I used to sit alone on top of a silo in the middle of nowhere, just me and my addiction. I didn’t have my kids or hope, and I never imagined I’d be telling this story today.
But God is a God of restoration. What He’s done with my life is like stained glass — broken pieces arranged into something beautiful that reflects His glory.
The Beginning of the End
I got sober on July 5, 2016, in jail. The day before, I was heading to visit family when my probation officer told me to stop by the jail first. I never made it to my family. I was booked and spent 56 days there. That was my “Independence Day” — the day everything began to change.
The Spark of Faith
After jail came treatment, and then in November, I moved into Hannah House. I knew it was faith-based, but I didn’t realize how deeply God would use it to rebuild my life.
I remember my first Bible study at Hannah House. They were starting a series through the Old Testament. I had so many questions. I didn’t know it was hunger, but I wanted to understand. My relationship with God began to grow. Shelly, one of the leaders, mentored me and encouraged me to lead studies on my own. Terrified, I spent a month preparing my first one on love and the Ten Commandments. When it was over, I felt something ignite. I wanted others to know this love, too.
The Long Road to Reunification
I stayed at Hannah House for two and a half years. One of the hardest parts was watching other women get their kids back while I was still waiting. Legal help fell through, and I nearly gave up. Eventually I found and paid for my own attorney, and it was worth every penny. I got my kids back in November 2018 — two and a half years into sobriety. Though it didn’t feel like it at the time, God timed it perfectly.
Marriage, His Relapse, and My Sobriety
In July 2019, I moved out to live with my husband, Tim, and our kids. We’d been together 14 years but weren’t married, so in December, we made it official. A year later, Tim relapsed — seriously and dangerously. For the first time, I didn’t follow him down. I stayed sober. For two years, I watched him spiral, but I never felt the urge to use.
My addiction was rooted in loneliness, but now I had community, faith, and a whole new purpose. Tim is now in federal prison, but he’s walking faithfully with Jesus and has been sober for three years. Our marriage is probably the healthiest it’s ever been because we’re both committed to Christ and resting in His faithfulness.
Becoming the Director
Around the time Tim relapsed, I was approached about becoming the Director of Hannah House. I said “no” at first — how could I lead when my home was in chaos? But I was honest about everything, and CLDI chose me anyway. I started in December 2020, and soon found that my pain made me a better leader. When women arrive with broken relationships, I can relate, and I don’t pretend my relationships have been perfect.
Full Circle
Now I walk alongside women just as others have walked with me, guiding and encouraging them in their faith. I’m currently pursuing a degree in Biblical Counseling so that, as I freely receive, I can freely give away what I’m learning and pass on the hope that was given to me.
A Vision for More
One of the greatest needs I’ve seen at Hannah House is childcare, which is often a major barrier for mothers in recovery. When we began planning the campus expansion, I noticed the unused space in the basement and thought, ‘Why not create a daycare?’ It felt both practical and life-changing, giving moms and children the support they need to heal.
Community & the South Side
I’ve tried to buy a home for years, and though there have been some opportunities in other neighborhoods in Billings, I don’t want to leave the South Side. It feels like home. My kids feel it, too. My son Braxton, now 16, serves in kids ministry and says simply, “I want to be a good help and a good person.” That’s the power of community for you.
From Broken to Whole
I’ve been sober for over eight years now, from a woman alone on a rooftop to a mother, leader, and mentor. Life is still hard, but it’s beautiful. God is still piecing things together — shards of pain and beauty, held by grace, reflecting Him. This is restoration. This is CLDI.
