I had the most amazing time this weekend supporting my friend Dr. Ron Holt at HRC's Time to Thrive Conference! The conference is designed to teach educators how they can help LGBTQ youth, and Dr. Holt was there giving away copies of his international best selling book PRIDE: You Can't Heal If You're Hiding From Yourself. 

Ron took a lot of risks and made some major decisions to be at this conference, but I think he would tell you that it was all worth it. You see, up until two months ago, Ron was working as a psychiatrist, seeing patients. After some deep reflection and soul searching, he gave up his day job to pursue his passion: helping LGBTQ youth understand that they are beautiful and perfect just as they are. I'm so proud of him for following his dreams.

I couldn't think of anyone better to do this job. That's because Dr. Holt isn't just any psychiatrist. He understands what GLBTQ youth are experiencing because he is a proud, openly gay man who struggled with his own sexual orientation as a kid. Growing up, he was taught that being gay meant being weak and that the world didn't tolerate or have room for anything outside of heterosexualism. As a result, he struggled with anxiety, depression, social isolation and thoughts of suicide. He never had an LGBTQ role model in his life, and now he's working to be a role model to any young person struggling with his or her sexual orientation or gender identity who might need one.

To achieve this goal, Ron combined his personal story with his expertise as a mental health professional into two books. The first demonstrates that it is okay to be part of the LGBTQ community and shows what happens when people try to or are forced to suppress who they really are, and the second is a companion coloring book full of positive affirmation of self love and self acceptance.

You might be wondering how I know Dr. Holt and that's where this story -- at least I think -- gets really cool. Dr. Holt and I went to the same small college in Nebraska called Wayne State. Each year, as part of his mission to help LGBTQ youth, Ron comes back to the college to speak. A few years before I met Ron, my best friend came out as lesbian. As crazy as it may sound, her coming out was actually a defining moment in my own life as well. I saw the struggles Molly faced as a queer teen in Nebraska and felt compelled to help in whatever small way I could. So when I heard Ron speak, his words hit me on a very deep, personal level. We had an instant connection and never lost contact.

Ten years later, Ron asked if I could assist him at this conference and I jumped at the opportunity. But it gets even better. He and I were not the only graduates from our college to attend! Ron also enlisted the help of two other alumni, Max and Eric. Max graduated from WSC in 2012 and now leads a LGBTQ center at a community college in Minnesota, and Eric lives right here in D.C.! Being able to connect with other WSC alumni who I hadn't previously met was awesome! Being able to share with them this incredibly important experience is something I will never forget.

I know from everything I see around me that being an LGBTQ youth in America is not easy. But I am confident that, because of organizations like HRC and people like my friend Dr. Ron Holt, it will get better.

Cliff and I always look forward to our annual pilgrimage home to Nebraska for the holidays, but on this year's trip we had some especially fun experiences. I attended a friend's iaido martial arts class and Cliff and I "discovered" a beautiful interactive sculpture called "Pioneer Courage" in Nebraska's largest city, Omaha. (I say discovered because it was actually our first time experiencing the artwork, but we learned it's been around since the mid 2000s).

A lot of people don't understand the deep connection we have to our state, especially given that we haven't lived there for 8 years. I think it must be one of those things you can only understand if you grew up in Nebraska... but I also think the sculpture in Omaha helps shed light on, for lack of a better word, our obsession with our homeland.

You see, Nebraska is more than just home to us. It's part of who we are. To an outsider, it may look like a barren wasteland, but when you grow up there, you become immersed the most basic of all things this world has to offer: the land.

In Nebraska, land is life. It is an exploration into a deep, vibrant history and culture that is embraced by nearly everyone and everything. It shapes elementary school curriculum, inspires art, drives commerce, and, perhaps most importantly, it is our connection to the past. The Oregon Trail, which runs through the state, and is depicted in Omaha's sculpture exhibit, is a perfect example of this.

For the majority of Americans, the Oregon Trail is long lost pioneer history but for Nebraskans, it is a living, breathing thing that inexplicably ties us to our past, present and future. After all, it's this trail that first brought many of our ancestors to Nebraska, and it is this trail that laid the groundwork for so many staples we know today, including the nation's railroads, our interstate system and yes, even that computer game from the early 90s. When you're a Nebraska kid, though, you don't need a game or a computer to teach you about this incredible era in American history. All you have to do is look down. Ruts from thousands of wagon wheels can still be found throughout the state, a testament to the courage and fortitude of half a million of pioneers who forged westward to create a life for themselves and for future generations.

