Hi, my name is Mary.

I am a Southern gal through and through and live in the outskirts of Memphis, TN.  I love the Lord and I absolutely love that he decided to breathe the gift of writing into my life so I can use my gifts of encouragement to encourage other Moms, Dads, and you!

I am excited as I continue writing books with my latest book:  A Rose with Broken Thorns, Esperanza’s Story:  Redemption from Human Trafficking  which is a biography about my hero, my mom.  The purpose of thorns on a rose is to protect its beauty from predators.  When the thorns are broken, the rose is vulnerable.  My mom grew up as a child of deep poverty in rural Guatemala, but dreamed of living in the land of opportunity- America.  Esperanza’s vulnerability made her a victim of abuse as her dream was realized and she became an abused woman and a wife to an American man, her predator.  She escaped this barbaric abuser and even though many scars remained, this rose was given supernatural thorns so she could fulfill her purpose of establishing a mission in Guatemala, the home she once longed to escape.  She spread her beautiful aroma by sharing her love for Christ and asked, “Won’t you be another rose I can add to my basket and present to Jesus one day?”   On October 12, 2021, the book was released on her 81st birthday and in her deep dimpled smile she said, “This is my best birthday present ever.” Little did either one of us know, as we were making plans for many speaking engagements to promote her powerful yet painful story, these plans would suddenly be shattered.  Thankfully, I have special memories of a few book signings we attended together before my mom traveled back to her 1st home- Guatemala, to do mission work.  While in Guatemala, one ordinary October morning, just a couple weeks after the release of her biography, something seemed wrong with my mom.  Those caring for her at the mission rushed her to the hospital only to discover devastating news- a stroke.  My sister and her dedication to Mama flew to Guatemala and stayed with her at the hospital until Mama was strong enough to travel back to the United States and into the hospital with hopes of recovery.  It was a long road and she never fully recovered and never regained her speech the way she once talked with her thick accent.  Doing my best to encourage her, I told her, “Mama, you may not speak well now, but your words are spoken so perfectly inside the pages of your book.”  My sister and I cared for Mama for over two years until she peacefully passed away in January 2024.  This was an incredibly hard season for me because this dream of writing her story began in the late 1990’s when I felt Jesus speak to me and I wrote and rewrote and wrote and rewrote over and over until we knew we had the story we felt Jesus was proud of.  And wham! I know from the inner depths of my heart “He who started this good work in me will see it to completion” and just publishing the book is not the end…I am still hurting and healing, but I know He is in control and will allow this bud, a future rose waiting to sprout, to bring forth beauty from pain and an aroma of His glory.

Also, for many years, after releasing Marvel in your Autistic Eyes, Character lessons from my Son, I discovered that my son who is now a young adult has an imagination and creative mind much like mine but because of autism he views the world differently.  Years ago when we were walking he made a comment about our shadows.  From this, a book came.  And the greatest part.  The main character, Owen, has autism.  As autism rates continue to escalate- now 1 in 36 children are being diagnosed, I believe this book will not only thrill the readers with the sci-fi fantasy genre, but educate how those who have autism add value to our world, yet how real their struggles are when they become over stimulated and other struggles they go through.  As I have surveyed students after sharing portions of the story, it never fails, everyone’s favorite character is Owen!  So, I am hoping to have this novel completed soon.  And, I am hoping to leave it open for a sequel.  This has really challenged my writing abilities as I love to write in many  genres, not just one.  And I several other projects on the shelf in my brain….and yes, they even have titles!  Yikes!  There are not enough hours in the day.

My family and the ones who call me – Mom

As a Mom, I fail everyday, but Jesus  reminds me he has given me the greatest blessing in having a child or children who call me Mom.  For me M.O.M. can easily stand for ….Making Opportunities Matter.  My children teach me and I teach them.  We learn this together which makes it more enjoyable because “When we stumble, we make it part of the dance”.  Some days when I have long talks with my teenaged daughter she tells me, “you are my hero.”  Wow.  Why is that hard to process?  We immediately think of all the bad instead of good we offer the world.  Then she may say, “and I want to be like you Mom.”  As tears stream down my face, I realize in my heart and mind, as I feel Jesus whisper, “this is your challenge to yourself- are you going to be quitter so she can learn to be a quitter too OR are you going to be a fighter and go after your dreams so she will go after her dreams too?”  After all, “my daughter wants to be like me.”  What can I offer her and say?, With sadness or with joy, say, “I hope you want to be like this too.”

So if you enjoy encouragement and sharing, then I hope you will join me because “I am a Mom, You are a Mom, We all need a Mom!”

Just journeying …

Mary