Growing up, I recall my parents reminding me to be careful with my words. They emphasized being mindful not only of what I said about others, but also of what I spoke over myself, because words carry power. As Scripture reminds us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).

With that teaching planted deep within my spirit, I grew up believing it was essential to speak aloud the things I desired, understanding that my words could shape my reality long before it took place. As an adult, that belief showed up often times in the form of vision boards. I’ve been making them for nearly twenty years. Some years I create new ones; other years, I simply return to the old boards, letting unfinished dreams remind me that timing doesn’t mean denial.

I’ve always been intentional about where I place them. They’re never tucked away. They hang where I can see them daily, quiet witnesses to what I’m believing for, even on days when faith feels fragile.

For at least the past seven years, the same dreams kept showing up on those boards: becoming a runner, improving my health, being featured in Austin Woman magazine, and writing a book. Year after year, those words and images stared back at me. I didn’t always know how they would happen, only that they mattered to me.

And then, slowly, life began to catch up with the vision. One step at a time. One yes at a time. One moment of courage at a time. When those things started becoming real, I was honestly stunned. Not because I didn’t believe it, but because witnessing faith turn tangible is humbling in a way words can’t quite capture.

In October 2021, I crossed the finish line of my first 5K.

December 2025, l learned that I was an Austin Woman 2026 Change Maker nominee, and January 2026, that I was named an Austin Woman 2026 Change Maker.

What once lived quietly on years of vision board is now part of my lived reality, and I don’t take any of it lightly.

The Austin Woman Changemaker List features women who are making significant and intentional impact in the Austin’s community. It highlights an incredible array of women from all walks of life across Austin and the surrounding areas. These women come from diverse professional backgrounds, passions, and experiences, yet they all share one common trait: they are Change Makers, leaving a positive impact in our great city.

As a woman whose identity was deeply enmeshed in marriage and the roles I performed for 21 years, its sudden end forced me to confront a form of grief that is often unseen, unsupported, and invalidated. I had to rebuild my identity and sense of purpose while continuing to show up for my children, my career, and my community. At the same time, I carried the weight of high-responsibility leadership roles serving vulnerable populations in under-resourced systems that required constant emotional labor, advocacy, and resilience. What grounded me was the knowing that I was not alone, that countless others were quietly navigating relational grief and heartbreak while balancing careers, children, and the demands of everyday life and I could provide help.

I am a Change Maker because I have transformed personal adversity into community-wide impact, reshaping how grief, particularly relationship loss, is understood, addressed, and healed. A relationship may be a friendship, family bond, job, career, or any meaningful connection that, when broken, results in loss. As a certified grief coach, I bring a rare blend of lived experience, clinical insight, and compassionate care to the work I do, meeting people where they are and guiding them toward healing and restoration.

This is encouragement for anyone who believes that when you live with intention and integrity, God honors the desires of your heart. Keep the faith. Stay focused.

There is so much more ahead, I’m ready, and excited for what’s going to come.