What Inspired Me to Open This Home

My journey has not been an easy one—but it has been filled with grace, resilience, redemption, and second chances.

I grew up facing challenges that most people could never imagine. My parents struggled with addiction, and from a young age I found myself trying to care for both myself and my younger sister. Eventually, the State of Georgia took custody of me. While I remained in state care, my sister later went to live with family, where she endured hardships that no child should ever have to experience. Witnessing her pain forever changed my understanding of love, sacrifice, and responsibility.

Despite the obstacles, I refused to allow my circumstances to define my future. Through the support, structure, and opportunities I received, I developed discipline, faith, and determination. I graduated at the top of my class with a 3.8 GPA, proving to myself that my past did not have to determine my future.

After graduation, I was blessed with a full scholarship. However, life called me in a different direction. I made the difficult decision to give up that opportunity so I could obtain stable housing, work, and help support my sister through college. It wasn’t the future I had planned, but it was the future I believed my family needed.

As the years went on, I became a mother and experienced many of life’s highs and lows. Like so many people striving to create a better future, I made mistakes, faced disappointments, and encountered seasons that tested my faith. Yet through every setback, God continued to guide me, refine me, and remind me that my story was far from over.

Today, I continue to invest in myself because I believe learning and growth never stop. I am a licensed insurance adjuster and continue to expand my professional knowledge while pursuing a career in technology and critical facilities. Every certification, every class, and every new skill I earn is another opportunity to create a better future—not only for myself, but for those I have the privilege of serving.

Thriving on Purpose was created because I know firsthand what it feels like to need someone to believe in you. This home is more than a place to live—it is a place to heal, grow, rebuild, and discover new possibilities. My goal is to provide guidance, structure, encouragement, and practical life skills that help individuals become independent, confident, and successful.

I believe success looks different for everyone. For some, it may mean earning a diploma. For others, it may mean finding stable employment, learning a trade, starting a business, returning to school, or simply believing in themselves again. Whatever the goal may be, I want every resident to know they are capable of achieving it.

One of the greatest lessons my life has taught me is that purpose has no age limit. I am 48 years old, and I am still learning, still growing, and still reaching new milestones. My life is proof that God is not limited by your past, your circumstances, or your age. There is no expiration date on purpose, and there is always another opportunity to begin again.

My hope is that every person who walks through these doors leaves knowing they are worthy of love, capable of greatness, and equipped to build a future that is greater than their past.

Because someone once believed in me. Now, it is my greatest honor to believe in someone else