10/22/2026
🫶 I realized I haven't shared all of my story here...
I'm going to share some of it today. (I would have to publish a whole novel to actually tell it all in the detail it deserves 😂)
But I want to give some of you who are new here a little insight into WHO I am and WHY I am so passionate about addressing every terrain of the body for healing and leaving no stone unturned, no matter how insignificant you think it is.
Let's go back to 2019.
Parker was born in October 2019, after what had to be one of the most horrible pregnancies anyone could have ever imagined.
By late 2021, I was struggling with postpartum rage, depression, anxiety, debilitating fatigue, brain fog, and what I can only describe as anxiety paralysis.
It was like every cell in my body would suddenly shut down. No thoughts. Barely able to move or form a sentence.
I didn't want to unalive myself, but my prayer was literally:
"Lord, if this is the rest of my life, please go ahead and take me now. I don't want it. This isn't life."
I was at one of the lowest points of my life.
And it wasn't just me struggling. Parker was sick ALL THE TIME.
RSV. Strep. COVID over and over. Hand, foot, and mouth. Random episodes of vomiting...
It felt never-ending.
I went to the doctor. I got the bloodwork. I explained all the things I was experiencing.
When the results came back, I was told:
"Everything is normal. This is just motherhood now!"
And when I heard that, something in me literally snapped.
I didn't know it was the Lord at the time, but looking back, I honestly don't know what came over me.
I came home and started ripping the carpet out of the kids' bedrooms.
By the time Chase got home, we were working on getting the living room carpet gone, too.
I had NO game plan. No money to replace it. Nothing.
Something in me just wanted it GONE.
And then we found mold.
Not a ton, but it was there.
So I went down the rabbit hole. Of. ALL. THE. THINGS. 😂
If the doctors and labs weren't going to give me answers, I wasn't going down without a fight.
I had already researched the products and toxins we put on our skin and the things we eat. But I hadn't fully understood how much our environment could matter, or why the same exposure could affect different people so differently.
As we began making changes, I noticed things shifting.
Parker's illnesses started becoming less frequent. My symptoms became less intense. (Not gone, though! Like I said, this is only PART of my story. 😂)
The gut protocol I had Parker on also seemed to be helping.
And that's when I started realizing just how many pieces of the puzzle I had never even considered.
Toxic mold is a beast.
Our bodies don't all respond to environmental exposures the same way. Individual susceptibility, exposure levels, and how our bodies respond can all play a role.
And here's something that really stood out to me: Chase had ZERO of the symptoms Parker and I were struggling with.
We have slowly worked to address other potential sources of mold while tackling projects as we're able.
And then there was the vertigo.
Nothing seemed to help. We eventually replaced a shower where we'd found mold...
And the vertigo went away. 🤷♀️
Now, I'm not saying mold explains every symptom or that everyone's story is the same. I'm telling you what I've experienced and why I believe we cannot afford to overlook our environment when we're trying to understand the bigger picture.
Fast-forward to the last couple of weeks.
The fatigue and brain fog have returned, along with some new fun symptoms... facial rashes and sharp, shooting pains in my hips.
I had a feeling something environmental might be contributing because Advil didn't help. Stretching didn't help. Massage didn't help.
You know what seemed to help?
Bioiron AllergyCalm. An ANTIHISTAMINE.
That response caught my attention and made me think about whether histamine or an allergic-type response could be part of the picture. It doesn't prove the cause, but it was another clue I wasn't going to ignore.
So last night, we finally ripped out the LAST of the carpet in our bedroom.
And today? I'm washing every piece of clothing and bedding we own using a mold-focused laundry solution. 🫠
This six-year fight has NOT been easy. We've lived on nothing but subflooring for a couple of years. 🫣 We've made changes little by little, as we've been able.
But we've kept going.
And this is WHY I'm so passionate about what I do at Joyful Living.
Because I know what it's like to be at your absolute lowest.
I know what it feels like to be defeated. To search for answers. To be told everything looks normal when you KNOW something isn't right.
I know what it's like to feel like you're fighting a battle that nobody else can see.
But I also know the power of the Lord to guide, provide, and bring hope in the middle of the hardest seasons.
He has given me the ability and resources to learn things I didn't know before. He's helped me find missing pieces I didn't even realize I needed to look for.
And I believe there are other people out there who need that same kind of guidance.
Someone to help them look at the bigger picture. Someone to help them ask better questions. Someone to remind them that their health is multifaceted and that sometimes we need to look beyond the most obvious things.
That's why I care so much about the mind, body, and soul.
That's why I want to consider the environment, the gut, nutrition, emotional health, spiritual health, and all the other pieces that may be relevant to someone's individual story.
Not because one thing explains everything.
But because sometimes the missing piece is the one nobody thought to look for.
I needed someone like me to help guide me. Someone to teach me what I didn't know and help me connect the dots.
And that's why I'm here.
That's why I do what I do.
I want to share what the Lord has taught me, what I've learned along the way, and the hope I've found through this journey.
Because I want YOU to know that you don't have to navigate your wellness journey alone.
I want you to have hope. I want you to feel empowered to ask questions. I want you to know there is room to keep searching for answers while working alongside qualified healthcare professionals.
My story isn't finished. Neither is yours. ❤️
And I believe the Lord can use even the hardest chapters of our lives for something meaningful.
If you're in a season where you feel defeated, unseen, or like you've run out of options, I want you to know this:
Don't lose hope. Keep asking questions. Keep seeking wisdom. And don't be afraid to look at the bigger picture.
That's the heart behind Joyful Living. 🫶
And I'm so grateful you're here.
