Have you ever had a dream a dream that lives in your soul, and hides in your heart? I am sure you have - we all have. As we get older in our lives, and feel the need to grow up and get serious with life's choices, we sometimes place our dreams high up on a shelf as if to say, "Don't worry, I will be back to get you soon." As time goes on, the person you used to be starts to fade. The fire that ignited your once fantastic childhood dream is barely a flicker. Yet, even the smallest flicker can start a fire - Hope.

So here I am, amazed at how my little flicker re-ignited my dream! From the time I can remember, I wanted to make a difference and inspire the hearts of those who were around me. I can remember being 8 years old and putting on one-man shows for the whole neighborhood. My life was a stage and I performed with passion.

I grew up loving Jesus with all my heart. For as long as I can remember, He was my best friend. I was an only child until I was 8 ½ when my sister Jessa was born. So, when there was no one to talk to on those rainy days, Jesus was my confidant. I fell in love with writing when I was very young. I even used to write books about the love of Jesus and read them to the neighborhood kids. That was me, always wanting to share the joy I had with others. At a very young age I had a burning desire to help people. I wanted to inspire others to know the love of Christ as I did. When I was a little girl I knew I wanted to be an inspirational speaker for woman, even if I didn't quite understand what that meant. I knew it was what God wanted me to do.

Then at the age of 17, my whole world fell off its once perfect orbit and spun out of control. My innocence was stolen and my perfect world around me no longer seemed safe. In a flash, who I was and who I was supposed to be, was ripped from my soul. Yet, in my loneliest and darkest hour, He met me there. My one true friend saved me, the way He always said He would. And, with faith as small as a muster seed, God gave me the gift of enormous strength, and still to this day, His strength has pulled me through the deepest of valleys, the highest of mountains and the toughest of times.

My story is about strength and survival. Everyday the world seems to take a piece of us. Sometimes the pieces are ripped out so hard we become afraid of what the world might do to us next. I have learned that it is okay to be afraid. It is okay to make the wrong choice, because God is always there to help you make it right again. And as he does, he creates in you something new, something even better than before.

It is never too late to follow your dream! It is never too late to reclaim the passion that fizzled down. What you don't know is, God never forgot about it! He never did in me. And I am here to tell you that a dream never dies!

God used inspirational speaking to heal me of fear. I am the wife of a Navy Test Pilot, and we are never settled in any one place for very long. But, God started to help me realize that my dream was about to be reborn. I volunteered fulltime with homeless, the disabled and battered women. I helped teach art to inner city kids; it was this gateway that brought me to get involved in pageants. After winning several titles, I began to sense God was bringing me back to the dream he once gave me as a little girl. After all those years of suffering through unbelievable trials and challenges, His vision for my life became CLEAR - again. God amazes me! We think we have it all figured out, and then, WHAM; He gives you more then you can ask for.

So, why music? My intent in life was never to be a "Rock Star." I am a writer and have just finished a book called "Being Buried Alive." It's about the downward spiral and the effects of what happened throughout the life of a rape victim - me, and how I became "victorious" over fear. Music, art, and writing are the powerful healers in my life. Music can heal the soul. When the heart is so hardened from disappointment and too wounded, words can sound like useless babble; but it is music that breaks down the walls and somehow allows us to listen to the words.

At some of the lowest times of my life, it was music that pulled me through. Music is meant for us to cry to, laugh to, sing to, praise to, and dance to. It is the songs of our lives that become a treasure chest of memories; some good, some hurtful, and some unforgettable. I am inspired by so many amazing musicians, like Tori Amos; I can just sit and cry as her words remind me of the dark moments I felt when my world was crumbling down. Nicole Nordeman; who brings me the courage not to try so hard to be perfect, or Cold Play; through their emotional music I was inspired to create my most memorable pieces of art. So, as the book came together, so did my music, in hopes that one day it would inspire others like those who inspired me.

My songs are real and from the heart. I don't make excuses and I don't candy coat my message. Each song comes from the deep within my soul. Even Christians hurt, and the valleys we go through can be deep and treacherous. God never said it would be easy, but He did say He would never let us go through it on our own. I truly believe Jesus knows our hearts and knows our frustrations too. He hears our cries, and in our darkest hours, he weeps with us. It is through our brokenness that he restores us and makes us better then new.

I am a singer and inspirational speaker with a message of courage and strength. Your voice is the most powerful thing you have. You don't know how important your voice is until you have had it taken away from you and you get it back again. At some point my voice was stolen from me, and I vow never to lose it again. My mission is to reveal the freedom we can have from the bondage that holds us back.

We all have a story, we all have a song. Every day, your book is being written.