I’m so glad that you’re here! My birth name is Erica, but I answer to almost anything including my newest title (thanks to my teenage son) “Bruh.” I'm a Midwestern girl by birth but a Florida girl by heart. Almost a decade ago my family took a leap of faith and trekked across the country from the Chicago area to settle closer to the beach in Sarasota, Florida. Once our toes hit the sand and our snorkel masks hit the water, we knew why God had brought us here, and it wasn’t just for the beautiful beaches. This major move marked a new beginning for our family, especially for me. It was as if God, in His merciful love, was rewarding us after a long, dark, and painful trial …

I had been battling an unknown illness for four years that had suddenly stricken me while I was pregnant with my second child. For that first year and a half, I found myself in and out of doctor’s offices and hospitals while my health continued to deteriorate. I survived what became a high-risk pregnancy, delivered a healthy baby against all odds, and was utterly exhausted mind, body, and soul when I finally received a diagnosis: late-stage Lyme disease. My battle was far from over; in some ways, it was just beginning. However, Jesus, in His loving providence, revealed two precious gifts to me: His mother, Mary, and her Holy Rosary.

Considering my Catholic background, and my devout mother, I'm astonished that somehow during the first 32 years of my life, I missed the importance that our Catholic faith places on a personal devotion to the Blessed Mother and the impact that her intercession can have on our lives. I had never prayed a Rosary on my own; I couldn’t even remember a time I had prayed one in a group. I honestly felt that by going to our Blessed Mother, I would be “cheating” on Jesus.

Thankfully, my mom had introduced me to the Adoration Chapel because it had become my place of refuge amidst the chaos and uncertainty that my life had become. This intimate and cozy chapel was, without a doubt, the most peaceful place I had ever encountered. I had become addicted to the refuge it offered during this difficult trial in my life. A few months after my diagnosis, living in constant sickness, fear, and panic, I found myself in Adoration on my knees, begging Jesus to guide and help me when I experienced a miracle that would change my life forever. It would turn a tragedy into a triumph, a trial into a victory, and set my faith on fire. As I sat in front of Jesus in the Tabernacle, feeling utterly desperate, he did the unimaginable; He very blatantly and directly told me exactly what I was to do.

In the blink of an eye, He revealed His Blessed Mother to me. When I looked up, I saw in the middle of the Eucharist the most beautiful image of our Blessed Mother. It wasn't in a photographic form; it looked more like a beautiful chalk drawing. I immediately understood that He wanted me to turn to Mary, the Mother of God, for help and refuge. It was also imprinted on my soul that I needed to learn to pray the Rosary. I couldn't believe that the God of the universe was speaking directly to me. I must have sat in that pew blinking, wondering if I had gone crazy for over an hour. When I finally pulled myself up to leave and went to anoint myself with holy water, I saw a book sitting on the edge of the bookshelf next to the holy water font. God knew I would need extra assurance that I was on the right track, as the book was entitled "The Power of the Holy Rosary."

I hope to share my personal story so that others may also find peace, hope, trust, and excitement in Jesus, Mary, and our AMAZING Catholic faith. I cannot wait to share the abundance of grace and miracles I have experienced since I entrusted myself to our Blessed Mother. My life is a witness to the power of praying the Rosary and the protection, guidance, and grace that Mary, our Blessed Mother, yearns to give us all.

A little bit about my family

I’m a photographer by trade and a Catholic “evangelist” by choice. Aside from smashing my face up to a camera, or squeezing it into a snorkel mask, I'm a wife to a hilarious husband of 19 years, a mother of three fun and crazy kiddos, and one precocious pooch. I love adventures and exploring the wild wilderness of Florida. If I could, I would live on a farm with an Adoration Chapel barn on the beach. We would have a pack of adorable fluffy dogs, a Scottish Highlander cow, and a donkey. I would spend my days in the ocean and my evenings by a campfire with family and friends eating tons of candy while singing and playing guitar/ukulele. Above all, I cherish my Catholic faith, my family, and my friends. In the end, I hope to make the world a better place by shining the light of Christ’s love wherever I go.