Years ago in my twenties, I left my cushy life with $100 and a backpack. I got in a vehicle heading north with my then husband.

The trip had some loose plans. My friend was driving and had some family in Portland. He was recently diagnosed with bi polar and his family decided to go on with a trip they planned to Europe instead of supporting him through this really tough time. They instead gave him access to his $60k trust fund. He was a good friend, in mid crisis wanting to leave to the only family who knew would help him.

We left and made it to Portland within two days. Somewhere near San Fran we stopped at a fast food place. We saw a praying mantis on a bush outside and had to marvel at its beauty for a moment.

After ordering we sat down and an elderly women was sitting nearby, she got up to leave after finishing her meal and stopped at our booth. She told us she wanted us to know “God was with us on our journey”. It was quite the foreshadowing to the next 3 years I experienced in the Pacific Northwest.

Upon arriving in Portland, our Buddy and his girlfriend decided they needed to ditch us so they dropped us off in pioneers square after one night of sleeping in the car. We were homeless on and off for 3 years. I struggled with day to day life for a while but finally was learning to embrace the unpredictability each day brought.

I prayed often and tested my faith with each struggle I endured. My husband was a type 1 diabetic so there were times I would go without food so that he may survive. Through all the struggles we found some really amazing friends.

I found some glass beads and string and I was able to make bracelets. I would give them out to strangers and friends alike. One night we were upstairs at my friend Salome’s kitchen. She lived upstairs from an apothecary on hawthrone blvd. We were sitting together waiting for more friends to arrive when this poem popped onto my head:

Angels are calling your name,

Beyond fortune, glory or fame…

Whispers in the dark have potential to turn spark into flame… If you are brave enough to have fire to tame.

I wrote it down immediately, then friends started to trickle in. I looked around the room when everyone was there and saw they were all wearing bracelets I made. I knew I was in the right place at the right time :)

I knew God was with me and put me right here in this moment.