The pause was part of the preparation
Sent To Serve. Called To Equip.
For me this isn't the normal founders story, it's my testimony. In 2003, I received a dream that would become the beginning of an assignment I would grow into over many years. In the dream, God-given messages moved from my mind onto products. Those products passed through an assembly line, reproducing the messages. I saw words becoming tangible tools that people carried into everyday life, creating opportunities to share the truth of God.
Over a decade later, that vision began to take public form.
In 2016, I created an Instagram account called Life Petals to share Christian encouragement. What began with written messages grew into an online ministry and Christian merchandise store. Through writing and design, I began giving expression to what I had seen in the dream.
In a few years things were beginning to gain traction, t-shirts and hoodies in production, influencers marketing products and customers making purchases, However, by the fall off 2020 going into 2021, curtain unthinkable things began to happen in my life. I experienced the end of a marriage, financial instability, the loss of material security, severe mental and emotional pain, spiritual battles, and ongoing health challenges I wasn’t ready for. And through it all, I still had the responsibility to care for and guide my children.
Bills were piling up, and I was cut off from most people. Friends turned their backs on me. While the divorce papers were still drying, in 2022 the Lord directed me to close everything. The instructions were clear:
"Quality over
Quantity."
At first, I understood those words as a correction concerning the business and its products. However in a short period of time I began to understand that the Lord was mainly addressing the quality of my foundation, my character, my stewardship, and my obedience to Him.
That preparation reached into deeply personal places. There were so many things I learned I had to release, areas where I needed correction, and wounds that needed healing, "o'ratchet (wo)men that I am..."
Making a choice to become a true disciple of Christ required a deeper surrender in the decisions I made, the relationships I maintained, and the desires I allowed to govern my life.
I learned to depend on God when familiar sources of security were gone.
After a lot of struggling and making many mistakes, God finally sent help in late 2021. No, not financial help, but spiritual help. He introduced me to a new friend who quickly became my mentor, pastor, and spiritual father. Through his guidance, teaching, covering, and patience (because I was a stubborn crybaby), God began using him to help me walk in my purpose and gain a deeper understanding of God, myself, and who I was created to be.
Through him, God has shown me how to swing my sword correctly, operate in spiritual gifts, and steward His talents and people, while walking with grace, mercy, humility, and obedience to God, even when I don’t feel like doing it. I can honestly say I am now more focused, strengthened, and anchored in Jesus than I have ever been in my 20+ years of ministry.
The pause became part of the preparation.
Those years also developed the practical skills I would need to relaunch. Limited resources forced me to learn website designThose years also developed the practical skills I would need to relaunch. Limited resources forced me to learn website design, graphic design, video editing, content development, merchandise management, and garment production. I spent many days and nights frustrated, starting over, and wanting to throw my laptop. I have lost count of how many t-shirts and designs I destroyed while learning these skills that I didn’t know God had placed within me. But the key lesson I have learned from these experiences is that the Holy Spirit knows how to do all things.
Obedience Came From The
Things I Suffered.
When it all begun, most people didn't know this couch was my bed, work station, counceling office, and prayer closet.
I spent years offering ministry support, coaching, product design, commercial heat pressing, and production at little or no cost, despite ongoing financial hardship.
Many couldn’t understand why I chose this path, and some thought I was being lazy, naive or God was punishing me. Unbeknownst to them, I was being obedient, as God had clearly told me not to pursue a typical 9-5 job and to sow into His kingdom. You can only imagine how hard that was. Sometimes my pride clashed with God's instructions, but I did it anyway.
At times, I traded my talents and labor for access to training, certification courses, conferences, and other opportunities I otherwise couldn’t afford. This is honestly how I paid for my life-coaching certification training.
Serving through my suffering helped shape how I serve, understand humility, and practice stewardship today.
Formed in the storm, faithful in the calling.
I learned humility and leading through suffering. I learned to serve God’s Kingdom even when my life resembled a battered ship caught in a violent storm. I learned to help others with broken hearts, even as my own was falling apart, without bleeding on them. I learned to provide healing and provisions to others while I was in need of it. I learned how to build, create, and minister through the Holy Spirit's guidance and power, even as I was in need of assistance.
I pressed deeper into God will I was being mocked, betrayed, belittled, taken advantage of, overlooked, lied on, misunderstood, underestimated, and undervalued. I’ve gone through many tears, angry prayers, repentance, and forgiveness.
Yet through all of it, I’ve learned two major things:
- You can learn about your own flaws through the shortcomings you experience in others.
- It is during storms God sends us forward. He molds His children in storms rather than in times of peace.
The journey has been tough, and it's not over. Yet I can honestly say I feel more equipped to press forward.
Just to reach this point, this purpose, this new beginning, I had to humble myself to God's crushing to be rebuilt into God’s will.
I won't pretend that my life is now just full of rainbows and sunshine, and that every day I'm skipping through meadows. Suffering for the gospel's sake, being trained and being disciplined are part of being a disciple of Christ in fullness of faith.
I still have much to learn, more consecration to give, and work to do to reach where God is leading me in life and business. The truth is, we never come to a point where His discipleship ends while we are here on earth, but daily we strive to become better vessels for the Master's use. So where I am in 2025 and God has released me to start this part of my servitude.
Project 418 Co was created to equip you for your calling in your daily life. This business is not another brand but a ministry I have been honored to steward and share with you.
“It’s not enough for me to encourage you. I want to equip you to live in the freedom that is found in Jesus and go forward in your God-given calling.”
I Am Because Of God's Grace
- Prophetess & Co-Pastor
- Revivalist & Teacher
- Mentor & Spiritual Counselor
- Writer & Poet
- Creative Designer
- Certified Transformational Life Coach
- Military Vet
I enjoy my coffee or tea with worship music, and prayer in the morning. Good food, peace in my life, my children & grandchild, watching farmstead reels, and life more abundantly in Jesus Christ.