I have been on and around horses since before I have memories. My mom and my dad are both horse lovers so naturally horses run through my blood. My father passed away, when I was 3 years old, from lung cancer. Growing up with one parent and my mom’s only child, life always felt very lonely. Animals (particularly horses) were my constant companion.

I was bullied throughout grade school and high school.  I struggled in school not only because of the bullying but also because I had undiagnosed ADHD (which I didn’t get a diagnosis for until I was 41 years old). I didn’t learn like many other of my classmates and I struggled to get good grades in most of my classes. I always felt different and less than. No matter what happened in school or at home as soon as I was at the barn the stresses of life would melt away. On my pony is where I felt confident and alive! The bond my first pony, Penny, and I had was one of love and trust. 

In my early 20’s is when I met God. I can recall as a young child desiring to go to church like some of my friends did. My childhood friend, Meghan, used to always share scripture and things she learned in her class at church on Sunday mornings. Fast forward to meeting the Lord, I could look back and know that He had been after my heart for years. 

By my mid 20’s, I met a man that I would marry just a short six months later. Less than 24 hours after we got married the abuse started. We were married for 6 years and they were the hardest years of my life.  I used to pray daily that God take my life because I felt as though I could not endure another day. Over the course of the marriage, we had 2 kids together.  During this time God really revealed himself to me. I learned that God doesn’t let us down, people do. Through God’s love for me and my love for Him and my children I finally left my abuser. I was no longer going to be his victim. God blessed me with my beautiful children and I was going to be the great mother that God called me to be. 

I have known for a long time that God didn’t allow for me to walk through this darkness without there being beauty on the other side. God has given me a heart to be a steward to his creatures (which He gave me with my horses as a child, I just didn’t know it then) and the strength to help those in need because of what I survived. When you combine the amazing healing powers of our Lord and the healing ability he has instilled in his creatures (horses) this is where The Sixth Day Connection is born! Although I plan to help as many people as God allows, I have a special place in my heart for children and teens and domestic violence victims/survivors and am excited to use my programs to reach the people God sets in my path.