About Me
Are you looking for a companion on your journey?
Rooted in a close-knit immigrant community in Southern Ontario, my life has been shaped by faith, study, travel, and seasons of both joy and loss. From my Christian Reformed upbringing to a deepening relationship with the Holy Spirit, I have learned to hold heritage and transformation together. Along the way, I discovered a love for listening to others’ stories of seeking or encountering the Divine — a calling that led me into the sacred work of spiritual direction, where I offer space to notice, welcome, and trust the Spirit’s presence.
My work in spiritual direction grows from my love of hearing people’s stories and honoring the ways the Divine meets us in every season.
My Personal Story
I grew up in Southern Ontario (Canada) in a close community of people who emigrated from the Netherlands after the Second World War. My large family worked an egg farm and was deeply invested in our church and Christian schools. From those roots, I ventured to university in Michigan (USA), France, and Nova Scotia (Canada), majoring in math and French. My work life was mostly in optometric and general office settings. I have been a "maker" throughout my life, generally working with fabric, yarn, and paper. I have been married for more than 20 years. Along the way, I've experienced a divorce, the deaths of close family members, cancer diagnosis and treatment, and coming out as queer.
My Faith Story
I came to faith in the Christian Reformed tradition, with strong roots in Biblical studies and close community ties. I learned from my parents how to serve in a wide range of roles, from delivering meals to leading on church boards. I made my Profession of Faith when I was 18 and committed myself to Jesus. I had (and have) a lot to learn, and the Divine has been faithful to me. In middle age, I was surprised by a new experience and understanding of the Holy Spirit and have been growing in that relationship and experiencing the Divine's transforming grace in new ways ever since.
My Spiritual Direction Story
After this transforming experience of the Holy Spirit, I started meeting with a spiritual director regularly. As I continued to meet with them, I realized that this was work that I was interested in doing. At the same time, I was practicing the skill and art of listening in spiritual friendships and learning how much I love to hear people's stories of seeking or encountering the Divine. My interest was confirmed by those who knew me so I entered a program of spiritual direction training.
The Divine’s love is spacious, patient, and for everyone — drawing each of us into a relationship of grace, welcome, and belonging.
My Approach to Spiritual Direction
My work as a spiritual director is rooted in the conviction that the Divine's love is spacious, patient, and for everyone. This conviction takes shape in at least three ways: creating space for the Divine's invitation, extending welcome without exception to people of every identity and conviction, and ensuring that no one is turned away because of financial barriers. Together, these commitments reflect my desire to embody the hospitality of Christ — in word, in practice, and in the structures that make spiritual care possible.
Invitation and Space
I believe the Holy Trinity invites us into new opportunities, new ways of being, and new understanding. The Holy One is Love and does not coerce or force. Jesus does not conscript us, but calls us to follow him. Holy Spirit will empower and equip us for transformation but not manipulate. Understanding the Divine's work in your life as invitation allows you to live in the freedom you have in Christ and to explore possibilities without pressure to always have answers. In sessions with directees, I hold space for this exploration. I only lightly manage the conversation, believing that God speaks to you directly. The sessions give the time and opportunity to learn how to hear and to discern what is heard and what it means. Whether you need a respite from your active life, space to learn new practices, or a companion for what you're already doing, I will hold space for exactly that. We will see where it leads together. The Divine One who invites us into freedom also welcomes us without condition. That same spaciousness we experience in spiritual direction extends to every person, across every identity and conviction.
The Holy Trinity’s welcome is the starting point, not the reward.
Welcome without Exception
I believe the welcome of God is not conditional, partial, or reserved for a select few. In Christ, there are no gates to pass through, no tests to prove worthiness, no identities or convictions that disqualify. The Holy One’s embrace is wide enough to hold every story, every body, every journey — including those whose faith or worldview is more traditional, and those whose path has led them far from it. This is not a radical departure from the gospel — it is the gospel. Jesus has set his table, and there is a seat for you. In spiritual direction, this means you are received exactly as you are, without the need to edit your truth or hide parts of yourself. Your questions, your doubts, your joys, your grief, and your anger are all welcome as seasons and signposts of your journey. I trust that the Spirit speaks in the language of your own life, and that nothing about who you are — or how you see the world — places you outside the reach of that voice. Here, welcome is not an exception to the rule — it is the rule.
For centuries, spiritual direction was a ministry of priests, nuns, and pastors whose needs were met by the church community. No one thought about paying for it; it was simply part of the care the church gave. Today, many of us offer spiritual direction outside those structures. It’s become a vocation we train for, tend to, and sustain on our own — which means it also needs to help pay the bills. I can’t offer it entirely for free, but I also don’t want cost to be the reason someone misses out on the companionship they’re seeking. That’s why I use a pay‑what‑you‑can approach. I’ll share a suggested range, but if that’s out of reach, you’re welcome to name an amount that works for you. This is one small way I practice reparation for those who’ve been denied the advantages of generational wealth — and a way of trusting that the Holy Trinity will provide what I need. If you have the means and wish to help by subsidizing sessions for those unable to pay a living wage, you are welcome to contribute through PayPal Me (requires a PayPal account) or Buy Me a Coffee. Contributions are not tax-deductible, but they are deeply appreciated.
Whether you come with certainty or questions, joy or grief, abundance or need, you are already held in the embrace of the Holy Trinity. If something here stirs your curiosity or awakens a longing, I invite you to reach out. We can listen together for the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life, trusting that the path will unfold as we walk it side by side.
May you find rest for your soul, courage for your journey, and companions for the road.
Formed, and Still Forming
I was raised in Canada and have lived in the United States for most of my adult life. My worldview is deeply shaped by these cultures and by Western thought — especially the value placed on rationality, reason, and individualism. I seek to balance these influences with an openness to the wisdom that comes through our bodies, our emotions, and our connection with one another. In Canada, I benefitted from multicultural ideals, yet grew up in a predominantly white community. I carry internalized racist and colonialist attitudes, and I remain committed to the ongoing work of unlearning them. Being a woman has not shielded me from absorbing patriarchal and misogynistic messages from both the wider culture and my religious tradition. I strive to recognize these patterns, understand their impact, and speak out against them. Likewise, being queer has not exempted me from internalizing homophobia. I am encouraged by the openness and courage I see in younger generations, and I have much to learn from their example.
Qualifications and Professional Associations
Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction
In 2024, I completed two years of study in spiritual direction at the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Besides study and training in spiritual direction, the program included courses in human development and spiritual formation, theology, ethics, and biblical studies.
Retreat Leader
I led small groups in spiritual practices for a number of years before starting to facilitate staff retreats and prayer retreats.
Accountability
For personal accountability, I meet with my own spiritual director monthly and go on retreat periodically. I also am part of a church community.
For professional accountability, I meet with a spiritual supervisor who is specifically trained to oversee spiritual directors. I am a member of the Michiana Spiritual Directors Network, the mid-Michigan Spiritual Directors Network, and Spiritual Directors International. I abide by the SDI's Guidelines for Ethical Conduct.