The journey at hand is that of a seeker.  
I do not claim to have “mastered” anything, never will, but I will say, the task of aiming to do so is joy, a journey, and worth sharing.  

After many years supporting military families by teaching resiliency and benefits to them and their commands, after mothering my children into adulthood, and loving a partner for over 30 years, I find myself here.  

I practice folk Christianity; embracing the mystical aspects of the Christian faith while incorporating ancient practices such as lunar, seasonal, and celestial rhythms, meditative prayer, and herbalism. I pray to the ancient understanding of the Triune God, work with saints, and follow the liturgical calendar.

I enjoy writing and often seek to understand scripture from the “underside.”  This means that I look for what is being missed or is rarely spoken/preached about.  Each day I seek to follow The Way and lean into my nature which is subversive, outspoken, radically loving, welcoming of all people, and not afraid to speak truth in hard and (sometimes) unyielding places.  *a note about speaking truth; sometimes hard truth is hearing you are loved and lovable again and again. For some, that truth is nearly impossible to hear.

In the hours of early morning I love most to write and craft (scrapbook, knit, spin, sew, paint); this a deeply connecting spiritual activity time for me.  
In the answering of this call to be a pastor, I did not choose the profession. It was chosen for me- I just accepted.  Why?  Because I wanted to do what I was created to do.  In accepting this, I have found surprise after surprise and joy upon joy.  I am happier than I have ever been by choosing to do what I am made with the gifts to do, not what I necessarily think I “want” to do or am “good at.”  

History

Born in California, I spent the next 50 years moving over 40 times and have lived many places,  I am genetically a mix of  Spanish-Italian and German-Norwegian people. My culture of youth was Mexican and Military and in my adulthood, I have learned about my Scandinavian culture. My family and faith of origin range from Baptist to Lutheran.    With remarried parents, I have 8 brothers and sisters and am married to a man who has 7 himself, which means, I do BIG family. Together,  my husband Lance and I raised 4 gorgeous human beings- all adults now.

A  long time advocate for those who do not have voice for a myriad of reasons, I have given over 20,000 hours of volunteer time to the US Army and their families.  I adore military families and teaching them how to be resilient.  Out of that flowed significant work on suicide pre/inter/post-vention, to include successfully lobbying Congress for tracking of suicides among military “dependents” (family members).

Service and Education

It has been my joy to pastorally serve the congregations of The Episcopal Church of the Saviour (Hanford, CA),  St James Lutheran (Hanford)* now closed, Hope Lutheran (Riverside, CA) *now Closed, Bethel Lutheran (Encino, CA), and Mt Olive Lutheran (Santa Monica, CA). Additionally, during seminary, I learned and was cared for by Our Saviour (Croton on Hudson, NY) and Shepherd of the Valley (West Hills, CA)

I am a graduate of Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas (Bachelor of General Studies in Organizational Leadership and Human Services) and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota (Master of Divinity). My certifications and identifiers include Red Cross Disaster Spiritual Care First Responder, Reconciling Works Pastor, along with numerous Family Programs certifications for the U.S. Army (to include Briefer/Trainer and Resiliency).

My current call is as a chaplain at Syracuse University, Hendrick’s Chapel. I am called by Lutheran Campus Ministries and serve to support both the students and the ministry at large through education, and funding and support from local congregations and the community.