This is a photo of my husband and me on our favorite hike by the beach with our dog, Maverick. My husbands name is Silas and we have been married for three years. We love going to the beach, and we also love spending time together. We are so greatful to live in the Bay Area, so we can continue going to beautiful beaches every weekend together.

This photo is a picture of (part) of my family, my dad, stepmom, and younger sister at her high school graduation. I love this photo as it represents our core group, celebrating a wonderful memory, and it was one of the last pictures we have taken altogether! My family has been a great support system throughout my whole life, and we do our best to show up for each other, not just in the big important moments, but the small everyday stuff too.

This is a picture of my two brothers, my dad, and I in Japan this last summer. It was a great time visiting the whole country from Tokyo to Kyoto and seeing how different life is there. This was my first time visiting a new continent and it was so eye opening to see how life was somewhere else. Some of my favorite parts of the trip were going to baseball games, golfing out there, and eating all of the amazing food that the country has to offer. It was also an amazing opportunity to visit the city that my grandmother was from in Ikebukuro which is apart of the greater Tokyo area. I just really appreciated the trip because I was able to explore my Japanese heritage more than I had ever done before, while also being able to travel and experience a new place. It really was an amazing trip, and I can't wait to go back!

From left to right: my daughter, a biochemistry major with aspirations in pharmaceutical research; my engineering son, standing proudly next to his wife, a kinesiology major working in the fitness industry; my freshman daughter pursuing a business degree; my freshman son at Concordia studying theology; and finally, his fiancée, who is on track to become a forensic accountant.

Seeing them all together in one moment, each pursuing their own dreams and passions, fills me with immense pride and gratitude. It’s a beautiful reminder of how family expands not only by birth but also through love, growth, and the people we welcome into our hearts.

This picture of my family was taken last Thanksgiving during our typical family get-together. My parents have been married for 63 years. I have one brother and two sisters, and each of them has three kids. Some of my nieces and nephews are married, and some of my nephews' girlfriends, who always join us, are also in this picture. The young man taking the photo is estranged from his family, so we welcomed him into ours years ago, and he has been part of our family activities ever since. I have one child who is twelve, and my partner—who, I just realized, is not in the picture—has one child who is fifteen. We enjoy many adventures together, such as traveling, going on cruises, trying different kinds of food, and simply having fun while being there for each other.

This is a photo of my son and me at Joshua Tree National Park. We both enjoy spending time outdoors and seeking out new adventures together. As it’s just the two of us, we truly value the time we share and embrace every moment with gratitude and joy. My son plays competitive club soccer, which keeps us constantly on the move with practices and games. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have such a smart, compassionate, and kind young man as my son. Family is our top priority, and we are committed to making the most of every experience we share.

These are my teammates. They pick me up when I'm down, they make work fun, and we help each other navigate through the day occasionally. I have worked with this group for the last four years, and every year it grows better. I am not married and I have no children, so my friends are important to me. We get together after work and go hiking once a week, we go to Dodger games together, and we sometimes go on wine tasting trips for the day. I could not ask for a better group of coworkers!