This was me:
My first novel, a YA Romcom (Love, Defined) written in college and published by a small indie publisher in 2015. I have learned so much and even though it's small, I am thankful I still get some royalties.
I wrote Storm of Hope as a way of healing, following a second preeclampsia diagnosis and postpartum depression. This memoir of sorts is a combination of poems and journal entries. Written around the birth of my son 2016, self-published in 2017.
In my moments of darkness, I wrote goodbye letters to my daughter. They were thrown away during my healing journey. I did, however, think about a story that revolved around letters that a mom might leave behind for her daughter to find. Letters of hope, love and forgiveness. This was a hard one to write and I managed to wrap it up in a novella, Letters to Lenora. I had submitted this story to an anthology, got accepted and within a year, got my rights to it back. I self-published this one in 2021.
I am still a caffeinated mama who gets awestruck at fireworks.
I am faithful to Christ, but I question my faith every day.
Most especially, the role that church plays in its hand at the evil happenings in the world. I am amazed daily that my daughter has such faith in herself and God..... even if her mom has to swallow every bit of cynical retort.
I'm still writing; just less happy thoughts on faith and romance.
In 2025, I would love to write another novel, publish my full poetry collection and be confident in how I speak at panels, in person, with friends and strangers.
Each of the above was written in different seasons (college, ppd, the hopeful after). Stay tuned for what else I can do.

It snowed here in Houston! The last time this happened, the power went out. It was hard to enjoy the cold whenever you have to come in to a cold house.
The warmth from the oven (baking bread this morning) and the heater on has definitely made the transition from outside to inside so much better.
My early birds and I enjoyed the quiet weather in our backyard before hearing the neighbors.
They threw snowballs and listened to the crunch beneath our feet.
We marveled and noted when the snow swirled around us as a gust of wind blew past.
We stood in silence.
We laughed with delight.
I tried to capture as many photos to hold on to this moment. This bliss. This pure peace in the whiteout.
And we trudged back inside, drank our hot chocolate and coffee while looking through the photos.
Hope all my Southeast Texas friends are staying safe and warm. Enjoy the peace the snow brings...... it'll melt away fast before we know it.

Today is Inauguration Day and I'm not watching any of that. Which I'm part grateful for that I don't have to control my blood pressure but makes me a bit sad. I love watching history as it is happening with my children. We talk about the days leading up to it, the day of, and the "promises" that the President says to appease his voting block. We've done this for his past term and Biden's. I love the traditional aspects of leaving a note for the next President, the welcoming and ushering in a new family.  
When I heard they moved it indoors and that upset a lot of people, I had an image of a king who closed his castle doors. Because isn't that what this is like? To be so far removed from the 'every day' common person that you only want the people who can speak of praises around you and can afford to buy you more castles in your kingdom?
Today also happens to be Martin Luther King Jr day. I think I'll spend our brief time going over the words of a King, a reverend, the face of justice and activism. In the spirit of his day, we usually donate to a cause (it's also a day of service). We will keep our eyes and hearts on California. 
I'll keep on writing, reading, and teaching my children historical events. Maybe write a poem or two about today. 
But somehow or another, we will keep going.
Here is to 4 years.