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I’m a wife, a mother, a sister, a friend, and most importantly, a Christian who is ever so grateful for a loving and forgiving Savior who chose to use me to help tell His story of redemption and restoration. That’s what my life is all about, pointing people to His grace and mercy and helping them to find their part in His story too!
My family…My grandmother Millie’s love and faith in God have become a legacy that I can only hope to pass on to my children and grandchildren. She prayed me through a dysfunctional childhood with an alcoholic mother and drug infested home, she prayed me through my rebellious teen years when I was just searching for significance and meaning in this sometimes cruel world, and she prayed me through my search for faith in a God I was sure couldn’t possibly exist, although everything in my being knew that He did.
My mother’s courage to rise above her circumstances became such an inspiration to me in my teen years as she battled depression and alcoholism while raising myself and my two younger sisters on her own, without even a high school diploma. My restored relationship with my father as a teenager became the pillar of strength I needed to help me find my way. He became my biggest fan and greatest encourager. He looked past my progress and saw my potential. He challenged me to become the dreamer I am today. He taught me that if I could dream it, I could achieve it. He would say, “The sky’s the limit, there’s nothing you can’t do!”
Then one day, I held my first of three baby boys in my arms and became determined to give him a better childhood then the one I had known. But how? The task seemed daunting and my resources were few. After all, what “healthy” family could I model mine after? Certainly not my broken home…so after many years of making tons of mistakes, I finally found a beacon of light and hope. It was the church. As I began to learn what it meant to live my life as a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ, I became a better parent and slowly learned how to break the negative life patterns I had inadvertently learned growing up. Today…that’s my passion; to make the light of the church even brighter by creating relevant and engaging opportunities and environments for families to learn and grow together. It changed my family’s life, I can only hope and pray that God will use me to do the same for others.
I can’t end without saying that I couldn’t do anything I do without the love and support of my awesome husband Jim. He’s always there, behind the scenes, helping to make all of my crazy dreams come true. He’s my champion and my best friend. He’s quiet and unassuming but make no mistake, he’s my secret weapon. He gives me a safe space to dream, pushes me to dream even bigger, and then he says, “Just tell me what you need me to do and I’ll make it happen.” I’m writing this with tears in my eyes as I think about what God has brought us through. It’s one of the greatest miracles God has allowed me to be a part of and I’m so thankful. Don’t ever stop fighting for the heart of your family- it’s hard work but so worth it! I promise!
