NAME: Vanessa (Yoder) Shinn
BIRTHPLACE: Sedalia, Missouri
YEARS IN BENTON COUNTY: 42, minus the 6 years I lived on the east coast
FAMILY: Husband, Ryan; 2 children; Cecilia and Ryker (and a very large extended family)
THE BEST THING ABOUT LIVING IN BENTON COUNTY IS: Being close to family.
WHAT I WANTED TO BE WHEN I GREW UP: An author, and I'm still working on that.
FIRST JOB: Sonic
OCCUPATION: Homeschool Mom, part-time photographer and shaved ice shack owner
FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY: Spending time with cousins at Grandma's
THE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE WAS WHEN: Ryan and I started our family.
MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT: Not publishing that, for sure!
WHAT DO YOU VALUE MOST IN YOUR FRIENDS: Authenticity
YOUR GREATEST FEAR IS: Failing to raise my children well.
I HOPE I NEVER HAVE TO: Live in a war zone.
I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO: Drive a stickshift.
IF I WON THE LOTTERY, I WOULD: Secretly pay off so many people's mortgages!
MY DREAM TRIP WOULD BE TO: Alaska with Ryan, Greece with my son, and Paris with my daughter.
HOBBIES: Reading, making things pretty, and porch sitting with my favorite people
FAVORITE BAND OR MUSICIAN: It's hard to pick a favorite, but Tom Petty never disappoints
FAVORITE MOVIE: Napoleon Dynamite
FAVORITE DRINK: Coffee
FAVORITE SNACK: Popcorn
FAVORITE CANDY: Dark chocolate
FUTURE GOAL: Publish a book
WHICH PERSON DO YOU ADMIRE MOST: Putting people on pedestals isn't my thing. I admire qualities like strength, grit and kindness.
ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF: Let people show you who they are and then believe them!
WORDS TO LIVE BY: Psalm 118:24, This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
