I was raised in a dysfunctional and broken home, which included sexual abuse, exposure to pornography as a young child, an alcoholic parent, divorce, being left with unhealthy people and drugs used openly, which created fear, anxiety and uncertainty.

I remember as a child dreaming about my childhood being different. I would fantasize about having that normal family and always longed for the love of a father/mother.

This lack led to me walking in rebellion for many years. I would do anything I could to try to find that love that I did not receive as a child. I experimented with anything that would mask the pain, which led to further hurt and disappointment. Drugs, alcohol, sex, etc… you name it, I probably tried it.

That eventually led to even more negative consequences, and before I knew it I had gone through two abortions in high school.

Life was an absolute wreck and I went from one bad choice to the next trying to escape from the pain.

I was introduced to Jesus at a very young age, but it was not lived out in my home so I was very confused as to what a Christian really looked like.

I eventually made a commitment to follow Jesus about 28 years ago. The problem is that I never was willing to fully surrender my life to him. I would still dabble with worldly things trying to fill that void of a father’s love in my heart.

I ended up in many toxic relationships with men who mirrored similar characteristics to my own father. I had six beautiful children throughout those years who unfortunately had to walk through the consequences of my brokenness.

After a traumatic event within our family, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to begin the journey of inner healing, going all the way back to that little girl. It has been like an onion, layer by layer, and God has truly brought beauty from ashes. The road has not been easy and there have been many times where I have wanted to quit. As I persevered forward and dug down to the places that I was afraid to go within my heart, the Lord began to show me that every painful event that I had walked through, along with everyone else affected by my choices, would be used for His glory.

The Lord began to birth a desire in my heart to help other women/girls, specifically those coming out of human trafficking, addiction, abuse. He has put an Isaiah 61 calling on my life, and I am now ready to embrace it with my whole heart.

This is where Living Hope is birthed from. My heart is to see these women walk in their own God-filled destiny as Overcomers and Victors!