I find strength daily in the fact that we have a generous and compassionate God who loves us enough to share in our sufferings, even to the point of death, and one that loves me for who I am, even in the midst of my brokenness.

I found the Daughters of St Paul online. Their spirituality pushed me deeper into God. In July 2021, I made my 1st vows as a Daughter of St Paul to the faithful God who, years ago, took an earnest little girl at her word.

Jesus has taught me not to concern myself with the trials of tomorrow, for tomorrow has enough concerns for itself. I’m in constant amazement with the reality that there is a God and am thankful I’ve found my way to the one true Church.

There is still much to learn, but it can only get better and more glorious, for it is into the Heart of Christ that we venture, that place of infinite majesty and grace.

This journey has had it’s ups and down, victories and defeats but one thing for certain is that through it all, Jesus was with me and He has never let me down.

I have so much reverence for the beauty and tradition of our faith and feel blessed to have been called into the Church all those years ago. But more importantly, my marriage and my parenting have been elevated as I strive to live out my main vocation as a wife and mother.

I am blessed to be on this journey with my wife, Colleen, and my two children Elijah and Sophia who are incredible and show me who God is every day. I get to speak and write about Jesus and share the love of God I have found in Him.

I began going to daily Mass, adoration, and praying in the chapel whenever possible, soaking in all the time I could with Jesus. My life was dark for a little while but was becoming a little brighter day by day.

His earnest prayer for the past 10 years was “Lord allow my will to align with Thy Will”. And then on December 16th, 2020, everything changed.

When I heard Scott Hahn talk about the Gospel of John specifically chapter 6 and went into detail on the Eucharist, I had to pull over and park my car.

It is a concrete personal example of how God can take an area of weakness and turn it into a strength and a source of joy. It is humbling how Christ used my search for fraternity to draw me closer to Himself and His Church.

I love Jesus with all of my heart. I am still in many ways a mess, but I stand and hold onto a God who is always ready and able to turn this mess into a message.

Each day I am being stripped of the chains that bind me and I am so grateful for the Lord’s loving and merciful heart and for Mary’s beautiful example of true and authentic feminine trust in the Lord!

It has been just over a year since my re-version and since then my life has changed so much. Just 5 months later I felt called to accept a full position as a college missionary for FOCUS.

After an hour of confession, my priest looked at me and said “Wow, that was one of the best confessions I have ever heard in my life.”

When not preaching at the pulpit, you can find him exercising, spending time outdoors, coaching a CrossFit class or playing with his dogs, Murph and Shorty.

It's been humbling, and a tremendous joy, to share that story at parishes, conferences, podcasts, national radio and in my book, Live Big, Love Bigger: Getting Real with BBQ, Sweet Tea and a Whole Lotta Jesus.

In my freshman year, my prayer life became consistent and fruitful, and out of my first semester came my ministry. I am not perfect, and I have a long way to go, but that is a part of what makes that journey so exciting.