About me

Hi, I’m Kelly. Single mama to my radiant daughter, Lily, and identical twin toddlers, Oak and Ash (nicknames I use here to keep their little worlds private). I’m a kidney cancer survivor, wellness advocate, and the heart behind Ashes & Wildflowers. This is a space rooted in resilience, real life, and the beauty that somehow blooms after everything falls apart.

I hold a master’s degree in counseling, which shapes the way I write about emotional literacy, healing, and motherhood. I believe in early, open conversations with kids, in creating safe spaces for big feelings, and in finding gentle ways to live with intention, even when life feels anything but gentle. Protecting their privacy is one of my deepest values. I use AI‑generated images of kids so their identities remain protected. Their stories appear here with tenderness and boundaries, always with consent in mind, even before they’re old enough to give it.

This website is also a legacy for my children. They’re far too little to understand any of this now, but one day I hope these words give them a window into who I was while I was raising them. The things I was learning, surviving, questioning, and celebrating in real time. I want them to see the woman behind “Mommy,” the one who was growing right alongside them.

I’ve always been drawn to practices that bring me back to myself. I first fell in love with yoga in college. The movement, the balance, the quiet strength of it. It was exercise without the pressure, grounding without the noise. Meditation followed later, becoming a way to steady myself through survivorship, single motherhood, and the unpredictable rhythms of raising three little humans.

I’m also a lover of stories. I read them to remember that every life holds layers, and that truth told tenderly can change us. I take millions of photographs for the same reason: to capture the quiet magic of my children, our cat, and the fleeting moments that make up a life. And yes, I really do love flowers. Wildflowers especially. They remind me that beauty often grows in unexpected places, and that resilience doesn’t always look loud.

A few other tidbits about me…

  • I’m a morning person, but only because coffee is involved

  • I love to sing in the car, until Lily says, “Mommy, stop”

  • I’m always chasing quiet beauty: wildflowers, golden hour light, and the way my kids snuggle with Mama when they’re sleepy

  • I’m passionate about non-toxic living and evidence-based wellness

  • I keep a journal of Lily’s quotes, because preschoolers are tiny philosophers with great comedic timing

  • I believe resilience isn’t just surviving. It’s choosing to rise again and again

If you’re here because you’re healing, parenting, surviving something hard, or simply trying to live more intentionally, I’m so glad you found this space. I hope it feels like a soft landing. Your story is welcome, your feelings make sense, and your resilience is honored.

I hope you find a little light here.