I was a junior in college when I covered, as a reporter, my first presidential candidate event. It was a far cry from the handmade newspapers I published for my parents in elementary school. It was thrilling. It was real, and I was sure I was on my way to a big city soon to make a name for myself.
News print must have run in my veins. I was hooked. On journalism. Politics. On the chase of a story. The drama. Using the power of the pen to pursue something better. Something bigger.
My first beat was courts, and the stories were gruesome. Hardly dinner table conversation. I got to cover a few trials, a big federal case.
There were a few things I could do really well. I could investigate, organize and share complicated stories in easy-to-understand ways.
And I wasn't fearful.
In my first year as a reporter, I walked through death row and the rest of the Stateville Prison. Plus a few other prisons. I boldly interviewed murderers and rapists without a single nightmare.
In my next job, I got in a two-seater, open cockpit airplane with a man in his 80s whom I'd just met. I have a tremendous fear of heights and when he did a "fly by" without my knowledge, I thought I'd pee my pants. But I seldom turned down a thrilling story or experience. I took on tort taxes and two taxing bodies that were using them unethically — calling them out on it in person and then in print. I sat in a room of lawyers and hospital executives threatening to sue me (and my husband) if I printed a story about two doctors they had just hired — one who sexually abused a patient in his practice and the other who was primary caregiver for his ailing mom, feeding her candy bars as meals and leaving her to sit in her own feces while he worked in the emergency room for 12+ hour shifts.
I printed that story. And countless others that generated criticism, threats and writing awards.
My entire life, I have rooted for the underdog, sought mercy for the underprivileged and cheered for justice.
I was also anti-religion/anti-God. I was raised in parochial schools, but I lacked a concept of real faith. I didn't have a relationship with Jesus, and I'd never really experienced God before.
Going off to college, I began to seriously doubt He was even real. Five years of liberal education later, I became bold enough about my doubts to voice them and mock believers. As for the "church," I despised it. Everyone I knew who proclaimed Jesus as their Savior appeared to look down their noses at me and so many other people who didn't agree with their "position." They seemed to me to be racist, sexist and acted like they were at the top rung of a class system.
Fast forward 15 years, and I'm so glad to say my desire to raise my children in the church (for the morals they'd learn with Bible stories) was what God used to establish a relationship with me! I'm so grateful for His grace and how patient He has been with me, pursuing me even as I've turned my back on Him. Ours is a loving God! I may hold doubts in my life, but I will always know that God is real. He desires a personal relationship with me. He sent His Son to die for me, to give me eternal life. He showered his Holy Spirit on me. And He speaks to me through prayer, scripture and circumstance.
I still root for the underdog, and now I know why I have a passion for the ones who are the "least of these." Because frankly, they aren't the least of anything. Jesus loved outcasts — prostitutes, liars, thieves, adulterers. I figured if He could, and if He could love me in the thick of my sinful mess, than I should love them, too.
I still write. I also read my Bible a lot. I used to be against it, but it's really not possible to even form a good opinion about something I hadn't even studied. So I read and study. I pray. I ask questions. I listen.
I'm no longer an investigative journalist, but I'm founder of a counter-culture holistic health magazine for preteen/teen girls called Mighty Strong Girls. In its pages and here on my blog, I share stories. I guess I have a heart for this age group because our world so often considers them "less than" important. They are too often without a voice, even though Jesus Himself loved children and spoke highly of them. I find that I want to invest in them, fill them up with truth, remind them of their value and purpose, and give them a venue to use their gifts to change the world. Not later. Not when they're grown up. But right now. Right where they are, our very own preteen and teen girls were created to BE world changers. Age doesn't matter in God's kingdom, as He's shown over and over in the pages of the Bible and in modern history.
I'm so thankful to God I can use the gifts He gave me to interview girls and share their stories in the pages of Mighty Strong Girls.
Here on my blog, I will be sharing my family's stories, too, so extend us all a little extra grace! God bless my husband Dan, and our growing family that currently includes three children: Abby, Ryker and Tatum. Maybe I can share your story — if you will let me! I would love to hear it, so just drop me a line sometime!
I'm grateful for those courageous enough to stand up and take a stance on issues, to buck the system, to speak out, to share the hard and dark places in their pasts, to pour out grace, to reveal their hearts.
Because it's not easy. It's not easy to walk through this life and be authentic. It's not easy to share faith or your weaknesses or your opinions without fear of ridicule, judgement or consequences.
But it's the kind of work that Jesus did when He walked the earth. He shared controversial stories, did the difficult, bucked the system, stood up for the weak, spoke out against the wrongs of those who were sure they were oh-so-right and poured out His grace.
Here on this blog, I will write about the things I hold most dear — Jesus, my family, my faith, Mighty Strong Girls, holistic health, clean living and Isagenix.
Isagenix has rocked my world, and it's been the most unforeseen place where God has spoken to me. It's become a ministry of transformation, a place where I can encourage and see strongholds broken. It's the most amazing tool I never expected that is freeing me and people I love from so much that is holding them back from their purpose and from the greater life each of us was designed to live! Here's the coolest part of my Isagenix journey, it's been so much like my faith walk. I despised network marketing when I began, but through prayer, God encouraged me to use this to help others the way it helped me and my health. For about 30 days, documented in my prayer journal, I wrestled with God over this issue and my stubborn heart. He, in His goodness, saw fit that not only would I do this, but I would be able to make a nice income — one that is fulfilling some of my dreams. The first dream is to give $600 a month in a tithe to my missionary friends by the end of 2015. I had three months where I was able to give $400+ already! My second dream with this tool is to "retire" my husband so he can start his own home remodeling business and live out his dream. I'm so excited to see how God is working to fulfill BIG dreams and each item on my vision board!
I also really mean it when I say I want to share your story — with your name on it or not. If you have something to share, call, email or text me!
And I hope you'll join me here to read my occasional updates. In the sometimes dark places of life. The hard places. The real places. The joyful found among it all. I intend to create a place on this blog where you can be filled with hope, laughter (on occasion), inspiration, grace and encouragement.
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