I’m convinced that the secret to becoming a Saint is summed up in one simple word… fiat. 

We’ll skip over the challenging childhood part and start with a love story.  I married a cradle Catholic and after 20+ years of marriage we haven’t killed each other!  The End. No seriously… I married my complete opposite and let’s just say the vocation of marriage is not for the faint of heart. But, difficult as it may be, we have a deep love and friendship, we sometimes bicker non-stop and it just totally works… ALL BECAUSE OF GRACE! Ken has taught me how to trust, which taught me how to surrender and this man will have a special place in heaven because that. See Lord, I’m doing my job in getting him to Heaven! Many times after I give a talk, people come to my booth and want to shake the hand of the holy guy who put up with me, totally not kidding. Together, we have a 21 year old daughter who is all the things I’m not and my hero in many ways. Also a 20 year old son, who is just like his momma except in humility, he is honestly the must humble person I know, my hero in all the other ways. Just like my husband and I, our kids are opposites and most of the time it just works… ALL BECAUSE OF GRACE of course. Im sure the neighbors think we are Italian, and we have what I like to call a “passionate” household.

Even though God had sent me these heroic loves of mine, God knew I needed a lot more help so after 10 years of marriage, He sent it. But when He sent it I said, “anything but that!”  Not the Catholic Church!  I had no desire to become a Catholic, until God called, and called, then sent me a sign, burned a bush, and well… as we know, He saves the most hard and stubborn person.  After 6 months of trying to find another way out of this deal I made with God, because He gave me all those signs and all,  I surrendered, entered the RCIA program and experienced a total conversion of heart, mind, and lifestyle. To my friends that know me now…trust me, total conversion. Ok… stop laughing! Complete turnaround I said! I thank God for giving me the gift of my family and the Catholic Faith!

My kicking and screaming conversion didn’t end there! Oh no… it took Our Blessed Mother, a miraculous healing, the intercession of many Saints and a little humiliation thrown in. Today, I’m pretty much all in! I paint icons with lot’s of help from the Holy Spirit, and He continues to teach me about trust and virtue…which I’m sure delights the Lord, seeing this old stubborn heart broken for Him.

I’m amazed that God has allowed me to become an instrument in helping others on their journey of faith.  In 2017 I began speaking to groups about my conversion story, Marian consecration, and my life with the Saints.

I have discovered over time that my vocation as a wife, mother, speaker and sacred artist is all about showing up with all that i am (messiness and truth required), pouring out all that i am in love, and trusting that the Holy Spirit will make something beautiful… a tru original.