I grew up in a large family of 7. I was born and raised a Hoosier. When I was six my parents moved us to the mission field of the Philippines. The next 4 years would shape me in intricate and beautiful ways, including my current food preferences, my love for other cultures, and how I use my spoon (to this day, I eat like I’m south east Asian). When I was 10 we moved back to Bloomington, Indiana and I’ve lived in some part of Indiana ever since.

Once bitten by the international travel bug, you never fully recover. In my young adult years I traveled the world, never quite getting enough of other places, cultures and peoples. After getting a degree at Ball State in Dietetics, I did the traditional thing with my degree and used it for 2 years and then moved on to something totally unrelated; international student ministry. My first international friend was a young woman named Radwa. She was Egyptian and she was pregnant with their first baby. I had been a lactation consultant when I worked as a dietitian for WIC. I was so excited to befriend this young woman and help her as she stepped into the world of motherhood.

I married a small-town boy from northern Indiana. When I first became pregnant, it was quite the surprise. I never met my first baby. The baby was miscarried at 9 weeks. I was shocked. Never thinking that this tragedy could happen to me. This intense loss gave me insight and compassion into a dark and forbidden world that many women travel, alone. When I became pregnant with my first born son, I was intensely fearful of losing him. After a healthy pregnancy, I had a traumatic birth that resulted in a healthy baby, but not so healthy momma. I started to look into the idea of becoming a birth doula. But it was not the right time. The next six years brought me two more gorgeous babies and two more heart- rending miscarriages. Each time I brought up the doula idea, it was tabled by babies, and a gentle God who knew the right timing. I started an international mom’s group. I could not ignore how drawn I was to helping pregnant women and new lactating moms, navigate the newness and challenges they were facing.

I met Nicole Ramsey because of a food truck. The food wasn’t that great, but I started talking with Nicole on the playground as we chased our kids and made sure our one-year olds didn’t kill themselves. I was intrigued by this woman and her large, friendly brood of kids. We started talking about homeschooling and the uniqueness of her kids’ names. I looked her up on Facebook and was immediately excited that she was a certified, bona fide Doula! No way! I immediately peppered her with questions. She has five kids. How in the world did she decide to become a doula? I was impressed. As we became friends, I realized that the timing was now. That back burner dream to become a birth doula was now moved to the front and becoming a reality. I’m excited to partner with Nicole in Ada’s Gift Doula Services, empowering new moms, and helping families welcome their new babies.