If you had asked me years ago where I thought life would take me, I don't think I would have guessed I'd end up here.

Long before Scout, Bean, and Coco-Ollie became our three little geese, they were already pieces of who I was. Curious and exploring like Scout. Hands-on and always creating something like Bean. Empathetic, imaginative, and drawn to people like Coco-Ollie.

For a long time, I wondered how all of those parts of me fit together. There were more hills, valleys, and unexpected turns than I ever imagined. Looking back now, I can only see God's faithful hand through every step that shaped me and gently led me here.

Somewhere along the way, my own journey taught me something.

It taught me that people don't all grow the same way. Some need a little more time. Some ask a hundred questions. Some find their confidence quickly, while others discover it little by little. Maybe that's why I love being around children so much. They're still becoming who they are, and it's a joy to witness even a small part of that.

I'm grateful that my path allows me to walk alongside them in theirs.

Whether it's helping a child smile without pain, teaching healthy habits that will stay with them for years, celebrating a small victory, or simply helping them feel safe enough to come back, those moments matter to me. I hope every child who sits in my chair knows they're never expected to be brave, perfect, or rushed. They can simply be themselves, and we'll meet them where they are.

Years from now, I probably won't remember every little tooth I treated, but I hope I'll remember the children who laughed, found their courage, and grew a little more each time I saw them.

If, somewhere along the way, I can help a child smile a little brighter, feel a little braver, or simply know they were deeply cared for, then I'll be grateful to have been a small part of their growing story.