Hello! Welcome to Gut, Heart, and Soul, my little corner of the vast interwebs. I am Kristen, I was born and raised in the Southeastern United States, am a wife and a mother of two fantastic boys, and a fur mama to two amazing Golden Doodles, a Boston Terrier princess, and a vast array of foster dogs coming in and out of our lives.
 

Professionally speaking, I’ve been all over the place! I grew up as a lifeguard, swim instructor, and waterfront director, and counselor for various camps. I then went to college and graduate school, working at universities in a variety of fields from student affairs to alumni events and fundraising. After I became a mother, I spent several years as a director of children’s ministries, and as life likes to circle around, I am back to lifeguarding! I am also a homeschooling mama to my two boys.
 

Personally speaking, I’m a giant. Ha, no ok, not exactly a giant, but I am a relatively tall woman at 5 feet 10.5 inches tall. I was a cheerleader for my undergraduate school, with the school colors green and white – so naturally, I was the jolly green giant cheerleader. I have always been an overachiever and never felt like I fit in anywhere. I have come to learn now in my older age that I am likely an undiagnosed neurodivergent individual, and I both love it and hate it. I am over emotional and a semi-recovering perfectionist (who also gives up when I don’t succeed easily – don’t let me do that with this project! Reach out to me! Hold me accountable, please!). I will go into more details about my childhood and my younger times, but I have only recently also been diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Discovering the history and implications of EDS has helped me in so many ways!
 

To circle back to my list of what I am and what I am not – I am not a medical professional of any kind. Please use my stories as inspiration and confidence building to discuss what you see here with your own medical team before making changes.
 

Want to read more about me than you ever thought you wanted to know? Check out this link for my “tell all” version of an about me and why I created Gut, Heart, and Soul.