Whispers of Appalachia

Misty Williams

We all think of ourselves as more than one thing I suppose. I am first and foremost, a child of God, and I strive to be a Christ imitator; to live and do in a way that will be pleasing to my God. I am wife, mother, step-mom (although in general we say we're not steps in our family), nana; I am a daughter, a sister.

I’ve never finished a college degree, although when I’ve studied at various colleges I’ve done very well and advanced very well. I’m a “survivor” of domestic abuse, although I feel like that’s a little label-y; I might prefer to say I “got through it.” I’ve sustained some pretty rotten physical damage. I’ve had multiple traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that have left me struggling with cognitive functioning and been a little on the crippling side. I’ve had some other injuries that have left me kind of crippled physically, but I’ve gotten back up and I’m walking again, although much more slowly than I’d like.

I have been so many things as far as job titles go. I’ve been a nursing assistant, a retail employee, a construction worker, a warehouse laborer, an over-the-road truck driver, a bail-bondsman, a bounty hunter, a supervisor, a manager, and my most recent and favorite job of all, I’ve been an apprentice midwife. I loved being a midwife and if I can get my strength fully back, I will go return to it and complete my training so that I can again be a midwife. I found nothing in my work-life so satisfying or rewarding as studying for, being with, caring for, and attending women as they progress through pregnancy, labor for delivery of their babies, and through the postpartum periods of their lives.

I think the most important part of my life has been raising children. I won’t say I was always a great mother, but I put my heart and soul into it and when I realized I was messing it up, I’ve worked to change it. I’m married now the third time, so you know I wasn’t always a great wife either. It takes two to tango so the saying goes, and I’m not perfect. I put my heart and soul into my family, and I do my very best to answer my first calling with all that is within me: Caring for my family and the many other children God has put in my path to love; to meet them where they are and hopefully be a living example of Christ for them.

I have written stories my entire life. Ever since I could hold a crayon I’ve wanted to express myself with words on a page. I write now because I feel like it’s the only way for me personally to witness for God. Some people can preach, others proselytize, others serve in other ways. I will tell you unabashedly, I’m a lousy Sunday school teacher for little kids. Middle school and up for me. But my physical limitations mean I miss weekly church services sometimes. So, I write; I use fiction as a vehicle to say things I think need to be said; I use romance as a vehicle to create worlds and stories where what I what I need to say can be said in a way people might read it. I hope that as people read what I write they will hear that still small voice that is the Holy Spirit, feel him tapping on their shoulder if what I’ve written is something they need to hear or learn from or just be encouraged by.