I was born and raised in Texas. At the age of 14, I became promiscuous and began experimenting with drugs and alcohol as a way to escape the loneliness and rejection I felt. I was searching for love, acceptance, validation, identity, and purpose, but I was looking for them in all the wrong places and through all the wrong people.

In search of identity and purpose, I joined the Air Force. While serving in the military, I continued to use alcohol regularly as a way of coping with the pain I was experiencing from the things I was carrying.

During my time in the military, I was sexually assaulted. As a result of that rape, I became pregnant and made the decision to terminate the pregnancy. The abortion left me carrying an overwhelming amount of shame, guilt, and pain, and I began drinking even more in an attempt to escape what I was feeling.

Shortly after the assault, I was diagnosed with cancer and underwent a few surgeries. Between the trauma of the rape, the abortion, and cancer, I became increasingly dependent on alcohol, prescription pain medication, and Xanax. I was desperately trying to numb the pain and escape reality. Eventually, my substance use became so severe that I was medically retired from the military.

After leaving the service, my drinking became even worse. What began with alcohol and prescription medications eventually progressed to cocaine and heroin. I was in bondage to addiction for 14 years. During those years, I felt tormented day and night. I was consumed by guilt, shame, fear, and condemnation, and I could not see a way out.

Then one day, I attended a church service where I heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For the first time, I heard about a Savior who could rescue me. I knew I desperately needed to be rescued, and I cried out to Him.

I believe that shortly afterward, God began drawing me to Himself. I began experiencing conviction about the way I was living, but instead of running toward God, I continued running away from Him. The enemy continued to torment me with guilt, shame, and condemnation.

Years later, I cried out to God again, and He broke the chains of addiction in my life and set me free.

But becoming clean and sober did not mean that I was healed from everything I had carried for so many years. I was still deeply broken and suffering from severe depression. In my desperation for relief, I turned to self-harm and began cutting myself.

I eventually came to believe the lie that I was an inconvenience to God. I believed that He looked upon me with regret for ever creating me. I truly believed that I was a mistake—someone who never should have existed.

But God.

When I came to the Hoving Home, He quickly began showing me that everything I believed about myself was a lie. For the first time, I experienced His love, His presence, and His healing touch in the most intimate way.

At Hoving Home, God began restoring what addiction, trauma, shame, and years of believing lies had stolen from me. He taught me that nothing and no one can ever separate me from His love or take me out of His grip.

I learned that I am loved beyond measure.

I no longer identify with guilt, shame, or condemnation. I identify with the truth of God’s Word. I am not a mistake. I am His masterpiece, created intentionally and on purpose for His purpose.

God has restored my relationship with my son and has given me the incredible privilege of working for the ministry that He used to save my life.

I once believed my life was something God regretted creating.

Now I know that my life is a testimony of His mercy, grace, redemption, and restoration.

I am living proof that God can take a broken life, break the chains of addiction, heal what seems impossible to heal, restore what has been lost, and give someone a new identity and purpose.

I am not who my past says I am. I am who God says I am.

And the same God who rescued me is still rescuing, restoring, and redeeming lives today. Hallelujah!!!

What is your favorite scripture?

Too many to list but Philippians 1:21 is what I’ll go with for now.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

What book is on my nightstand?

The Bible and Our Savior Who Prays by John MacArthur

What is one of your favorite memories at Hoving Home?

Christmas was especially meaningful to me. Seeing all the gifts that donors and volunteers had given us showed me God’s love in an even greater way. I was in awe of how deeply loved I was—not only by God, but also by His people.

What is your favorite food?

Indian Food!

What makes you laugh? 

Any kind of animal clips!