My father passed away when I was 3 years old. My 5 siblings and I were split and in and out of foster homes. My oldest sister Linda was the glue that kept us close. My two oldest sisters were out on their own at 16 and 18. The rest of us four were occasionally together at first. The two next girls emancipated out of the system. I was very fortunate to have a loving family take me in at about 15 years old. They were the ideal role models of a mom and dad. Both active in their church. He was a Deacon and she the Church pianist and Sunday school teacher. I first met her as my Sunday school teacher. They more than just wanted to provide a home for me. They actually fought the system to be my foster parents. I called them Mom and Dad and considered all their family my own.
However, there were trials not being born into this wonderful family. I longed to have my own family and married a year out of high school and started having children. Being in foster care I learned firsthand what children went through and wanted to someday make a difference. I began providing day care on a large scale having a 12 + 2 school aged Licensed family daycare. I had 3 state contracts and really wanted to make a difference with each and every child that passed my daycare. I had several as newborn through school age and still have contact with a couple.
During the beginning of raising my children I decided I wanted to go a step further and provide foster care. I wanted each child to feel loved and wanted. I had over 30 foster children come though my home. Every child was a different story from abandoned babies to mother baby placements - lots of pain and trials. It was always difficult letting them go, but I felt in some way I made a difference in their lives. I know they surely did mine.
I was blessed to adopt one of these foster children that will now forever call me mom and I my daughter. I found myself a single mom due to divorce after 22 years and 6 amazing children. Now as a single mom I have one of my amazing kids still at home and feel blessed to be raising a smart beautiful daughter in my 50's. Anyone that knows me well will confirm today that I brag a lot about my kids. I feel rightly so: my oldest a nurse practitioner married to an educated loving man that is good to my daughter; my oldest son a professional MMA fighter and father to my adorable grandson; my beautiful daughter who is a model and gymnastics coach; a warm-hearted son with his own business and also a youth worker married to an amazing woman that is a teacher; my youngest son nearing adulthood about ready to start his adult journey; and my youngest straight A gifted daughter.
What many people don't know about me is that around the year 2006 I was in a horrific accident due to an ice storm totaling my brand-new Suburban. From that point on I was in many more trials and surgeries. As a result, I was in a wheel chair and had severe TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). I was not expected to recover completely and had a full-time aid and nurses coming to my home. With God's grace, I beat the odds and slowly did recover.
In 2011, I moved to The Colony. About a year later I volunteered my service at a gymnastics center, Sky High, in exchange for my daughter's gymnastic classes. This was great therapy just walking on the mats and helped me first with balance and then strength. I remember falling daily. I owe much thanks to the owners Vanda and David Lewis for giving me this opportunity.
Being the entrepreneur that I am (several small businesses or money-making ventures), in 2016 I had the idea to start a new business venture. Being that I have always loved children my choice was fitting. Door 2 Door School Shuttle became an LLC and soon got its DBA as Door 2 Door Shuttle to grow and serve the community. So here we are today, thankful for those that have helped Door 2 Door Shuttle along the way. One to mention is my very good friend Ron Hodges. Second is my Chamber and the support they have given me.