I lost my job. I lost my car. My grades slowly declined and I dropped out of college. My health suffered. I lost friends. I ruined relationships with my family. I slept wherever I could find a bed. I did whatever I had to do in order to get my next fix. I destroyed every aspect of my life.
And then in April of 2016, I was arrested. Not the usual overnights that I had already pulled on numerous occasions, but this time it was for nearly 8 months. Although this was just a short time compared to some, it was enough to make me realize that something had to change. I didn’t want to keep doing this. I couldn’t keep doing this. I was miserable. And I knew I was going to die.
But I was so hopeless. I believed that I would never be able to redeem myself or have a life worth living. I felt as if I would never be able to crawl out of the hole that I had dug for myself. And I couldn’t. But God could. And He did.
I was court-ordered to a substance abuse treatment facility for 180 days and was released to Hope City Rehabilitation and Transitional House for Women, as well as sentenced to 3 years of probation.
During that time, multiple people showed me the love of God. They taught me the Word. They prayed with me. They prayed for me.
And since then, my life has been everything that I never thought it could be. My body was healed from Hepatitis C, without any treatments. I was accepted into Union College, and despite my dropout status, I was still given a scholarship to cover most of the tuition costs. I was hired by the Knox County Board of Education as a substitute teacher. How does that even happen?
I became a Certified MRT Facilitator, as well as an Adult Peer Support Specialist. I completed my Bachelor of Science with a double major in Psychology and Substance Abuse Counseling and became a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
During this time, I was also diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and after receiving peace from the Lord, I declined any further treatment. I have not had any symptoms of this disease in over 3 years. And I was successfully released from probation.
However, the man that I was dating during the midst of my addiction was still always on my heart and mind. He was still battling his own addictions, and I prayed for him constantly.
After years of praying and trusting in the Lord, He finally brought him to me. I married this man on November 9th, 2019.
On September 6th, 2022, we joyfully welcomed our first child. Embracing the challenges and joys, we navigate parenthood with gratitude for the chance to be sober, stable, and spiritually grounded parents to Rhett Maverick. He’s the real, messy, and beautiful light that brightens our lives every day.
Currently, I am completing my last semester of the Masters of Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of the Cumberlands. I will graduate this May, and continue on my journey of becoming a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with the goal of spreading hope
and sharing the good news to everyone that I meet.
If there is anything I want anyone reading this to take away from this post, it’s that God’s plan surpasses our past, no matter how painful.
Although I have made many mistakes in this life, I would not change a single thing because it would not have led me to where I am today.
And where I am today is better than anything I could have ever dreamed of.”