Hey.

Hey there.  Thanks for joining me.  I’m honored and so very humbled that you’re interested in reading about my thoughts, or just about my day, or even about my most recent success failure.  If you don’t know me (though I’m certain most of you do), I’m Kerri.  My mom would describe me as very outspoken.  My dad would describe me as empathetic to a fault (like when I was eager to forgive the two men that robbed me during one of my first nights in Argentina).  My sisters would say that I am the firecracker of the group- immensely passionate to the point where I often speak too much.  I just like to think that I am a social worker and a Christian whose commitment to the Lord commands that I care about and act upon issues of injustice and that I daily seek to meet individuals where they are- in their pain, in their suffering, in their hunger, in their hurt, in prisons, in the streets, in hospitals, in places of refuge and places of danger.  However, if I just made myself sound like a martyr, then please forgive me, and know that I am far from perfect.  In fact, day in and day out I spend a large amount of time just plain pissed off by the world we live in and the shitty hands dealt to some innocent individuals.  Yes, I said shitty.  I’m a Christian and I swear (only when I’m certain it’s appropriate though).  I spend every single day somewhere in the middle of “Oh, I just did my devo for the day and God is so great and I am going to make a difference today and have so much patience and love others like Christ loves them, and not get upset with obstacles that stand in the way of my clients or I accomplishing goals,” and  “this freaking sucks.  Why do I continue to do this?  There is too much hurt and hopelessness in the world for my tiny self to make even a speck of a difference and GOD WHY DON’T YOU JUST COME END ALL THIS SUFFERING NOW?!”  I swear that this is my brain on a daily basis, so if you have not run from your computer in fear yet, welcome.  I think you are here to stay.

Other than being a social worker, I’m an activist, a democrat (might as well just put it out there…though there is nothing more I love than good, informative debates with people that hold different viewpoints-these are the moments where I learn and grow the most), a person that loves and treasures community, a traveler, a Spanish-speaker, and I like to think- a global citizen.  After you’ve studied abroad and really immersed yourself in a new culture and called a new place home, you start to see this bigger picture.  You start to look at your life and the culture you come from and realize that those ways are not necessarily the right ways.  In fact, there are no right ways, there are just cultural ways, and global citizens tend to be more aware and appreciative of all the ways.  I come from a big family who I love dearly, despite the fact that I was always the child that got sent to time out for talking back.  Airgo being the outspoken, passionate, firecracker girl.  Surprised?

So that’s me in a nutshell.  I can’t really promise you that this blog is going to change your life, or that I’m going to teach you how to re-decorate your house or do a cool DIY craft.  In fact, if that is what you’re looking for- this is not the place because art class always stressed me out more than math and that’s saying something.  I HATE math.  I do, however, hope that this blog makes you ask questions and look at the world in new ways.  I can’t say I’ll have answers, but I would LOVE to ask questions with you.  I would love for this to be a community of people-all people from any background desiring to see the world, or their state, or their city or even their block and the people that inhabit it in new, more intentional ways.  Join me on this journey?