an introduction

Happy September friends! I wanted to take a minute and introduce myself as there are so many new faces around the blog in the last couple of months. I love making new friends and can't wait to connect with y'all a little bit more on this space! 

I started writing my blog Caravan Sonnet (you can find out more about the meaning behind the name of the blog HERE) shortly after I was forced to move back home with my parents due to my declining health. At the time I didn't know all that would transpire after I started the blog (within a few months of moving home, after traveling the country and seeing more than 273 doctors) I was correctly and accurately diagnosed with Advanced Late Stage Lyme Disease and then Cancer. 

My health journey these past several years has been a life-changing and altering event that has literally left me stripped of everything I knew and loved that I was doing in my life (I was an active high school teacher who loved ballroom dancing and being involved with friends, church, and her community) and has brought me to an entirely new place which has been filled with difficulties, pain, tears, and overwhelming peace and grace due to Jesus.

Here is a little bit more about me:

*I am fully in love with my precious Lord and Savior and love encouraging the hearts of women and teen girls and launched a new ministry in August that is designed specifically for teen ladies called Grace Engaged! 

* I am a gal who loves finding grace in simple beauty and creativity.

* I am an English girl at heart even though I only have lived there for a very short amount of time

*I started writing and sharing my story and although I used to be afraid to stand in front of a small audience, I now love having the opportunity to speak about God's grace in the midst of hard with others and encouraging their hearts. 

* My heart sings when I dance and when music is playing

*I love blogging, connecting with new friends, and living life boldly and fully no matter the difficult seasons in life

* I love thrifting, fashion, and jewelry and recently became a merchandiser with Chloe + Isabel 

*I have taken tons of sign-language classes which I love and am becoming fluent in it to become an interpreter and would love to be fluent in French. (Notice how I did not even mention the sad tale of taking 5 years of German and have little to show for it except for a lot of unnecessary phrases. *smiles*)

* I am amazed by color (and flowers) and love to create things, especially altered journals, scripture bunting, and unique creations for my Etsy Shop, December Caravan

*I split my year between the sweet south and the beautiful upstate New York, but if you are even around me for a second you will quickly see that I love the southern friendliness and have a bit of a southern accent but my heart belongs at my favorite place in the world (upstate New York).

*I love to travel and have adventures and write a lot about travel on my blog.

*I have a heart for Lyme Patients and have published a book called "Praying through Lyme Disease" that was recently translated into Polish. In December, my second book for Lyme patients called, "When Light Dawns" was released. 

* I have a heart for our military men and women and have been apart of Adopt-a-Platoon for 10 years which has been beautiful and life-changing,

*I am a single gal who longs to be married and be a mama and loves encouraging the hearts of singles through blog posts, speaking events, and my book, "Prayers for the Single Journey".

*I fully acknowledge that I love to dress up and once thought that I was born a century too late because I love the Jane Austen era.

I am excited to get to know you more! My prayer is that your time here leaves you encouraged about God's ever present love. My hope is that you find this little bloggy home a place of encouragement, refreshment, and joy as we explore the lovely simplicity of grace and hope in the promise of ordinary days. Thank you for stopping by today! May you be blessed abundantly!