08/10/2026
15 Years Later: I Didn’t Give Up. I Gave In.
As the Women Veterans Interactive Foundation approaches our official 15th anniversary this Veterans Day, I’ve found myself reflecting—not just on the last 15 years, but especially on the last 90 days.
And I realized something.
I didn’t give up. I gave in.
I gave in to my true calling.
I gave in to God’s will.
I gave in to the understanding that sometimes strength isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about trusting deeper.
And in the process, I have become closer to God than ever before.
The last few years have tested me in ways I could have never imagined.
I lost my mother to leukemia in 2023.
I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 2024.
And in 2026, I lost my oldest brother.
Mentally and physically, there were moments when I was simply done.
But God carried me.
And as I leaned further into Him and His will for my life, I gained a clarity that I desperately needed. Part of that calling remains the work I committed myself to 15 years ago: standing fast, ten toes down, for women who have served and sacrificed for this country.
And make no mistake—it has been an uphill battle.
For 15 years, we have fought for women veterans to be seen, heard, supported, connected, and valued. We kept showing up when the resources weren’t there. We kept building when people questioned the need. We kept serving when the road got hard.
We stayed consistent.
And there is something incredibly special about reaching the 15-year mark.
Longevity brings clarity.
After more than a decade of doing the work, people can see that WVI wasn’t created for a moment. This is a mission. This is a commitment. And we are still here.
As we approach this milestone, my heart is filled with gratitude.
To every WVI member who has trusted us with your journey.
To every partner, donor, and sponsor who has invested in our mission.
To every woman veteran who has attended WVI NatCon, joined us at the Pink & White Empowerment Summit, the Pink & White Affair, reached out for help through Operation Safety Net, participated in our first Beyond the Transition cohort, supported and joined the Women Veterans Entrepreneurship Collective (WVEC), or found a community and a place to belong through WVI—THANK YOU.
To every board member who has served—past and present—and those who have yet to join us on this journey, thank you for helping steward this mission.
And to every person who believed in WVI when all we had was a vision, thank you.
Fifteen years later, I understand my assignment more clearly than ever.
I am still here.
WVI is still here.
And by the grace of God, we are not finished.
As we move toward Veterans Day and 15 years of Women Veterans Interactive Foundation, I am entering this next chapter differently—grounded in faith, clear in purpose, grateful for the journey, and more committed than ever to the women we serve.
15 years. Ten toes down. Faith forward.
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