I'm originally from New Mexico, went to boarding school in Ohio, college in Texas, law school in Montana, and now call Colorado home. I'm 38 and feeling m-fing fabulous. I'm not getting older.  I'm getting better.  I've been blissfully divorced since June 3, 2008.  Please don't say you're sorry.  I'm not!  Life is much better this way for everyone involved and I'm happier and more at peace with my world than I can ever remember.   I try to keep it simple and live in the moment. God  has blessed me in so many ways and I'm not going to cry over the little things.  

MY HEART!!

I'm a mom above everything.  It's the best thing that ever happened to me.  I never wanted children until I started working in the juvenile courts.   I figured if those parents could screw up as much as they did and the kids still turned out as great as they were then I could do it too.  I also started feeling that maybe I had an obligation to contribute a functioning, responsible human being to the world to counter balance what I was seeing.  I really hope I don't screw that up!!!

 

 

MY PASSION!!

I'm a re-emerging equestrian after 17 years away from the sport.  In early 2008 I dove head first back into the utterly insane world of Hunter-Jumper A rated shows.  Not exactly like riding a bicycle.  My bike never tried to throw me off after I took time off.   It's the most humbling thing I've ever done but  much better than going to a therapist. Once horses are in your blood, they're there for life.

 

MY LIVELIHOOD

I graduatied from law school at the University of Montana in 2001 and moved to Colorado. After two years as a deputy district attorney in a family violence unit I took the plunge and went out on my own.    I've been in child welfare practice exclusively since 2003.   I work with families that are involved with social services and the juvenile court.  I work from home as a state contractor and work to live, not live to work.  Most weeks I do it part time. This is exactly why I went to law school.  Freedom to work for myself, freedom to work part time, abilty to do some good for other people and hope I've made even small changes in someone's world.

Usually I represent the children and am amazed at their incredible resiliency. Sometimes I represent the parents and get to see the beautiful power of sheer will and determination to change one's life.    Sometimes I represent the parents, just do my job, and go home at the end of the day and say a prayer.   It's not glamorous.  I see things I'd rather not see.  But overall, I'd say I'm living my dream job.