Hi, my name is Mackenzie.

I am a wife and mother of four children, living in Montana in a multi-generational home with my family, my mother, and my grandparents. Colten (my husband) and I left our home state of Washington four years ago for Big Sky country and fell head-over-heels for the open plains and rolling hills.

As the only child of a single mom, I grew up in a Christian home, living with my mom and grandparents until the age of five, and I never knew a day without the love of Jesus. I dreamed of becoming a travelling missionary. Getting married, having lots of children, and living in the mountains was not the plan! I'm thankful for God's faithfulness to be where I am, living the life that I am. It feels very full circle to be sharing a home again with my 80-year-old grandparents, who are so dear to me and helped raise me.

I met my husband at a frozen yogurt shop in our college years. He's now a software developer, an excellent musician, an innovator, a passionate father, and a thoughtful leader. He's the best man that I know. The positive influence he has had on my life cannot be overstated.

We homeschool our children, and our philosophy of education is to teach them how the world works. We believe learning is lifelong, and the more that we know how God's world works and how to operate in it, the better off we will be in serving Him and loving others.

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, cooking and baking, often with a kid or two beside me. I prioritize local ingredients and am frequently discovering suppliers in our area that can fill a staple in my pantry or freezer. I'd like to see a future where people are more connected with their food and where it comes from, and small farms are loved and supported.

I have more fun shopping for groceries than shopping for clothes. Like . . . I could get a new pair of shoes, but have you tried this local cheese?

Road trips are the best. I think I would rather take a road trip than a luxury vacation. When I have time to sit still and stare out the window, I get some of my best ideas, or my husband and I can have conversations, listen to music, or enjoy a podcast. Our kids have been roadtripping with us since they were babies, and enjoy it as much as we do.

Spending time with my kids exploring and enjoying nature makes me feel alive. I think that all a kid needs to have a good time is a pile of rocks or a big stick.

I am a beginner photographer, so I will go for walks or drives with my camera, which feels like a treasure hunt.

As of recently, turkeys make me really happy. The kids and I drive through the nature preserve near our home, and whenever I see a flock of wild turkeys, it brings me unreasonable joy.

Colten and I have dreams of owning land, building a house, raising some animals, growing food, and maybe building a pottery studio. We hope that our family members and children build houses on our land someday, and we like to think about what life will look like when we are grandparents.

Thanks for being here, and I hope that my content inspires you to be present for the people around you and to draw closer to Jesus.

Mackenzie