I was born on October 4, 1987 in Newport Beach California. A tom-boy at heart with a girly side, I grew up playing competitive sports, traveling the world- thank you mom and dad- spending time at youth group, making friends left and right, and enjoying my summers at the beach...or should I say year round. As an only child, I always wanted brothers and sisters, but found other ways to entertain myself. I was blessed with two best friends on either side of the street where I lived. We would cruise down the strada in my Barbie jeep, play dress up and house, rollerblade behind our bikes, write plays and choreograph dances in our garage, create the world's best forts using all my mom's linens, and play countless hours of Super Nintendo and Donkey Kong. My amazing parents have been married 40+ years and have always been a source of strength for me. A deep sense of thankfulness and gratitude to them for loving and supporting me through everything- I love you!

 

My teen years...oh my teen years! With tons of fun and growing up, let's just say I hit a couple "rough patches" and learned about the importance of surrender, being honest with myself, forgiveness, and telling fear to kick rocks (still a work in progress)- thank you very much!

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MY RESCUER-

regret, breakthrough, & hope

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After college and through my early twenties I encountered some very challenging seasons, both good and bad, and really began to ask myself WHO I was and what I wanted to do. At moments of feeling helpless and stuck, I continued in prayer asking for God's help and guidance. HE RESCUED me from the pit of despair and my own choices. He NEVER failed me. The only one I realized I was failing was myself. Although I believe failure is an event and not a person, I learned I have a choice- to choose wisely or to choose things that only have temporary satisfaction. In other words, I learned life is too short to sit in isolation and regret when breakthrough is just around the corner.

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being a single mom...

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Then on Thanksgiving of 2011, of all days, I found out I was going to be a mommy! Needless to say, my entire world was about to change...and for the better. Fast forward to July 31, 2012 when I fell in love with a little 18" 6 lb 6 oz little boy named Kai. My heart was forever shocked with the love of this tiny human. Kai-meaning ocean, rejoice, and messenger of God- came into my life at the perfect time to inspire me, challenge me, and overwhelm me with joy every day.​

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Aside from all the joys of motherhood, the journey of the unplanned and unexpected pregnancy with a guy I was not married to, was filled to the brim with heartache, confusion, yet a sense of peace and purpose. Yes, they are oxymorons, but are the best descriptions of those 9 months and on.

 

The more challenging part of my journey thereafter includes being in a relationship with Kai's father- a drug addict, suffering emotionally and feeling alone, and at times not knowing up from down. Eventually, with more of God seeking and letting go, life as a single mama became much easier, and I began to trust God more with my future.

 

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meeting duke & falling in love

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Then one chilly December evening I met my forever man- Duke. And, oh my, did my heart skip a beat! Our love grew over seven months, and then Duke decided it was time to propose. On July 5, 2015, Duke Loren Burchell got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! We cried, we kissed, and only 4 months later, we were saying our "I dos" in beautiful San Jose del Cabo at Flora Farms with 150 of our closest friends and family. (Take a peak at our wedding on Green Wedding Shoes HERE. Never in a million years did I think I'd meet the most handsome man I've ever seen, get married in Mexico, have a wonderful daddy for Kai, AND buy a house all in eleven short months. God is good, oh yes He is!

 

And as it would turn out, Duke and I met briefly one year prior through a mutual friend. Previously engaged to another woman, and having no interest in me, I just thought he was um...drop dead gorgeous and unavailable! And yet to both our surprise the engagement was called off and only two months later, we met and God lit a spark. The rest is just a fairy tale.

 

Duke - my strong, smart, integrous, godly, quirky, quick-witted goofball of a husband is the most incredible man and father to Kai. It's not easy being an "INSTA-DAD"; however, Duke has so gracefully become "daddy" as though he has been there since day one with Kai. in July of 2017, Duke became a daddy for the second time, as we welcomed Banx to our family. I am so deeply blessed by the love and bond between all three of my boys and thank my husband from the bottom of my heart for loving Kai as his own just like Banx.

 

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hope, healing, & encouragement 

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Ok, ok, there is more to the story with nitty gritty details, but I hope you have captured who I am in this short nutshell of a space, and I hope to share many things with you along this journey of blogging. My dream is to be a light and to inspire, encourage, offer support, and share advice along this journey.

 

Although we come from all different faiths, walks of life, struggles, and circumstances, I want you to know you are not alone. RISE ABOVE whatever it is keeping you in the same place, pray and speak positive encouraging words over yourself; remember, life is too short to stay stuck.