about

 

Hi, All!

 

I'm Anna.  I'm a native Illini who kept migrating north until digging my roots here in Northern Michigan.  And when I mention I'm from Illinois, I don't mean the Chicago area.  I'm from small town, central Illinois.  Far better than Chicago in my opinion! 

 

 

I was blessed to grow up with an awesome family that I still miss every single day.  I was able to be raised in a family that loves Christ, and there is no better establishment than that.  Am I right? My mom is the most outgoing person and doesn't have an ounce of shyness in her (which made for some embarrassing moments growing up still today).  My dad was able to stay home and raise us which now makes me a daddy's girl to this day.  He instilled a love for the outdoors in us kids and a level head of financial decisions and well being.

 

Now onto the sibs! I'm the youngest of three kids.  My brother was married at the ripe age of 20 to the most amazing sister-in-law I could have.  They have four boys (can you believe the noise level in that house?) and have just welcomed home their newest daughter from China this year (finally a girl!).  My sister is also married to a great guy and awesome brother-in-law.  They've got three kids of their own with one boy and two adorable little girls. Let me say that again, adorable.

 

My family still makes central Illinois their home, but as for me, I decided to uproot myself after college to see where life would take me.  In 2007 I made the painful and scary decision that I would move to Chicago for a job at a construction company.  It just so happened that I met my now husband, Joe, there on my first hour of the new job.  Lucky me! 

 

 

 

In 2011 Joe left the company to pursue a career as a utility lineman which meant he moved to the Upper Peninsula on Lake Superior for schooling and we experienced life doing the long distant relationship.  One year later, I was transferred to a project in Grand Rapids, MI and he landed a job in his hometown in Northern Michigan.  The distance shortened from a 6.5 hour drive to a 2 hour drive!  In 2012, Joe and I got married and because I have such an awesome boss, I was able to move up to Northern Michigan and continue working as part of our Detroit office from my home. 

 

 

 

I said before that I was blessed to have such an awesome family growing up, and now I'm even more blessed with an awesome family of my own!  Joe and I welcomed our son Conner into the world in October 2013 just one day after our 1st wedding anniversary.  I could write a book on the stories we have about that little boy, but to keep it short, he is the most lovable, energetic toddler ever. Ever.  We are anxious to meet our next little bird who is due this coming November.  Fingers crossed, this baby will be here before my 30th birthday which will be the best gift I could imagine.

 

 

 

So, I've mentioned briefly that I worked for a construction company and that may lead you to wondering what I do.  I have a degree in architectural drafting and one in construction management.  Before I was even old enough to vote, I was hired by a local company as a drafting tech.  I stayed there for three years before given an opportunity to be an estimating intern for a local general contractor.  That internship lasted a year before I was offered a position at a large scale international construction company.  I've been there the past eight years and have learned and experienced an amazing amount.

 

 

 

That's about as brief of an introduction I can give about myself.  I hope that through this blog, we can share with others what our life is like here on the third coast - life with our family in Michigan, projects that keep us busy and great recipes that make our bellies happy!

 

You've seen the East Coast.  You've seen the West Coast.  Welcome to Michigan and Life on the Third Coast.