I’m a 6th-generation Chicagoan of Irish descent — well, half. My dad is 100% Irish and my mom is mostly German.

I was raised Roman Catholic, went through a nearly agnostic phase, and currently feel at home in the LCMS.

I was a National Merit Scholar whose latest erudite adventure was an abysmal appearance on Jeopardy! (Just couldn’t figure out that darn buzzer!)

I had my oldest daughter 4 days after I graduated from college. I met my husband at a charity event when she was 5. We’ve been married for almost 15 years. We had 5 daughters within 5 years (including twins) and then after a 6-year break we got a boy!