I love sunlight, being in nature, an exploratory walk or bike ride (especially through fields), deep and authentic one-on-one talks with people, getting to know my husband better and going to bed by his side each night, spending time with children, reading books aloud, a good, sweaty workout, a crunchy and diverse salad, an intensely chocolatey brownie, time sitting in stillness with my Bible, my journal, and my Father at the base of a tree trunk–or simply talking to him while wandering the sidewalks of our neighborhood, learning from people and about any subject (especially the Bible), a shopping trip to Marshall’s, any kind of online shopping, the sweet labor of whittling away at a poem or a piece of nonfiction till it’s (nearly) perfect, and reading (or listening to) books that use strong verbs, zingy dialogue, apt metaphor, and fresh language.

Education

I graduated as an English major with minors in technical and professional writing, honors, Bible, and creative writing. During my college years, I developed a deep appreciation for creative nonfiction and poetry and learned how to craft both a sentence and an argument. It was also during this time when I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which I have been struggling with since age eight–unbeknownst to me or anyone else. My diagnosis and subsequent counseling began to transform my understanding of myself, the world, and God. Suddenly, I began to understand why I’d been having these “intrusive thoughts” for almost as long as I could remember; I began to understand the behaviors (“compulsions”) that the thoughts had so often urged me toward; and I began to see that there was a different way, a way to break free of the cycle of obsessive thinking and compulsive actions/mental rituals. Most importantly, I began to see and believe that God has grace enough for me–grace enough for me to work through the messy, painful process of healing and change, tied by a string to Him.  

Work Experience

After college, I worked as an intern at a Christian publishing house, then began working as a special education paraprofessional in North Philadelphia. Here, I not only developed a greater compassion for students with special needs, but also met my husband, a social studies teacher. I spent my afternoons coffee-ing and adeventur-ing with my future husband, waiting for the bus 49 to pick me up, executing after-school tutoring sessions, or teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to adult learners. During the summer, I taught ESL and creative writing to refugee and immigrant middle school students. Eventually I moved, put down roots in a new community, and became a lead bookseller for the children’s department at Barnes and Noble, where I developed my love affair with picture books. Because of my work with kids in the special ed. department and because of my own struggle with anxiety, I was always searching for books (especially picture books!) that spoke to emotional or mental struggles.

Now, I spend my mornings (and many evenings) teaching vocabulary and reviewing verb conjugations with Chinese students through an online teaching platform. Teaching ESL allows me to review English grammar (oy!), frequent Dollar Tree for props that I (claim) are “for my students”, and sometimes, even read a children’s book I snagged from Barnes and Noble with one of my Chinese students.

My Vision

One day, I would love to have a larger platform to talk about faith and mental illness. For now, I am working on being vulnerable, putting in the work, and “taking risks”–like publishing this blog! I am passionate to continue studying God’s Word and exploring how His Word and ways illuminate–and are illumined by–what psychologists have discovered about the human brain and how to treat mental illness, especially OCD. I firmly believe that we are holistic beings, created by God, best and most intimately known by Him, and that He can and does use people, books, counseling, and even medication to write His story in our lives and draw us closer to Himself.

I don’t know where this blog will lead, except that I know it’s the “next right thing” (thanks, Frozen II). I know that God has lodged passions for struggling people and for words deep within my heart, and the way He created me is part of how He intends for me to live, grow, and flourish. I know He is using my struggles and experiences to carve and shape me into a more faithful, useful, and beautiful tool for His glory. It is my prayer that this blog brings people closer to His heart and points to the One from whom flows all goodness and truth.