My Story:
Thanks for stopping by to hear a bit of my story. My desire is to brighten your day, plant a few seeds of encouragement, and offer hope when you’re struggling.
Journey to Joy is my “Gathering Place” where friends come together, warm beverages in hand, to share encouragement and brighten the color of our days. Especially the hard ones.
I have a passion for sharing beauty through images and story, helping us to see all our moments (even the most difficult ones) as stepping stones along life’s Journey to Joy.
If you enjoy what you see, I’d love it if you shared it with your friends. You can also sign up to have each post emailed to you.
With the heart of an Encourager earned through many difficult days, my passion is to encourage women ready for positive change.
Made in New Jersey, then adopted in Seattle, I was raised on a farm in Washington State. Went to college, married, divorced, and started over in Chicago, Seattle, and Dallas alone. Along the way I lost a brother to cancer, a father to Alzheimer’s, and people I cared about and years of my own life to addiction. I know what it is to be broke and broken, then watch God redeem and rebuild it all.
My journey includes eating disorders, abuse, addictions, depression, divorce, illness, unemployment, debt, losing a home, and homelessness. I survived deaths, deception, malpractice, a stalker, and losing everything I owned. I’ve been the prodigal, and I know what it is to come home.
I’m grateful for all of it now because it’s made me useful. I learned a lot of things the REALLY hard way, and I share in hope that YOU won’t have to.
In 2001, standing beside my brother’s hospital bed as he danced between this world and the next, something happened to us both that changed everything forever. Afterward, I vowed I’d spend the rest of my life telling people that Jesus is REAL.
In 2015 Hubby and I moved to the end of the road on the family farm to homestead and rebuild a life together at the end of the road. We live in a fifth wheel and have a second trailer that houses my office where I do transcription, recruit for client companies, and write.
My life is a story of evidence of God: His nearness, forgiveness, and His Desire and Ability to redeem even the worst of things. So no matter where you are today, what you may have done, what you’re going through, or what may have been done to you, there is Hope. God isn’t finished with you yet. It’s never too late to begin again.
I hope you’ll come along, traveling companions, along the Journey to Joy!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
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