Our Story

If you’ve been following my journey for a while, you already know this story has had many chapters.

You were there for Boston, the mermaid years, Thailand, acting, Karuna, heartbreak, healing, and the long journey of learning to trust life again. And now, somehow, we’ve arrived at the most beautiful chapter of all: building a family.

Five years ago, I purchased this little piece of land in Hummingbird Valley at Lake Atitlán in Guatemala with nothing more than a vision. Since then, every path, every garden, every stone, and every wall has been built through years of patience, determination, and the hands of our incredible local team. Together we’ve created a home—a place rooted in nature, creativity, and community.

When I built our cob home, I was building for one person. I imagined there would be plenty of time before life changed.

But life had other plans. Then arrived the man of my dreams: Michael Tulsea.

This October, we’ll welcome our daughter, Theya.

As we’ve prepared for her arrival, we’ve realized that our little home simply isn’t designed for life with a newborn.

The bedroom is also the kitchen, making it difficult to create the quiet rhythms that babies—and new parents—need.

While we dream of one day building our larger family home, that project is still years away.

So instead, we’re building something much simpler.

A tiny wooden cabin beside our home.

A peaceful place where one parent can rest with Theya while the other cooks, works, or cleans. A place with enough room for a king-size bed so we can sleep together as a family. A place designed for the season we’re entering right now.

The timing is what makes this project so important.

We hope to complete it before mid-September so we have time to settle in before Theya arrives. That means the next few months are our window to order materials, build the cabin, install electricity, and furnish it with the basics.

This is the first personal fundraiser I’ve ever created. Over the years I’ve helped raise money for animal rescues, children’s projects, and causes close to my heart, but asking for support for my own family feels vulnerable. At the same time, I know so many of you have followed this journey for years and have often asked how you could help.

If Hummingbird Valley has ever inspired you, if you’ve dreamed of visiting one day, or if you’ve simply enjoyed following this adventure, we’d be honored to invite you into this next chapter.

Your contribution helps purchase the lumber, electrical installation, mattress, and simple furnishings that will transform this little cabin into Theya’s first home. Pregnancy has naturally slowed my ability to work in the ways I normally do, so your support during this season gives us something even more valuable than materials—it gives us the gift of time, presence, and peace as we prepare to welcome our daughter.

We never wanted this to feel like asking for something for nothing. Every donation comes with a heartfelt thank-you, including my new Visit Hummingbird Valley Guide, along with opportunities to join us for a live community Zoom or, for our largest supporters, a private conversation with me and Tulsea.

Thank you for believing in our family, our vision, and the life we’re building here. We’re so grateful to have you walking this path with us.