Happy: Joseph's Journey

08/17/2026

08/17/2026

1st day of school for my gentle giant! And Porsche Vaughn Don’t ever let me get my hair down when it’s scalding hot outside! Back to the bun/ponytail we go!

08/14/2026

TON’S TIDBITS | College Edition: Access Is Earned
When it comes to Jojo, the order has always been pretty simple:
God first. Safety second. Everything else gets figured out from there.
More than anything, I want Joseph to have his own relationship with God—to know where his help comes from, to seek Him for himself, and to understand that Momma won’t always have every answer.
But while I’m here, one of my greatest assignments is to protect and provide for my Jojo. And I take that assignment VERY seriously.
Part of safety is making sure home is HOME.
His safe place.
His exhale.
The place where he never has to wonder whether he is protected.
That’s why access means so much to me.
Outside of family, there are very few people I trust enough to have access to my home. So if you have ever crossed that threshold, please understand—you weren't just invited inside. You were trusted.
And when that kind of trust is violated, under whatever circumstances, something in me changes.
I may forgive.
I may still love you.
I may even wish you well.
But that door that was once wide open?
Baby, it closes down to a PINHOLE. 😂
That's something I'm learning in this season: forgiveness does not require restored access.
Everybody doesn't get a key to every part of your life simply because you don't hold a grudge against them.
And now that we've entered the College Edition of Joseph's Journey, the priorities haven't changed. If anything, they've become even clearer.
I want him growing in God.
I want him learning independence.
I want him experiencing college life.
I want him building relationships and making his own decisions.
But underneath ALL of that, I still need to know my Jojo is SAFE.
So yes, Momma is learning when to loosen the reins.
Momma is praying.
Momma is trusting God.
Momma is respecting the grown young man Joseph is becoming.
But please…
Don't confuse my growth with me not paying attention. 👀
My job is to protect and provide for my Jojo, and I'm going to do JUST THAT.
Because Boomquisha has retired. She's somewhere enjoying her peace, drinking something cold and minding her business.
Please don't submit the paperwork to reactivate her.
She's enjoying retirement. 😂😂😂

07/03/2026

Interested in learning more? Check this out!

06/01/2026

Whether he takes advantage of the opportunity or not, it is a blessing to know he has choices. When you think back on the naysayers, think of these photos:

05/30/2026

We're in here!

05/21/2026

We’re honored to share that Happy: Joseph's Journey has received a generous grant from the Nashville Predators Foundation to further our work in Autism Advocacy! 💙

This support helps us continue our mission to ensure individuals with autism are seen, valued, and supported in education, the career field, and throughout the community.

At Happy: Joseph’s Journey, we remain committed to our motto: Educate. Empower. Enrich. Celebrate.

Thank you to the Preds Foundation for believing in our vision and helping us create more inclusive opportunities for individuals with autism and their families!

Special thanks to La Tanya Batts Davis for supporting us once again on this journey.

05/06/2026

Thanks to the !

04/12/2026

2020. The world was quiet. I became a homeschool teacher. Regardless of what the media portrayed, this was probably one of the best and most interactive years of his education. His 7th grade dream team of teachers was not playing any games. Rigorous instruction, fun based activities paired with high expectations made this learning year probably one of his most productive. I will always appreciate his 7th grade teachers for what I was able to witness each and everyday with my own eyes. Thank you for setting a standard that challenged us to step it up so we could enjoy the end results. For working with me to create all the accommodations and modifications needed for him to be successful, it surely paid off.
To my twin, I am beyond proud of how far you have come!

04/12/2026

I love the way he loves the simple things in life.