Katie and Katie Adopt

Katie T. loves… to be outside.

Snowboarding is one of my favorite things to do. It took me a great deal of courage to learn how to snowboard, a lot of falling down. However, I stuck with it and cannot imagine a winter without it. I stuck with it and am proud of myself for learning something new. The views on the mountain are not too bad either!

I love camping and would never turn down a good campfire. I go camping several times a year – there are not many things better than waking up in a tent bundled in warm blankets.

I love to read. So much in fact that whenever Katie S. and I travel, we always stop into any historic bookstores. In this particular bookstore, there happened to be two cats laying about.

If you couldn’t already tell, I am a HUGE University of Tennessee football fan. UT was my alma mater, so I live, sleep, and breath the color orange.

The beach is my safe space. There is something about the ocean that brings me peace. I’m not sure if it is the salt water, the seashells, or the sunsets, but all of it makes me happy. The beach offers a healthy backdrop to think about what makes life so special.

I love my friends. It took me a long time to realize how valuable loved ones outside of your family truly are, but I have now. This picture of us at breakout games includes several of my absolute best friends. They have loved me in my darkest hour. I cherish them dearly.

Running is something I do off and on. There are seasons where I run every day and seasons where I don’t run much at all. Either way, running is my sanctuary. It keeps me thoughtful and healthy. I’ve ran a half marathon each year for the last seven years.

Did I say I liked to be outside? The first outdoor picture is the final mile up Mount LeConte in the Smoky Mountains. The hike up to Mount LeConte was one of the hardest hikes I have done, but also the most rewarding. It was a hike that made you feel like you can do hard things. I also included a photo of me in front of Lake Louise in Banff National Park and in front of Lover’s Pass in Colorado. Further, I could not resist including a photo of kayaking which is something Katie and I do together in the spring and summer.

Concerts – I love them. I especially love going to concerts with my mom. She is my best friend and it is one of our favorite things to do together.

NBA basketball – the sport I love to watch more than football. There are a couple photos in this group that include me and basketball players I follow religiously. Including Dwayne Wade!

Lastly, I love flowers. They bring me so much joy. Besides pictures of my pets, photos of flowers occupy most of my phone storage!

Katie S. loves to…be around horses, ride horses, anything to do with horses. I love reading and quiet nights in with my wife. I love being outside and doing any sort of adventuring in nature. I love indoor rock climbing with my brother. I love watching sports and played basketball and softball in high school. I love exploring new places with Katie, whether it’s a new city or a National Park. I love playing fetch with the dogs and watching them chase each other. I love movie nights and Harry Potter marathons. I love spending time with my family and laughing with my friends. I love watching our cats act like fools. I love donuts. What I do not love and am probably irrationally afraid of, outer space.