How it all began

Originally from a tiny town in Southwest Missouri, I spontaneously joined the Air Force to try to find my small place in this big world. The military relocated me to central Maryland, where I spent the past decade dedicating myself to national security defense. In the evenings, I studied to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Along the way, though, I realized I’m much better at certain things than others… but I was particularly bad at living the big “corporate life” in the city.

I wasn’t thriving. I didn’t feel alive. I didn’t feel like I was living my life’s purpose. I had to go.

I read a phrase once, “You’re only one decision away from a totally different life,” and I couldn’t stop thinking about how I could completely change everything in whatever way I chose to… and once I starting thinking like that, I couldn’t stop. I wanted to thrive. I wanted to feel alive. I wanted to live my life’s purpose. So, some may call it an early mid-life crisis, but I decided to quit my secure and carefully planned out corporate career in the city, sell my sweet little home that I worked so hard to renovate, and take the biggest risk of my life so far. I was going to take a “gap year” away from work to redirect my life and figure out how to align my priorities with my life’s vision.

So we packed up our two dogs and hit the road with our little camper in tow. We weren’t sure where exactly life would take us at the end of our journey of self-discovery, but we were bold and confident (and maybe a little delusional) that it would all work out. Almost 19,000 miles and 24 states later, we made a plan for how we wanted to live our lives - simply, with intention, with purpose, and by finding beauty in all things.

We chose to settle down in the Northwest Arkansas area and began making intentional decisions that would enable us to live our vision. Creating Gifted is a subsequent step to building a peaceful and beautiful life that I am truly proud of. I’ve already poured so much of my heart and soul into this adventure and I hope you feel that in everything I do.

I hope you love Gifted, and I hope you feel joy in your gifting experience. If you are the receiver of a Gifted box, I hope you feel so special, so loved, and so important.

You are a gift to the world.