Colin Thomas

Where do you live?
I live in Lake Monticello.
How long have you lived in Fluvanna? What brought you here?
After meeting my wife Bethany in college at the University of Virginia, we got married in 2005 and lived for two years in Charlottesville. Then we decided to settle in Fluvanna in 2007 because we thought it would be a great place to raise a family.
Tell us about your family.
My wife and I have been married for 10 years and have two beautiful cats named Caedmon and Ciara. We are hoping to grow our family through adoption very soon!
What do you do for a living?
I am a software engineer for a data mining company in town.
What is one of your pet peeves?
I really don’t like it when people cause me to be late for something.
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy many hobbies, including cooking, reading, and miniature painting. However, my primary hobby is playing modern board games. I am a member of the local Lake Monticello Board Game Club, which meets every other Saturday at the clubhouse. You should join us.
What pivotal decision helped to shape your life?
I can point to two pivotal decisions that have shaped who I am today. The first was my decision to become a Christian. The second was deciding to ask my wife to marry me. I would not be the same person I am had it not been for those decisions.
Tell us about a way you have changed over the years.
I think I’ve become more open to experiences outside my comfort zone. For example, we went to Honduras on a medical mission trip through our church two summers ago.
What has surprised you about your life?
One of my biggest surprises occurred soon after I got my acceptance letter to college. My mom was really excited that I would be only about two hours from home. However, the next week, my dad came home and asked how she and my siblings felt about moving to the United Kingdom! He had received an opportunity to go over there with his company for about two years. It was seven years before they moved back to the United States.
What’s one thing you hope to accomplish before you die?
I want to live my life in such a manner that others can remember me by my love for God and for other people. Anything else is a pure bonus.
Tell us about one of your regrets.
I try not to focus on regrets because I believe that all of our experiences help to grow and shape us.
What quote or saying do you connect with most? Why do you like it?
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are” by Anais Nin. I resonate with this quote because it helps me keep perspective. If I realize that all of my viewpoints are driven by my experiences, I am better able to empathize with those with whom I disagree.