Southern Girl From Math Teacher to Entrepreneur Artist

I grew up in a very loving Christian home located in a small town called Moreauville in the central part of Louisiana. With the loving support of my mom and dad, my older brother and sister and I had a wonderful childhood. We were not raised with much. We ate dinner at the table every night together and were at Sunday mass every week. We raised pigs and chickens, grew a garden, and hunted most of our own food. I spent hours of my days just playing outside and making mud pies!

I attended a Catholic school K-8 and when I was in high school, I remembered volunteering for every committee, joining every group and team, and always staying busy with various outdoor activities, including hunting and fishing almost daily. I was considered a “tomboy” as they called it back then and I was my dad’s “sidekick”.

I’ve always loved teaching and helping people develop a new skill. Ever since I was 5 years old, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. My dolls were my first students, and after 23 years of teaching high school math in the Louisiana public school system, life continued to unfold. 

At the age of 27, I lost my father to suicide. It was a very pivotal moment in my life that brought on a wave of anxiety and depression. As life continued to unfold, a divorce happened and an early retirement followed by a second marriage and a move across the state. 

This is when I started Gin’s Den.  After spending years suffering with anxiety and depression, I finally decided to make some changes in my life.  That’s when I took up painting and discovered an amazing therapeutic approach to help me and to help others. I am a self-taught artist with over 9 years of experience in painting and over 30 years of professional teaching experience, master’s in educational technology, and a love for everything outdoors and country.

Painting is very relaxing and fulfilling to me, and creating a special unique piece became a passion of mine. That’s when I knew I had to share this skill and teach others how to make painting a part of their life.

My passion is and always has been to help people.  I find joy and feel my heart smile when I am teaching and seeing how people react to learning and finding confidence in something that they have learned and they can accomplish on their own.

In 2019, Michael and I went through a very difficult time in our lives. We took on the responsibility of becoming caregivers to our parents who were still living and within 18 months, we found ourselves parentless. Michael lost his mom and dad within 10 months of each other and 6 months later, my mom passed after a battle with cancer. We were completely lost. So, after becoming parentless and empty nesters all at the same time, with my oldest son overseas in Iraq, we were completely lost. We felt the need to have a grand adventure, or as some people call it, a healing time. We took a 3 year adventure to Montana and experienced mountain living at its best. We lived on the top of a mountain with views of The Great Divide and watched deer and elk from our cabin windows. We believe in living the dream and taking advantage of every opportunity that God gives us.

We are now currently back in Louisiana. We are now both 54 years old.  I am a mother of 2 sons, ages 27 and 30, a step-son, age 27. Our family is growing! We also have a daughter-in-law, Kelsey, our first grand-baby made it into this world in January, 2025,and another daughter-in-law was added December 2024!   I am also a wife to my best friend, Michael.  Michael is a 22 year combat veteran who recently retired from the Army and now works the Veterans Crisis Hotline (Dial 988 – 1). He is a Licensed Certified Mental Health Counselor who counsels veterans like himself.

I have always been connected to self help and striving to become a better person spiritually, mentally, and physically.  I have a strong passion for keeping God as my forefront in guiding me through life. 

When I’m not working on Gin’s Den Art, my husband and I love to worship God and we love the outdoors…traveling, skiing, mountains, hiking, nature, yoga, barbecuing, and camping.

My husband and I are very passionate about helping prevent suicide as if hits home for us both. My father took his own life at 54 and Michael has lost many of his army brothers to suicide. 10% of all profits are donated to Suicide Prevention Charities.

• Bachelor’s Degree – Secondary Mathematics Education – LSU (Louisiana State University), 1993
• Bachelor’s Degree – Kinesiology – LSU (Louisiana State University), 1993
• Master’s of Educational Technology Leadership – SLU (Southeastern Louisiana University), 2011
• National Board Certified Teacher, 2006-retirement (nbpts.org)
• Instructional Coach/Curriculum Specialist, 2006-2008
• Teacher Leaders of America Award, 2015
• Teacher of the Year Award, 2006, St. Amant High School

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