So why "amazing"?

From when I last wrote, you know why I chose Virginia. It's in my blood. Now I would love to tell you why my life is amazing.

First, I am a Christian, which is amazing in and of itself. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior back in September 2001 at Fall Retreat at Campus Crusade for Christ. Living the life of a Christian woman is by no means easy, but it certainly is worth it and rewarding.

Second, I am the wife of a wonderful Christian man. I met the man of my dreams in January 2007. We have been basically inseperable ever since. He asked me to be his wife on December 23, 2008 and we were married on August 22, 2009. I have never been happier. Here we are on our wedding day (photo courtesy of Cynthia Kirsch Photography):



Dan and I have been married almost 8 wonderful months and I look forward to the rest of my life with him.

Next, I have the honor of being a member of not one but two wonderful families - the one I was born into and the one I married in to. My parents and brother have been the best blessing God could have bestow upon a girl and I had a wonderful childhood and upbringing. My parents taught me how to be a strong independent woman and taught me how love. My big brother was my hero growing up. This is a man who faced so many challenges throughout his life and never lost his faith. In fact, it strengthened. It was him who took his little freshman sister to Crusade and let me sit with him every week when I refused to meet new people. He is now married to this wonderful woman who makes him light up every time she enters a room. She is the angel we had all prayed he would find. Here is my family on my wedding day (photo courtesy of Cynthia Kirsch Photography):



And then there is the family I married into. The Ovenshire's have been nothing but family to me since the first moment I met them. And boy was that overwhelming! I am one of two kids. My wonderful husband is the middle child of 5! When I met the Ovenshire's it was certainly wonderful, but a lot. Dan has three sisters and one brother, all of whom have such a fire in them. His parents are incredible people with amazing hearts and I feel so blessed to now be an Ovenshire. Here is my new extended family (photo courtesy of Cynthia Kirsch Photograghy):



And of course no Virginia girl (or any girl for that matter) can survive without her friends. They have been a constant joy and support over the years and I love them all so much!!!





And of course I can't forget Madison.



So, saying all of this, how could my life not be amazing? :)

About me - the Virginia Girl

I know I mentioned in my last entry why I prefer Virginia and why I have chosen to title my blog after this beloved state. Everything I have mentioned in my previous entry is just the tip of the ice berg; there are several hundred more reasons I love this great state. And now, in order to get to know me better, I will tell you my background, which is rooted in Virginia. No worries, this will not be comprehensive. Just a snapshot of me.

I was born in Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, so from the beginning I am a native Virginian. I have lived in northern Virginia my entire life, with the exception of college, which I spent in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the beautiful Shenendoah Valley at James Madison University. I went to elementary, junior high, and high school in Springfield, Virginia. I currently reside with my husband who is NOT (GASP!) a native Virginia resident, but became one through marriage and therefore to me, counts. We, of course, have a house in northern Virginia.

I have been blessed throughout my life to say that most of my family also resides in Virginia. My parents are still living in the house where I grew up. My brother and his new bride live in Springfield. My grandmother lives in the same house where my mother grew up in Falls Church. My aunt and uncle live in Haymarket. I have aunts and uncles and cousins that live in Ashland and Richmond. My other grandmother lived in southern Virginia before she got sick and moved to Ashland to live with my uncle and his family.

Emphasizing the fact that I am from nothern Virginia is not meant in any way to take away from the rest of the state. In fact, I believe that most of the beauty and wonder lies in most of the rest of the state rather than in northern Virginia. The reason I am making the distinction is because of the dynamics of this state. I believe that there are distinct differences between nothern Virginia and the rest of the areas in Virginia. And they all have their differences from each other as well. Each area is unique and the people who live in these areas will definitely agree. But those who are true Virginians will not mark region part of Virginia as better than any other region; just different.

Why Virginia Girl?

Virginia - it's a state like the rest of them. How could I make this blog about just Virginia? It's simple - because Virginia is my home. Also because this may not only be about Virginia; there are a few other things I should be at liberty to discuss. But for now, I have Virginia on my mind.

I mean, why shouldn't I love it? I live in the best state in the country. We have everything here - mountains, ocean, history, country, city, farms, thriving metropolis. Not to mention I live 20 minutes south of the most beautiful city in the nation - of course none other than Washington DC. Yes, we have it all.

My family has lived here for generations. We can trace all the way back to when the first Cundiff's (Dad's side of the family) arrived from England and settled in Virginia. I can even trace my mother's side of the family through several generations throughout all of Virginia. My great grandmother was a school teacher in a one room schoolhouse in Elkton. My grandfather's family owned land where Woodson High School now sits (believe me, our family is kicking themselves on giving up this land), and I have direct ancestory to Civil War confederate soldiers out of Franklin County. Virginia is in my blood. It just is. Even if life took me elsewhere, Virginia will always be my home.