I live in a small brick house on a busy street in a North Texas neighborhood. It’s where life happens for me as a wife, mama, writer, and college student. I try to maintain an organized, clean house, but most days, it looks like I’ve gone on strike. The unfinished game on the dining table, the laundry in the basket, and the dishes in the sink reflect time well spent with those I love. 

Throughout the week, you can find me at my desk, in a coffee shop, at church, on a baseball field, or in a conversation with any woman who wants to chat about life. 

Writing, Bible study, and blogging require solitude. But I recharge in social settings. Conversations to encourage my heart. Family. Friends. Women. Laughter. Tears. Camaraderie. Listening to stories and then contemplating what I can learn from them.

I understand the depths of loss. I know the pain of walking through adult years without my mother. I have felt the grief of a lost desire. A desire for children outside my reach month after month for 21 years. I know what it’s like to hope and trust and wonder why God would make me wait so long. But I have seen God work in amazing ways—not the way I expected or desired—but always for my good, to change me. Whether the result is pain or joy, I lie on my pillow at night and ask God to do in me what shows Jesus’ best to the world around me. He’s why I’m here.

I’ve learned lessons along the way with relatable principles—principles I want to share through stories of trial and triumph.

I write to validate your struggle and encourage your heart with a greater hope—Jesus.

My Writing Journey -

I attend online classes through Colorado Christian University, where I study creative writing. I will complete a B.A. in Creative Writing in August 2024.

Agapereview.com, Callapresspublishing.com, and Grapevine's First Baptist published my work, and those articles I posted on my Stories page, where I self-publish my writing. My current book project is a themed memoir about fear and anxiety. An excerpt of Afraid, Yet Fearless is on my Home page.

To assist me in my writing journey, I am part of several writing groups through social media. Christian Authors and Writers and Nonfiction Christian Writers by Compel Training through Proverbs 31 Ministries offers opportunities to network and learn from ministry professionals. Unstoppable Writers and the 540 Writers Community allow me to connect with other writers and share my work. 

My Family -

That's Christian in the plaid shirt! 

People ask if I married him because of his name. And I do love the ring of my name. But I love him more for his faithfulness over the last 30 years. 

 

The little guy with the big smile is Jude Nathanael, a sweet gift from God. He is nine and loves his Doxie, Annie. 

We love road trips, game nights, and quality time together. The challenge of three people with strong opinions and independent personalities makes our home lively and loud and reminds us of our need for Jesus.

More about my story–

“Who does that? That’s crazy! The child could end up with siblings all over the U.S. I’m not doing that.”

Yes, those were my words when I heard of an option to adopt a snowflake baby. 

For those unaware, a snowflake baby is a term used to describe a blastocyst from an InVitro fertilization procedure that a doctor froze on day five or six of fertilization. I believe life begins at conception, so I call those fertilized eggs an embryo baby. 

Fast forward five years from my words rooted in fear, and my heart and mind seemed to get in tune with the idea. 

The headlights on the two-lane road guided my way as I drove home from work. The voice on Christian radio echoed facts I hadn’t considered, “There are over 600,000 embryos in cryopreservation storage from InVitro Fertilization (IVF). These babies are waiting with three options—destruction, a donation to science, or remaining in storage. I hope Christians will consider another option,” he said. 

He went on to explain the idea of Christian families adopting snowflake babies for the babies to have an opportunity to live in the world. 

At that moment, I realized this was what God wanted us to do, but I also knew Christian and I needed to agree. 

Women filled the room, and he was the only man present running the soundboard.

The message that day gently nudged through Jesus’ words, “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.” 

I sat with a table of women as I listened to the story of a couple who had raised their children and adopted seven children with special needs. The session ended. The conference concluded. I walked to him, and he said, “When we get home, we need to talk.” 

As I stood in my kitchen waiting for him to arrive, my phone rang. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but the Lord told me to call you and say, do not fear.” Her obedience without knowledge confirmed God's hand in the process. 

My fear of embryo adoption at 43 led me to research traditional adoption and foster care. But Christian said, “What about that embryo transfer thing you told me about last year?” 

My research revealed three options. Use the National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC), look for a couple privately who have frozen embryos they want to donate, or register with the Miracles Waiting Embryo Donation website (www.miracleswaiting.org). We chose the latter in January 2014. 

The miracles surrounding the journey to Jude’s birth included the process of waiting and God's plan as he answered my prayers, dispelled my fear, and opened our world to diblings (donor siblings) and their families.

Check out my stories for more about our journey and God's goodness.

If you have a question for me, go to my contact page and send me your question. Weekly, I'll post an answer to a question on my Wednesday Wonderings page.