My number one fun thing to do, is read my bible. I became a Christian at 19 years old. It has literally been the best decision I have ever made in my life. 35 years later, and the Bible still gives me new perspective, renewed hope, inspiration and wisdom beyond my experiences.

My second fun thing that I do is cook for my family, guests and potluck functions. If I want to get real crazy I make something I’ve never made before. There’s just something about meal preparations that lifts my spirits when I’m down. Then when I sit back and watch everyone enjoy the meal, I prepared, ask me for the recipe or tell me to make sure that recipe is in the “holy grail, cookbook”. That is my personal cookbook with all of our favorite recipes.

My third is connected to my first two. Sharing my faith and food with my husband, kids and grandkids. I can’t have a bad moment when I have them all together, under one roof. Our, before meal, prayer that the kids sing, and their voices sound like an angelic choir, the giggles, laughter, board games and memories made, fill my heart with joy.

Fourth is writing. Writing/journaling saved my life. The freedom to verbally dump all that is weighing heavy on my heart or write an inspirational piece that someone else related to, makes me feel complete. I’m a bit of an introvert. Writing helps me reach out without actually being center of attention. I thank God every day for this gift of writing. It has been a life-long journey that I can’t imagine my life without it.

Lastly, the ocean. I could sit and listen to children splashing, laughing and jumping waves for hours. The smell of the salt water, the sound of a rushing wave is an out of body experience for me. I close my eyes and take it all in. The warmth of the sun on my skin, the feeling of warm sand between my toes, must be a glimpse of heaven, in my opinion. Just leave me there at sunrise, with a cooler of water, fresh cut fruit, my notebook and a comfy beach chair. Forget about me until the sunsets so that sky painted ever so delicately but simultaneously, absolutely brilliant, can lead me to a moonlit walk on the water. While that picture perfect day is forever imprinted in my mind.

These blessings on blessings, I do not deserve but I’m so glad that the good lord thought enough of me to lend them to me while I’m here. I cherish these beautiful things that are not things but a lifetime of experiences that fill every part of my being. These are the top five fun things for me.

My parents were not in agreement about my name. They did not agree on much. I suppose that’s why their marriage barely made it to my 4th birthday.

My mother filled out the paperwork in the hospital without my dad’s knowledge. She wanted to call me, ShellyAnne. My dad wanted to name me Kelliann. My mom insisted on having her way because she said, “It’s just name.” However my dad said, “It’s her identity, it will follow her all the days of her life.”

In spite of my mom going behind my dad’s back, he had the final say. My name was finalized as Kelliann (beautiful warrior) Jeanette (after my grandmother) Howard (my surname means peacemaker).

Now that I have some time behind me, I believe my dad knew I needed that identity to survive the life that I was handed. Due to losing him at such a young age, I didn’t have his hand of protection, his wisdom and guidance or his physical presence. My mom had mental illness and our relationship was rocky at best. Even at the abusive hand of her husband, she rejected me and chose him over me.

I’ve done more than survive my childhood. I found a way to thrive. It was natural for me to fight but equally desirable to me to have peace. It was later in life, after I got my childhood behind me, that I learned the meaning behind my name. However, after knowing the battle over the name I would carry, it made perfect sense to me. My name is Kelliann, pronounced: Kel LEE in. I’m proud of the name was given.

As a little girl, at 8 years of age, I sat in my closet to process the murder of my father. The news was beyond horrific for a child my age to understand nor even know how to recover emotionally from this incredible loss. I was a painfully shy child with no coping skills for trauma, loss or conflict. I hid in my closet to allow my grief to unfold. I was brokenhearted, with no where to dump my pain.

I fell asleep in my own tears. When I woke up, my hand had stumbled upon a pencil and my head on a spiral notebook. I pulled the light string to confirm what these items were. It was in that moment that my notebook became my best friend and confidant.

My journaling went from tear dripped pages to poetry, and expressive writing. Eventually, I joined my school newspaper and yearbook club. I continued to write my way out of or into every aspect of my life.

My dream job is to be a freelance writer for my faith, for others dreams that they cannot quite articulate themselves or scriptwriting for fictional stories or documentaries.

Writing saved my life. I want to write for the rest of my life so to captivate, inspire and teach others.