In 2010 I began to search for purpose. I was newly married with two children and an Army wife living 20 hours away from family stationed in Kansas. I felt uneasy about my marriage with a great deal of anxiety. God has always been my refuge since I first began having panic attacks as a child. I found a place where I belonged within a small membership where I was delighted to receive emails from a one Mrs. Bonnie Christine, an inspiring artist that shared her beautiful patterns through a small membership she had on her website Going Home to Roost. She sent out a weekly email with digital goodness for just $5 a month. Bonnie shared her world within her blog and I loved being a part of it.. I had found her when I had purchased a digital product of hers on Etsy.

It was in 2013 that I launched my first business where I designed logos, Etsy shop banners and digital goods. My relationship with God grew stronger and it was then that He saved me from a toxic relationship. I returned home to be with family in Virginia and returned to work as a single parent. I left the pleasures being in Bonnie’s membership and stopped designing custom graphics for other small businesses. One thing I did while my Etsy shop was open was apply to sell on Creative Market since you had to have a established online business with sales to apply.

About a month into my divorce God truly began a work within me showing a path He wanted me to take. I even had two women in my church confirm that indeed God was calling me to this as they had no clue I was already working on a project. I embarked on a journey reliving the pain as I began writing a book God had called me to do. Years later I have not finished writing this book. Afraid to revisit the anxiety it causes me to relive deep pain. I moved onto focusing on life and working for others but deep down I always felt passionate about wanting to work at a church. I began to pray about it for a year and found myself working at a church in 2019. It was in December of 2020 that Bonnie once again popped into my mind. So I looked up Going Home to Roost and found a free workshop on pattern making. I found my spark, my passion again.

I took Immersion in 2021, returning as alumni in 2023 and 2024. I followed Bonnie’s guidance which led me to develop other creative opportunities with other artists. I edited videos for Bonnie for Immersion Live in 2023 and 2024. I know what the future holds because I know that God is holding onto me. In 2022 at the carwash with my daughter Lillian as I began vacuuming my car, I gave a kind nod to the gentleman beside me. He was on the phone talking about a pastor on tv as I had overheard him say. He came over to begin cleaning my wheels. He stops and looks up at me to say, God spoke to me and told me you are going to write a book. I began crying tears of joy as I thought it was too late. Two women told me the same thing many years ago, without knowing I was already working on the book. To have a complete stranger tell me this, I knew this was God. My heart filled with joy. While I have not finished the book, as it is a real labor of love, I know that I want the book to reflect God’s work within me, my life and I give God all the glory for making things happen within the right timing.

I leave this with you. You are loved by God. He is with us all the time. He knows our struggles and wants to help you know matter what it is you are seeking His help for. Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you.