Hometown: Garland
Present City: Murphy
Education: Bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education with a minor in special education
Profession: Full-time parent
Tell us about your family.
My husband, Mark, and I have been married 13 years. We met in middle school and started dating our junior year of high school. We have four children, two here with us and two in Heaven. Our son, Liam, is 7, and our daughter, Eliana, is 4. We lost our middle sons, Emery and Jesse, on Jan. 10, 2020.
How about your work or volunteer life?
For about five years, I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer with an organization for mothers of pregnancy and infant loss, Gathering Hope, in their yearly loss mom conference. It is an organization near to my heart for the support I received after the loss of our twins.
Any favorite hobbies?
I am an avid reader and also enjoy baking bread, a post-pandemic hobby I picked up. I love to travel and am always looking forward to another trip and planning all the places I want our children to visit.
What are your favorite places to travel?
We were lucky to live in Germany for a time while my husband was in the Air Force. Some of my favorite places we traveled were Cres, Croatia, the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland, and Cinque Terre, Italy. We had the opportunity a couple of years ago for our 10-year anniversary to camp and hike around New Zealand. It is such a beautiful country; from glaciers to the jungle, there is so much to see and experience.
What brought you to Wilshire and when?
We moved back to Texas in 2023 and started visiting Wilshire in June. We found Wilshire through CBF’s church directory and a family recommendation. We were looking for a church that welcomed and loved everyone. We immediately knew Wilshire was where we needed to be.
Where are you engaged at Wilshire?
I am co-director of Labyrinth Class and serve on the Preschool Committee. This year I became a deacon.
What do you think God is up to in your life right now?
I believe God is shifting my perspective and stirring a deep heart for justice within me. I feel sensitized to the needs of the marginalized and the broken places in our world. I’m currently in a season of listening and learning, asking God to show me how I can move from just feeling compassion to taking meaningful action.