I graduated from law school in 1997 and initially practiced family law. After six months, I realized my desire to help families could not be accomplished as an attorney. I was discouraged and questioned my career path.

I continued to search for human connection in my career, so I shifted my professional goals to litigation and have been a practicing trial attorney for almost 25 years. Human behavior fascinates me, and juries provide the ultimate study of human behavior.

When my two children reached their middle school and high school years, I felt it was time to return to school to pursue my calling. To take this risk on a new career, more in alignment with my passion, I had to offer myself grace and compassion. 

I graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling on December 13, 2019.

Soon after graduation, life presented new challenges with a shocking breast cancer diagnosis on December 26, 2019.  And, as challenges always do, this taught me so much more about grace and compassion for self and others. After that journey, I needed time away to recenter. For me, that always means a trip to the mountains. 

Growing up, we took many trips to the Rockies. The mountains have always been a special place to me. When I hike, I enjoy my surroundings, feel the earth supporting me, and breathe in the fresh mountain air.  On this trip, I did something different when I hired a guide for a hike. It was a random decision to do so. After all, I had hiked these mountains many times. 

But this time—Floyd, the guide, handled logistics and I…hiked. It was an entirely new, body and soul-enriching experience. By having a professional manage the details, I was able to focus my energy on the greater lessons of a challenging, sometimes extremely difficult, journey. Floyd helped me find skills to be a better hiker. The gifts of those five hours still teach me today. 

Grace Guides’ vision is to be like Floyd. Carry some hard stuff for you, share tangible skills and tips to ease the way, encourage, empathize, and hold space for whatever part of the journey you find yourself on. My life experience and formal education have created an expert and a willing guide. Let’s enjoy the journey together.