About Andrea

*I was a child in the 80s, teenager in the 90s, and reached adulthood in the Millennium—the only daughter between a DCI Special Agent and Spanish Teacher. I have always lived in Iowa except for the years 2003-2011.

*My parents divorced when I was a toddler but both remarried so I have a younger half-brother (Jacob) and three older step-siblings. Fun Fact: Jacob was an actor in Hollywood for 5 years after he won Actor of the Year at the 2006 YMTA competition in New York against 3,000 actors, models, dancers and singers–and received 3rd runner up total!

*As a child, I was the dreamer. I always carried a book, pen, and notebook with me because I spent my free time reading, writing stories, and anything to use my imagination or ponder life. I was already thinking about the mysteries of the universe and wanting to know “who” people really were. My interest in genealogy really began back then as I was obsessed with looking at family photos and asking relatives questions about my ancestors. I wanted to learn every person’s life story. I had a subscription to Biography magazine and a stack of VHS tapes with TV biographies that I recorded on my VCR. I was sensitive, empathetic, curious, and intuitive.

*As a teenager, I was quiet and introverted, loved music, had a lot of dark times but was strong spiritually, and I looked at life as a journey for growth (which I still do). I’ve always preferred to be independent - but with close connections with friends. I received good grades but had to work hard. I wasn’t going to be put in a box so was in a variety of activities (literary magazine, cheerleading, band, theater, speech contests and several others).

*As an adult, I married at age 23, adopted two maltipoo dogs at 25 & 26, had my son at 28, and my daughter at 31. My male maltipoo died when I was 38 and we adopted two cats when I was 39 & 40. My female maltipoo passed away on my 42nd birthday and we adopted our final pet (a third cat) 7 months later.