I’ve spent much of my life asking one question: What makes us whole? I followed that question through more than 25 years in nursing, whole-person health, the body, story, relationships, grief, faith, prayer + creativity. I studied, trained, listened + learned everything I could—partly because I wanted to help others, and partly because I was trying to find my own way.

Life became my greatest teacher. Loss, illness, motherhood, heartbreak, faith, change + starting over took me places no training ever could. For years, I thought healing meant finding all the broken pieces and putting myself back together. Eventually, I discovered something that changed everything: I was never broken. I was whole all along. What needed to change was the way I was seeing.

And strangely enough, art helped me see again. I learned to notice light, color, texture, birdsong, moss growing over fallen things—the small signs of life that remain even in our darkest seasons. When I couldn't find words, I could paint. When I couldn't find my way into church, I could sit outside and watch a sparrow feed its young. Again + again, beauty reminded me: Life is still here. God is still here.

Over time, I began to recognize a path through everything I had lived and learned: FEEL · HEAL · DREAM · CREATE. I call these the Four Elements of Wholeness™—not steps for fixing yourself or becoming whole, but a way of remembering who you are + learning to live from the wholeness already yours.

Today, I make art, write, wander, teach + create experiences through Finding Beautiful™ and my painting practice, Artful Storywork™. I’m still following Jesus, still paying attention, still learning + still finding beauty in unexpected places. I’ve simply walked this terrain long enough to leave a few trail markers behind.

Because even when life isn't beautiful, there is still beauty to be found.

Come walk with me.