I Was On The News!!

As many of you know, I was in a near-fatal car crash in 2005 with an 18-wheeler merely two weeks after my high school graduation from McKinney North. The crash and impact were so severe that it caused my neck to break, damaged my C6 spinal cord, and ultimately resulted in me becoming paralyzed.

We don't always understand why things happen and can spend our entire lives wondering, questioning, and reliving moments. Or we can embrace our past and present experiences, learn from them, and help others along the way. We have all been through unique and extraordinary events -- some of intense depth, pain, and struggle and others of amazing greatness and honor. We are all on a journey of understanding and purpose and all have something to offer this world.

In 2009, I started sharing my story - a story of perseverance from bullying, recreational drug and alcohol use, and extreme loss; forgiveness; self-discovery; and purpose. One of the organizations that I align with and share my story through is Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). I was presented an opportunity this week to serve as a guest speaker at this year's Dallas and Tarrant County Joint DWI Task Force Press Conference (11/12/2014) held in Grand Prairie. The mission was to encourage responsibility during this holiday season and present recent updates to DWI offense handling.

 

 

Courtesy: @GrandPrairiePD 

Happy Mother's Day!

This Mother's Day was an amazing day spent with my 2 Moms. It began at Covenant Church with an awesome worship service & also where my Mom was awarded as a "TOP MOM!" Then we had a wonderful lunch at Dos Charros & rented a redbox. I can never thank you enough Mom for your sacrifice every day in caring for me. You mean so much to me. You have my heart Mom! You too Second Mom.

My Top Mom Submission:

Where do I even begin?
Not a single word I could ever speak could begin to explain how amazing my Mom is and how she truly goes above and beyond in every way. She is an extraordinary mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, caregiver, and woman of God.
I was in a car crash 9 years ago with an 18-wheeler and almost died. In fact, I did die four times but God breathed life back into me and I'm forever grateful that He did because it is through such life that I learned how incredibly blessed I am, how much God loves me, and how much my family loves me. I was in inpatient recovery hospitalization for 5 months (in 4 different hospitals) and my Mom was with me every step of the way, every day. Nearly every night, she stayed in the cot next to my hospital bed and every day, she was persistently advocating, motivating, praying, and speaking life over me and still does to this day. In a place and state full of despair and can'ts, she reminded me that I still have a purpose and to keep my faith. When it was time to come home from the hospital, my loving Mom quit her job of nearly 25 years to become my full-time caregiver, a tremendous sacrifice. She released all of who she was and wanted to be - completely dropped it - to take care of me. She not only cooked and cleaned the house but now also dressed and undressed me, cleaned me when I messed on myself, bathed me, fed me, changed my catheters, turned me in the bed at night to prevent pressure sores (as did my Dad and boyfriend), and all the other many little (and big) things that able-bodied persons and families could not even imagine. She does and does and does for me and others until she can do no more and then, hunched over from exhaustion and grimacing from aching feet, still asks if there is anything else she can do. She is an absolute blessing. Her heart and spirit radiates and captivates the world around her. She gives and serves so much to those in need but hardly ever takes time for herself. I began my response in saying that words cannot express the kind of woman that my Mom is and I conclude with that same declaration. My Mom is so special, so deserving, so wonderful of a person and I just want her to know how much her love and sacrifice means to me. It is through her sacrifice and love that God revealed Himself to me and helped me to truly understand His love and who He is. "Greater love has no man than he who lays down his life." She lays down her life every day.

THANK YOU COVENANT CHURCH MCKINNEY!

August and September Speeches

August 3, 2013 - Speaking to Biblical Community Church's youth located at 810 Lookout Dr., Richardson, TX 75080 at noon.

September 8, 2013 - Speaking to Christ United Methodist Church's youth located at 3101 Coit Rd., Plano, TX 75075 at 6:45pm.

September 18, 2013 - Speaking at MADD's Plano Teen VIP located at 900 E. 15th Street, Plano, TX 75074 at 6:15pm.

Pastor Natalie Choate

What an awesome and uplifting memorial service for Pastor Natalie Choate last night! As we all stood and sang praises to God, I gazed across the sanctuary and saw the most beautiful sight - the congregation with hands raised and voices united worshiping God. What a victory your life has brought God and us!! Pastor Natalie, I did not have the pleasure of knowing you while you were here on earth but I feel that I know you now. As Pastor Kevin mentioned, your name means "a gift from God." I have been praying for about 2 months for everyone I know & everyone they know to be motivated in life and faith. Through your life and legacy, we have been inspired and motivated to fight the good fight, to not give up, and to fully lead the lives God has for us. God has answered my prayer through YOU! Just as Pastor Kevin said, I thought I was strong in my faith and I thought I trusted God fully but through you Pastor Natalie, God has opened my eyes to what that means and how much more trust and faith I must and can have. Through you, God has strengthened me, reminded me of my purpose, and given me a deeper courage to be the woman He has called me to be no matter the depths, pains, struggles, or outcomes I will face and have - to keep pressing on and knowing that God has my best interest at heart and He sees the big picture always. You have inspired me and blessed me Pastors Natalie & Kevin Choate! Love you both! We stand with you arm and arm, heart and heart! — Covenant Church

Obituary: http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Natalie-Choate&lc=4270&pid=165802289&mid=5599271 

June Speeches

June 2, 2013 - MADD Teen VIP at 7:00 pm located at Allen Municipal Court (301 Century Parkway, Allen, Texas 75013)

June 18, 2013 - MADD Adult VIP at 6:00 pm located at the Salvation Army (600 S. Wilson Creek Parkway, McKinney, Texas 75069)

June 22, 2013 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 12:00 pm located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers

Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)

As I was spending time with God last night, I came across this scripture and it was exactly what I needed. Again, it is about persistence in praying. It can be difficult persistently asking anyone, especially God, for something. I know from personal experience. It makes your mind start wondering things that it shouldn't. This scripture proves that instead of feeling discouraged and defeated, we should fight the fight all the more. I hope this message blesses you and speaks to your heart.

Parable of the Persistent Widow


One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have [persistent] faith?”

"Luke 18 (New Living Translation)." Bible Gateway. Web. 5 May 2012. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2018&version=NLT.

*Another great version of this scripture can be found in The Message: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2018&version=MSG.

The Power of Words

Purplecontent. "The Power of Words." Youtube. 23 February 2010. Web. 24 February 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU&feature=youtube_gdata_player.

Live Life to the Fullest & Look Beyond Circumstances

A great motivational video!



Harrish0789. "LOOK AT YOURSELF AFTER WATCHING THIS.mp4." Youtube. 12 March 2010. Web. 18 February 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc4HGQHgeFE.