A (Perhaps Not So) Short Biography

I was born in Forth Worth, Texas and grew up in the small town of Kennedale (go Wildcats!) I was a middle child of six children which explains a lot if you know my personality. I was raised by both my mother and maternal grandparents. I had the typical small-town childhood and graduated high school (mostly) unscathed in the summer of 1996.

Nursing

I became a nursing assistant at the age of 19 and quickly decided that I wanted to be a nurse. Two kids and ten tumultuous later- I finally earned my associates degree and become a registered nurse at the height of the recession in 2009.

Due to hiring freezes galore, it became very apparent that I needed my bachelors degree. Six months after I started back to school, I found myself a single mother of four… It took a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and three more years to earn my bachelors degree. I worked in home care for eight years and now as a school nurse.

A Seed was Planted

Back in middle school, I met a new friend who invited me to her church. It was a Pentecostal church which I had heard of before because my grandmother was Pentecostal. I had been raised Baptist and to say that Pentecost was a shock to me would be an understatement!

I had so many questions… What are they saying? Why are they dancing? Why is everyone so loud during the preaching? Why are they praying out loud?

My friend was so gracious to answer all my questions as best as a 13 year old could, and I went back for the next service, and the next. I was hooked!

Losing My Religion

When I was 17, I met a boy who didn’t like our exuberant worship and refused to go with me. Slowly, I stopped going all together. It wasn’t until a series of events unfolded over the next 14 years that I would find my way back… 1600 miles away in Washington.

With the boy- now father of my two oldest kids- out of the picture, I decided to go back to my Pentecostal roots. So I did what anyone would do when looking for a new church- I looked in the phone book. I kid you not, it was the only Pentecostal church in my area!

Finally Home

I went on a Sunday morning during their anniversary service. Y’all… it was like I stepped back in time to 1996 and was in my home church. I knew in that moment that I had found my new home, and I’ve been going every time the doors are open ever since.