About Kimmy, My Testimony

(The Short Version)

My journey with art starts at a very young age. My mom likes to tell the story of when I was asking her where my “Hanes” brand socks were— but I didn’t know how to pronounce “Hanes” — so she couldn’t figure out what I was talking about. Finally out of desperation, she said “draw it!” and handed me a piece of paper and a pencil. I drew a pair of socks, the ones I was asking her for, and then it all made sense. My dad also likes to say that whenever I would get really mad at something, I would swing open the cupboard door that had all the paper and pencils in it, grab a sheet, sit down at the table and start scribbling away.

Drawing has always been my way to communicate my thoughts and express my emotions. I had a knack for it and I really enjoyed doing it. I would often draw the Pokemon on my playing cards I had collected, and other characters from shows I watched. Ultimately though, it was a way to express what was going on in my head. I was an introverted kid growing up, so it made sense why my notebooks were always filled with doodles of imaginary lands and creatures with unique names.

Fast forward to about 2019, I had picked up my sketchbook again. I was drawing daily and actually started a screen printed clothing brand featuring many of my designs. 2019 was a particularly hard year in my life, and I turned to drawing to cope. Just like how I did when I was a child. It was a way to let out my emotions and deal with what I was going through. Little did I know, it was just the beginning. I turned my drawing into a freelance business, but I was still in a really rough place mentally that just continued to get worse, especially as I continued abusing substances. I hit an all time low at the end of 2023. I was doing great with my business, yet I still felt SO empty. I didn’t know why I was so unhappy, I just wanted it all to be over. Then, I was introduced to Jesus Christ.

I was never the “religious” type. I was particularly opposed to it. I didn’t understand Christianity, or Christians. I thought they were all hypocritical. I thought it was a cop out. don’t have sex before marriage, don’t get drunk, don’t do this, don’t do that? Why? nothing made sense to me at all, so I wrote it off. Those of you that knew me growing up knew that I would have been one of the last people to claim Jesus as my Lord and savior. I was very far away from the faith, I never spent time in church, never read the bible.

Around Christmas time 2023, I was feeling especially beat down by life. Blinded. This is supposed to be a joyful time of year, yet everyday was a battle to just wake up. how many more days must this go on? Why am I even here, it’s so hard and painful to live. I consumed substances and worked so much so that I didn’t have to think about it. I thought, I have an awesome career and loving family, I should be grateful. Why am I so miserable?

I had the natural inclination to be a certain way, and the outward world was not in line with that. I felt like a pawn in someone else’s game. I also made the decision to get off birth control in an attempt to help remedy this, thinking that could be a culprit.. (one of the best decisions i ever made by the way.)

In my bedroom alone one night, i just cried out. i’m angry! what is the point of all of this? God, are you there??… I took a leap of faith…

I learned that, not only is He real, but He loves me. He loves me so much He sent His son, Jesus, to die for my sins, and Jesus - that night - left the flock of 99 to come save me. His lost sheep. He came and saved ME.
Luke 15:3-7

I started going to church, reading the bible, and praying daily. not even a year later, I’m sober. I’m waiting until marriage. I have a loving fiancé. I started working out and taking care of myself. I have more energy. I live the most joyful I have since I was a child. I LOVE more deeply. and I’m even learning greek now. I want to be a mom and a wife, a giver and a lover. I’m not perfect, but man, am I joyful and genuinely at peace. thank you Jesus, who came to save His lost sheep. He cleaned up my bruises and scars from my old way of life and made me new.

A big realization of mine was that I deeply desired to be a homemaker. I don’t want to give myself to a career. Although I love drawing and will always draw, I realized that there was nothing more fulfilling to me than the opportunity to be a wife, a mom, and truly present with my family. My life was always so chaotic, always on go-mode. Although sometimes it still is this way because I think that is part of today’s culture— I enjoy more than anything finding the time to slow down and do nothing. To just sit and be at peace. To be at home with my family instead of glued to my iPad or running the next event, chasing a name for myself. I realized I didn’t care about making a name for myself anymore, and that truly set me free. Now, I enjoy drawing as a way to share my thoughts (still!) and communicate my feelings about different topics (sound familiar?) in the realm of biblical and church history, Jesus Christ, homemaking, simple living, motherhood and family life.

I enjoy spending time with my loved ones, praying, baking, reading, learning, and drawing. God loves you so much. this is my testimony. (in short) there are paragraphs more I could type about this whole process, how it came to be, and how it got me here now. It was a long time in the making through all of my life experiences.

life is way too short to continue on living without God. please never hesitate to reach out to me with questions, conversation, or even debate. I love you, and Jesus loves YOU!

Blessings!