Christina Shrive’s background reflects a balance of creative thinking, business training, and lived experience navigating growth from the inside.

Family is at the center of my world. I married my best friend in 2006, and we’re raising our son together in what we affectionately call the Shrive Tribe. We genuinely enjoy spending time together — traveling, exploring new places, and simply being present with one another.

We love sharing music, revisiting favorite movies, discovering new ones, and trading recommendations across generations. Our home is full of conversation, curiosity, humor, and creativity. Time together isn’t something we squeeze in — it’s something we strive for.

Watching our son grow into his own interests and personality has been one of the most grounding and meaningful parts of my life. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t have to be rushed, and that the best things tend to unfold when there’s space, trust, and support.

I’ve always had a curious, observant nature and tend to notice details others might overlook. One quirky example is that I can write in mirror image, a skill I picked up in elementary school and still use from time to time simply to exercise my mind. It’s a small habit, but it reflects how I enjoy engaging with the world in thoughtful and slightly unconventional ways.

I’m drawn to experiences that feel meaningful without being heavy and lighthearted without being shallow. I enjoy moments that invite reflection just as much as those that spark laughter or surprise, whether I’m exploring a place layered with history or enjoying something simple and unexpected.

I’m comfortable being curious, a little unconventional, and unapologetically myself. I enjoy exploring, experimenting, and finding small ways to keep life interesting, often for no reason other than curiosity.

Animals & Nature

I grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where the forest wasn’t something you visited — it was simply part of daily life. The woods were my backyard, and being outside felt normal, steady, and grounding. That early connection stayed with me and continues to shape how I move through the world.

Today, that connection shows up at home through the animals and plants we care for. We currently have three chickens (Pretzel, Panko, and Plum), a dog (Floki), a guinea pig (Tzeetch – “Zee” for short), freshwater fish tanks, and a tarantula. Spending time with our animals and in nature is genuinely comforting for me, and I believe staying connected to the natural world is important for people in ways we often overlook.

Puzzles, LEGOs, & Pattern-Thinking

As a kid, I was always working on jigsaw puzzles or taking things apart just to see how they worked (and usually put them back together again). That early curiosity stuck with me and still shows up in the hobbies I enjoy today.

I gravitate toward puzzles, logic challenges, cryptograms, LEGO builds, and creating small dioramas as a way to unwind and step away from screens for a bit. I enjoy focusing on something hands-on, noticing patterns, and figuring out how pieces fit together. It keeps my mind engaged without feeling overwhelming and is one of the easiest ways for me to relax while still feeling mentally stimulated. I genuinely believe it’s the little things in life that bring us unbiased joy and help us to live in the moment.

Culture, Travel & Language

I’ve long been fascinated by language, learning, and how people experience the world differently. After struggling with reading and speech in elementary school, learning eventually became something I leaned into fully. Once those early challenges were behind me, curiosity took over, and I developed a strong interest in understanding language, history, and culture.

That curiosity showed up early through reading National Geographic and Smithsonian Magazine and eventually carried into travel. About ten years ago, I traveled outside the United States for the first time, backpacking in Ireland, Scotland, and the UK for two and a half weeks. That trip deepened my appreciation for tradition, history, and how the past shapes the present. I’m currently learning German, Latin, and Spanish simply for the joy of learning and the perspective that language brings.

Homesteading Projects

From baking bread and preserving food to gardening and raising chickens, I enjoy hands-on projects that connect effort with outcome. There’s something grounding about understanding and experiencing a process from start to finish.

Doing these things helps me feel connected to how people lived and fed themselves long before convenience became the norm. Working with food in this way keeps me attuned to the natural cycles involved—growing seasons, time, patience, and repetition—and deepens my appreciation for the planet and the resources it provides. Taking the time to make and preserve food by hand builds a quiet respect for the effort involved and creates a sense of continuity between past and present that feels meaningful to me.

Alfred Adler Charter School – School Improvement & Events Volunteer

SPCA(Largo) – Fundraising & Events Volunteer

Children With Hairloss – Have donated my hair for over 20 years.

SPC – Assisted the Students with Disabilities Office while attending.

Highlands High School – Classroom & Event Support Volunteer

Highlands United Methodist Church – Assisted with weekly services, fundraising events, and on-site church projects.

Summit Charter School – Girls Basketball Team & Event Volunteer

Hudson Library – Library Assistant & Event Preparation Volunteer

Highlands Nature Center – Nature Education & Animal Care Volunteer

Highlands Recreation Center – Events & Program Support Volunteer