseat of an Indycar going 200+ mph, while a professional took the wheel)

  • Spent countless hours exploring Lake Michigan's shores

  • Read the entire Harry Potter series (and watched the movies!) 

  • Joined a Habitat for Humanity Women's Build Team

  • Sampled gelato in Italy (as much sampling as humanly possible)

  • Witnessed Carlotta Walls LaNier speak, one of the Little Rock Nine

  • Attended the 2016 Adobe MAX Conference

  • Became addicted to audiobooks – mystery, thriller, fantasy, and Christian are among my favorite genres

  • Hiked to the summit of a mountain in the Arctic Circle and encountered three wild reindeer (none of them with a red nose)

  • Met and married my favorite person, Joel Burkhead, on 11/7/2020 (it was a beautiful, but shocking, 70 degrees out)

  • Have been to nearly 50 theatre productions (only half at the IRT)

  • Saw a friend's band, Shiny Penny, open for Bon Jovi

  • Marveled at a Grand Canyon sunset (south rim)

  • Took many road-trips with friends (FL, GA, MI, TN, KY, SC, UT)

  • Stood in three weddings (and two more in 2021!)

  • Ran a 10k in training for a mission trip to Nepal

  • Baptized my friend, what an incredible honor!

  • Played disc golf (not well, haha)

  • Rode (and steered) a tandem bicycle without crashing

  • Went salsa dancing 

  • Serve in Children's Ministry at my church (Genesis)

  • Said "heck yes!" to being the Maid of Honor in my sister's wedding

  • Saw the Mona Lisa in person, it's smaller than you'd expect

  • Visited Mary's house and John's church in Kusadasi, Turkey

  • Oooed and ahhed at the Vatican's extensive art collection

  • Found St. Peter's Basilica more impressive than the Sistine Chapel

  • Have been line dancing many times (yes, I own cowboy boots)

  • Saw Beauty and the Beast on Broadway

  • Sank a hole-in-one on a putt-putt course (small victories)

  • Went on a solo trip to San Diego, CA, and re-learned how to enjoy being alone with my thoughts

  • Took in the view from the top of the Empire State Building
    (even though I'm afraid of heights and elevators)

  • Rode on the Flam Railway, the most beautiful train ride in Europe

  • Stand-up paddle-boarded (SUP) with seals in Southern California

  • Paid $8 for a "Gilly Water" at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter 
    Designed a Hinkle Fieldhouse skin for Trip's dog house
    (think Butler University's live mascot) 

  • Milked a goat

  • Visited Panama on a mission trip with ITOWN Church

  • Drank glacial melt (water) from a stream in Tromsø, Norway 

  • Attended a Bears game at Soldier Field

  • Lead a Small Group and conquered my fear of leading group prayer

  • Witnessed the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington D.C.

  • Kicked my feet up on a Mediterranean Cruise

  • Ate (more like devoured) a cannoli in Boston, MA

  • Sampled authentic squeaky cheese curds in Wisconsin (YUM)

  • Lived alone, with roommates, and with a family (friends of mine) – each offered different opportunities for growth and taught me more about myself, marriage, and life

  • Took an iconic tourist picture with The Bean in Chicago, IL

  • Was honored to serve as a graphic designer on the staff of ITOWN Church, working in full-time ministry for nearly three years

  • Joined a photography meet-up group, @igersindy

  • Was tackled by three football players on the sidelines of a high school scrimmage (I was a manager and didn't move quick enough)

  • Had a coffee from a Pop-Up Luke's Diner to promote Netflix's Gilmore Girls revival (one of my all-time favorite TV shows)

  • Biked around Copenhagen, as the locals do

  • Learned an incredible amount about apparel and large-scale design at ITOWN Church (both completely new to me before that position!)

  • Visited Holland, Michigan's tulip festival (with my mom and sister)

  • Had a piece of my art featured in a juried show

  • Met the members of Walk the Moon (and have a picture to prove it)

  • Had the best grilled-shrimp at Bergen's famous Fish Market

  • Saw Ed Sheeran in concert (2 hours wasn't nearly enough Ed)

  • Flew overseas alone

  • Learned to read a teleprompter for ITOWN News and tried out my acting chops on the ITOWN Kids Curriculum (ft. the "Russian" accent that often veered more toward French, haha) 

  • Learned to fish and actually caught something!

  • Trekked the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal, carrying the hope of Christ to some of the world's most unreached people groups

  • Baked my first Thanksgiving Dinner AND it was actually delicious!

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