About me
I was born and raised in Kansas, the heart of America. It’s a great place to ride a bike or fly a kite (aka flat and windy). It’s also a great place to raise a family. I am thankful for my Christian upbringing and community of family and friends.
I am blessed to work at an amazing place, the Classical School of Wichita, where I teach grammar and writing to middle schoolers and also coach tennis and cheerleading.
When not teaching, I can usually be found hitting balls on the tennis court or hanging out with my pugs, Leo and Lola..
There is nothing I love more than spending time with my family, appreciating every moment we have together.
After walking the road of diabetes, mental illness, and addiction with Lexi, I gained a lot of insight into these terrible struggles. I learned that addiction is not a result of bad decisions or moral failure. Many people enjoy alcohol or use pain medications with no problem. But a certain number of people have brains that chemically respond to substances in a different way, causing them to quickly become dependent on them. And sadly, many times addiction begins with a hurting soul searching for relief. I witnessed this firsthand.
I learned that people struggling in these ways are beautiful, talented, and intelligent people, who along with their families are often judged harshly and unfairly. And I learned that in the area of mental health and substance use disorder, there are no easy solutions.
But I learned that God is faithful!
Along this journey of heartache and loss, I have continually been amazed at how God has protected and provided for me. He has revealed his deep love to me in ways I never could have experienced otherwise – true treasures in the midst of deep, dark trials.
I now lead support groups and plan retreats for those who have family members battling addiction and who have suffered loss due to addiction. It was Lexi’s dream to help others, and now I can do it in honor of her.
