I was born in Bern, Switzerland, the second child of Karen Hazel and Jim Smith. Both parents loved my brother and me deeply, but we were raised mostly by mother. We grew up in Northern California and spent summers with my father and grandparents in Oberlin, Ohio.

My paternal grandparents introduced me to church life. They were pillars of their little United Methodist congregation in Oberlin. They had a deep and unpretentious faith that grounded our family in love and trust. That community knew and loved me into being, as they had known and loved my father before me.

My mother grew up at Follen Church in Lexington, MA. As an adult, she did not attend church much, but when she learned that I was looking for a spiritual home, she said, “Try the Unitarians. You’ll like them.” As it turned out, I did, and I still do. In my late twenties, I visited Arlington Street Church in Boston. I found solace there, and direction. I found a faith that challenged me to look deeply at my life and make some profound changes, healing from old hurts, maturing my relationships, and living into a more generous, authentic and whole life.

I entered Starr Kong School for the ministry in 2002, completed a ministerial internship in Winchester, MA in 2005-6 and did my chaplaincy internship (CPE) as the San Francisco Veteran’s Administration the following year. Upon graduation from seminary in 2007, I was hired as assistant minister by the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo, CA. That year I also married the love of my life, the Rev. Chris Holton Jablonski, and we welcomed our first child. Chris and I now have three funny, beautiful and beloved children.

In 2011, I began a co-ministry at South Church in Portsmouth, NH with Chris. Our ministry together at South Church was joy-filled and meaningful. There were hard times, as there always are in ministry, but I think of the story of our time at South Church as a love story. I cherish that congregation and all that we accomplished together.

From 2019 to 2026, I worked at the Unitarian Universalist Association as Director of Stewardship and Development. At the Association, I combined my fundraising experience with a theologically grounded ministry, and was privileged to work with many gifted and devoted people.