The Legacy Journal Series

Because dogs and deep thoughts just go hand in paw.

I didn’t grow up with safety nets—I grew up in abuse, rejection, and a huge family where I was cast aside. And when you don’t know what love looks like, you pick the same in your partners. That was my cycle… until I finally broke the chain.

The truth is, I’ve never had family support—not then, not now. And maybe that’s why I fight so hard for the underdogs—people and pups—because I know exactly what it feels like to be disposable.

That’s why I poured myself into mission work, mentoring teens, leading Lifegroups in my home, and being a CASA worker for foster kids. It’s why I became a psych nurse, because I knew what it felt like to hurt in silence. And now, it’s why I’m building Legacy Paws Rescue—because no soul, human or dog, should ever feel like they don’t matter.

That’s why I’m so passionate about building a new family here at Legacy Paws Rescue—for every person and every pup who’s ever felt the same way.

These journals are part of that mission. They’re not just notebooks. They’re tools for healing. And every single one helps save senior and at-risk dogs while building a sanctuary where people and pups finally belong.

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How It All Started

It all started when my daughter was nine. She was hurting in a way I couldn’t reach with words, so I grabbed a notebook, wrote a question at the top of each page, and slid it to her. She wrote back. That little journal cracked the door open—and before long, my house became the safe place where every kid in town showed up. I was the “town mom,” the one they called at midnight when they didn’t know where else to turn. And when words failed, I handed them journals, too. Then their friends wanted one. Then their parents. Eventually, even strangers I met who somehow spilled their guts to me (because that just… happens).

Life carried on, but the journals never stopped. I’d work the night shift as a nurse so I could take my three kids to school, sleep, then pick them up again. And in between patients at work, I was scribbling down prompts and questions that I hoped would make someone’s heart feel a little lighter.

Around the same time, my Rottweiler, Kyra, was going through her own battles. She had her first hip replacement right after turning one, then another when she turned two. She couldn’t be crated, so I cleared a room and slept on the floor with her for months. We did doggy puzzles, I painted her nails, and yes—I owned Rottweiler socks. She watched DogTV; I researched everything I could about emotional growth and development. Those two paths merged into what became journals built around Erikson’s life stages—different prompts for different seasons of life. Because what you need at 13 isn’t what you need at 43.

And then came the moment that told me this wasn’t just a “mom thing” anymore. I had just moved to North Carolina to follow my son to NASCAR Tech—literally weeks before COVID hit—when one of “my kids” called. He needed another journal. He told me he had filled his last one instead of doing the unthinkable. That journal had saved his life.

I wrote a new one for him that night. It took me three hours straight—no pee breaks—to finish. And that’s when I knew these journals couldn’t stay in my desk or in my little circle anymore. They needed to be published. They needed to be in people’s hands when they need them most.

Because these aren’t just notebooks. They’re lifelines. And for every one that goes out, a little more healing—and a little more hope—comes back.

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Designed Through Grit (and Dog Hair)

While all this was unfolding, my Rottweiler, Kyra, was basically living a soap opera of orthopedic surgeries. She had her first hip replacement right after turning one, and celebrated her second birthday with—you guessed it—another new hip.

She couldn’t be crated, so I turned a whole room into her rehab suite. I hauled out all the furniture, moved myself onto the floor, and became her full-time roommate. We did doggy puzzles, I painted her nails, and yes—I even wore Rottweiler socks to show moral support. She watched DogTV like it was her personal Netflix. I watched her like she was my whole world.

Somewhere between the sleepless nights and endless vet bills, I was also diving into research on developmental psychology and emotional growth. That’s where the journals came to life—each one rooted in Erikson’s life stages, with prompts tailored to what people are actually going through at different ages.

Because what you need at 13 isn’t what you need at 43.
And sometimes, what you need at either age… is a dog in rottie socks snoring beside you.

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Why Buy One?

Because for years, I never sold these journals. I just kept them on hand—stacked at home, stuffed in my Jeep—ready to hand out to strangers, kids, or anyone who needed one in the moment. If someone was struggling, they got a journal. No questions asked.

It wasn’t until an amazing neighbor (who I’d given one to) looked me dead in the eye and said, “You’re being selfish not to sell these—you could help so many more people if they were available,” that it clicked. I had never thought about it that way. She was right.

So, for the very first time, I’ve put them up on the Legacy Paws Rescue website. And every single purchase goes straight to helping dogs like Kyra—the ones discarded, overlooked, or given up on.

And the journals? They’re not fluff. They’re funny, honest, evidence-based, and real. They’re here to help you process, reflect, and grow. And yes—they’ve already saved lives.

So grab one. Pick the journal that fits your life stage, grab a pen, and dig in. You’ll get a tool for healing—and you’ll help give a dog a second chance.

But hear me on this: if you need one and money’s tight, just tell me. I’ll send you one. Because healing should never come with a price tag.

The Legacy Journal Series
Because life doesn’t come with instructions—
but it can come with a really good notebook and a dog who thinks you’re perfect.