(Well, things on the blog are a little out of order these days, but that's what happens when you balance a small business with a day job... There are definitely worse problems to have!)

Another holiday season has come and gone, and that means Cliff and I are back to the daily grind after spending some down time in our beloved Nebraska. We make the annual pilgrimage every year for the holidays, and, per tradition, I always try to find time to take photos of this place I love so much. On this particular trip, I came across this gem -- a lonely boot on a lonely, old fence post. Cliche, I know, but that's one of the reasons I love it.

I can't wait to share more photos from my trip home. Until then, I leave you with this:

5. A [future] weekend with llamas!
Like a lot of people, the upcoming inauguration has been weighing heavily on my mind. For me, though, it goes deeper than just the transition of power to a new president. Inauguration weekend is also my birthday weekend. Since I work in and basically eat, breathe and sleep politics whenever I'm not behind the camera, Cliff and I decided to give ourselves a break from the madness. We used some down time to research getaways and found the Applewood Inn, a quaint little B&B in the Shenandoah mountains. The best part? They have llamas! 

4. Seeing childhood friends and meeting gerbils!
One of the best parts about going home is reconnecting with the friends I grew up with. My good friend Kristy over at Goldenrod Photography invited me to her iaido martial arts class, which was incredibly entertaining. I took some photos (be sure to check back soon for highlights!) and learned a lot about the ancient art. Another friend recently welcomed some pet gerbils into her home. Fun fact: I grew up with gerbils and absolutely adore them! It was pretty awesome catching up and teaching my friend tips and tricks for how to care for and handle her new pets. Finally, Cliff and I caught up with some college buddies, one of who we hadn't seen in ten years. TEN YEARS!!! We're both a little embarassed about that time gap, but also really happy we got to hang with our friend Mike and his lady Kelly, as well as friends Kathy, Fran and Tina!

3. Going back to old stomping grounds!
A lot of people don't know this, but my background is in journalism and writing. Before moving to D.C. I worked as a reporter for a weekly paper in the tiny town of Aurora, Nebraska. I haven't been able to make it back to Aurora since I left, but this year that changed. I spent an afternoon with friends I hadn't seen in years at Espressions Coffee Shop, and even visited my former boss and the office where I worked! That's the good news. The bad news? I forgot my camera! I'm still kicking myself for that mind slip, but I guess it means I'll just have to go back!

2. Hanging with my niece and nephew!
My niece and nephew are two of the coolest people I know. Because one lives in Nebraska and the other is in Connecticut, we don't get to see each other often, but when do we spend time together it's always a blast. My nephew, 3, is really into TMNT right now, so of course we talked about our favorite turtles and what makes Splinter the coolest of them all. My niece is about to be a teenager (WHUUUT?!) and loves music, fashion and clothing design... but don't go thinking she's a girly girl. One of the things I love most about Miah is all the ways she busts gender stereotypes. In between opening presents and roughhousing with her cousin and uncles, she painted my nails and Cliff's nails!

1. Taco Inn!
This goes without saying. Taco Inn is my favorite restaurant of all time, and is always at the top of my list. This year I only ate there three times. My record is getting a little shabby :/

​(P.S. If anyone is wondering, the South 48th location is the best).

Okay, so, normally I wouldn't blog about something like this, but I'm just so excited I can't help myself!

People who read my blog regularly know that I'm originally from Nebraska. Not only am I from Nebraska, but I LOVE Nebraska. I talk about it all the time (as do most people who are from the state). There's just a special pride that comes from living in the heartland.

I left Nebraska in 2008 to pursue career opportunities and it is here, (the Washington, D.C. area) that I was introduced to amazing things like public transportation. Not long after I moved here, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced it would be getting new cars for its metro system, and those cars were to be made in a plant in Nebraska. 

*cue excited freak out*

At the time, this was the most exciting news to come out of Nebraska in like for-EVER. Well, it was for me, anyway. Ask my co-workers. I'm sure they can tell you more stories about me talking about Nebraska than they can count stars in the sky.

Fast forward to today -- June 12, 2015. After great anticipation, I finally, finally got to ride one of the new Nebraska-made metro cars. Of course I had to take pictures. Of course people on the train looked at me kinda funny. When I explained myself, the woman sitting next to me piped up.

"Oh, I did the same thing," she said. 

Wait. What? 

