Hey family,

Wherever you are right now, I just want you to take a deep breath and know this, You’re exactly where you’re meant to be. Even if life feels heavy, you’re not walking through it alone.

See, I’ve learned through my own journey that obstacles aren’t here to stop us. They’re here to teach us. They’re opportunities wrapped in disguise, even when they show up in the middle of what should’ve been our happiest moments.

I’ll never forget my son’s NFL draft night. We should’ve been celebrating one of the biggest milestones of his career, but instead, our family home caught fire that very same night. Joy and heartbreak collided in a way I’ll never forget. At that moment, I could have crumbled. But with time and perspective, I realized the fire didn’t come to break us, It came to remind us of what really matters: faith, family, and resilience. Out of those ashes, we built something stronger. That painful moment became part of our greater testimony.

And that’s the thing about obstacles, They’re not rejections, they’re redirections. They’re not dead-ends, but lessons. What feels like resistance is often preparation for something greater.

So when life gets tough, here’s what I remind myself (and maybe this will serve you too):

• Pause and breathe, don’t rush through the pain, let the lesson reveal itself.

• Ask: “What is this moment teaching me?”

• Reconnect to your why, your family, your faith, your purpose.

• Take one small step, movement, no matter how small, is still progress.

• Lean on your people, you were never meant to carry life’s weight alone.

If you’re walking through something hard right now, hear me clearly: you are not stuck, you are unfolding. That wall you see in front of you? It may actually be the doorway to your next breakthrough.

So rest if you need to, but don’t quit. Gather your strength. Hold on to your faith. Because you were built to rise, even when life tries to hold you down.

And if this spoke to your heart, share it with someone else who might need the reminder. And don’t forget to join me on Inside the Shield with Pro Football Moms, where we talk about real life, real struggles, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward.

Because here’s the truth: obstacles aren’t here to define your limits, they’re here to reveal your strength. 💜