I grew up being my dad's pride and joy. I have always been a daddy's girl and my entire family knows it. I'm not spoiled in a way that gives it a bad name though. I work for everything I have, my father's work ethic being instilled in me from even before I can remember. I enjoy working, but I enjoy spending time with my family even more. I try to look on the bright side at all times, but there are days when that is a lot harder to do and does not seem to be worth the effort to even try. I do have that Italian temper, but also being half-Latina, that temper seems to be even worse. While around my family, I'm always my happiest though. I do enjoy writing and being a columnist for the Big Sky Bulletin makes that passion even greater. I also love to teach Creative Writing, believing that is something everyone should be able to learn. As a matter of fact, I got a Bachelors in Creative Writing this last year and I'm putting that to use by teaching at Big Sky University what has been taught to me!

I was born and raised in Big Sky and I absolutely love being a city girl. My father, Morris Delancey, is a carpenter who owns Delancey Custom Furniture, a fairly prominent custom furniture business in Big Sky. My mother, Alex Torres-Delancey, was a police officer. My father has told me how she was a damn good officer too. Unfortunately, though, she died after being shot while on duty. My brother Logan was born 3 weeks prematurely because of it. I was 3 years old at the time. I remember my mother a little bit, mostly because my father never let me forget her, but also because I have a few of the happiest memories with her. I was doted on by my parents and spoiled a bit by my dad. I was daddy's little girl and truthfully, even though I now have two younger sisters, I still like to consider myself Daddy's Little Girl. I loved being a big sister though. My dad remarried and Meghan is an amazing mom herself. I even call her mom and have from when I was still fairly little. I always knew she wasn't my real mom, but she is amazing and I'm lucky to have her as a bonus mom.

Meghan was my mom's best friend, so after my mom died, she stepped up to help my father with me and Logan. Of course, my uncle Oscar, my dad's younger brother, was there too. It was during that time, a couple years later, that my father and Meghan fell in love. I suppose spending that much time with someone, things do happen. I didn't mind at all. I know I cried when my mom died. I was only 3 years old when she died and trying to understand that she couldn't come back home because she was in Heaven, but Meghan was patient and loving as much as she could be and I learned to love her all the same.

After Meghan and my dad married, I became a big sister again, three more times, with the additions of Jessica, Daniel, and Grace over the next few years. I still loved being a big sister, and helped out as much as I was allowed to over the years of caring for my siblings. I had a strong motherly instinct with them and my dad said that I would be an amazing mother one day because of it.

Going through school, I was always happy to help with homework, except when it came to math because I despised that subject myself. But when it came to English or something to do with writing, I always volunteered to help with making sure the assignments were as good as they could be for my siblings. That passion for English, and especially writing, never dwindled over the years.

It was in Kindergarten when I met my future husband. I remember coming home and telling my dad I had a boyfriend named Mikey and he would groan and said I'm not allowed to date until I was 40. I remember Meghan would try to convince him it was all innocent sometimes and I could have sworn I heard a laugh a time or two from her as well during those times, but that's besides the point. Sure, I didn't understand it at the time, but the love that grew between us just kept growing and is stillg growing today.

When I was 14, Mikey asked me to be his girlfriend and we've been together ever since. However, it wasn't until I was 16 that my dad finally gave in and let me go out on a proper date with Mikey. Before then, it was just hanging out at school or after school and everyone knew we were a couple there, but my dad wouldn't let him take me out on an actual date for whatever reason. Sure, Mikey would come over, but to avoid conflict with my dad, he'd have to leave before he got home. Meghan even tried to convince my dad to let Mikey have dinner with us a few times, but my dad kept putting his foot down and saying it wasn't going to happen. I think Meghan wore him down though and that's why he finally relented and let Mikey take me out on a date.

After graduating high school, I went right into college to get a degree in creative writing. It was during my first year of college when Mikey asked me to marry him. Of course, my dad wasn't happy about it, but he wasn't going to prevent it either. We married quickly. I didn't want a big wedding at all and just wanted family and a few close friends, so I quickly planned out a simple wedding with Meghan's help. My dad walked me down the aisle, but when we got to the altar, where Mikey was waiting for me, my dad didn't want to let me go. When the preacher asked who was giving me away, my dad said, "I'm not giving my little girl away. She's staying around here and if I find one hair out of place on her at any time, you won't know what hit you. Capeesh?" I was a bit mortified, but there were chuckles in the crowd, and thankfully, Mikey seemed to take it in stride.

After getting married, we quickly got pregnant. I still didn't let it stop me from achieving my educational goals. I stuck out classes and even made arrangements for my assignments around my due date. My son, Oscar Michael, was born in the middle of my second year of college. I relished in the idea of motherhood, just like my dad always thought I would. It was just before my fourth year of college started that my second child James Morris was born.

Now, I have finished college and have my Bachelor Degree in Creative Writing and during the celebration at my parents' house that Mikey and I made the announcement that we were expecting our third child. Things are looking up more and more for me and my little family. I got a job at Big Sky University as well took on another job, my father's work ethic burning bright, as a columnist at the Big Sky Bulletin as well. It's more of a job during my free time that I can do just about anywhere, so it works while I watch my boys grow up as well!