You guessed it. My fellow metro rider is also from Nebraska!

But wait. It gets even better! Not only is she from Nebraska, she's from Aurora, a town of 5,000 people where I worked as a newspaper reporter.

I feel like the universe is smiling down on me today. How totally awesomely insane is it that on my first ride on Nebraska-made metro cars (which I've been anticipating for almost five years) I end up sitting next to a woman from the very town where I held my first post-college job??!!

We all need a good dose of adorable sometimes. I know, I know. This post isn't exactly about dogs, but the cute factor is purrrfict.  

I'm a big believer in giving credit where credit is due. That's why I'm dedicating this blog post to my high school journalism teacher, Jane Holt. 

She's the person I wrote about when MissHeard Magazine put out a call for women to share their personal stories about positive, female role models. An excerpt of my piece is below:

There was so much I enjoyed about this assignment, from recalling favorite memories to, hopefully, inspiring someone else with the help of MissHeard's mission. The magazine is dedicated to giving teens and young women a positive platform where they can express themselves. I love it, and I'm so glad I could share space with some amazing women who have incredible stories about the people who helped shape them. 

I encourage readers of this blog to check out MissHeard, and even contribute.  Articles published and topics discussed are designed to foster community, dialogue and understanding between girls and women. The magazine focuses on autonomy, empowerment and community and seeks to capture and share the complex and diverse experiences of teens of all backgrounds.

And to Mrs. Holt: Thanks for encouraging your students to be themselves, express who they are and find happiness -- even if it means wearing around cardboard sandwich signs :D  #tbt

p.s. Check out the Lincoln East Oracle, still in publication today!

Cliff and I spent our July 4 holiday in the company of friends and family back in Nebraska. It was so peaceful and quiet.  We ate good food, caught up with loved ones, walked barefoot in the river, and, of course, played with farm kittens. I loved every minute!

I was even able to work in a family photo session with a friend from high school. This is Michael, his wife Lisa, and their daughter, Gabby. Isn't she the cutest?

I'm usually the one behind the camera, which doesn't mean I get my photograph taken often. While I was home, my friend Kristy made me feel like a star! We visited Pioneers Park where we took turns photographing each other. The portraits Kristy took are gorgeous. You can view more here.

I hope this sneak preview leaves you itching for more! I'll be editing photos until my eyeballs bleed. (But hey, that's how I like it!)

For most, the unofficial start of summer is Memorial Day weekend. For Cliff and I, it's the moment we purchase airplane tickets home. We're headed back to Nebraska and I'm so excited I could pop! We missed our annual trip home last summer because we chose, instead, to visit Iceland. Iceland is a fantastic, beautiful country that we hope to return to some day. But as the saying goes, there's no place like home.

Here's to country roads, summer sunsets, campfires, walking barefoot in my beloved Platte River, farm cats, comfort food, and life-long friends. The good life.

They say friends get scattered by the wind, tossed upon the waves and lost for years on end.

Those words may ring true for some relationships, but not the bond I share with a close friend, Kristy. Our friendship has withstood the tests of time and distance. As we grow older, I think it's safe to say we both take joy in each others' successes and life achievements.

Kris and I met in high school and have a special bond formed through a unique experience. We worked together at a mom and pop diner in our hometown called Howard's Pantry. Though Howard's no longer exists in its original form, the relationship Kristy and I have built is stronger than ever.

Kristy herself is a photographer who manages a small, local business in Nebraska much like jhPhotography. Through Whisker Photography, she caters to Nebraska families looking for inexpensive, quality portraits.

We often share tips and tricks with each other, so when she asked me to take portraits of herself with her beloved dog, Blizzy, I jumped at the opportunity to share in a learning experience with a friend.

Kristy is blessed to have space for a studio, a luxury that I don't often get the chance to experience. As we laughed and chatted, remembered old times and new, she let me experiment with backdrops, reflectors and a tripod. I'm pleased with the results, but even more excited about the time we were able to share together.

Of course, after our photo shoot, we indulged in peppery, hand-patted burgers, hand-battered onion rings and green rivers at our old stomping ground.

It is sometimes difficult to find the words to describe just how much this place means to me. Nebraska is home, but it is so much more than that. It's rugged beauty brings comfort and joy. It's sunsets are some of the most beautiful in the world. And it's people? They are my family and friends. Nebraska will always hold a special place in my heart because it is part of who I am, and part of who I hope to be.