Purpose in the Detour

This morning, as I sit here on my bunk, my normal routine has changed drastically. But who I am has not. My mind is still sharp, and my heart still hurts.

​Instead of sitting on my porch, drinking coffee with my two buddies—my dogs, Rocky and River—watching the birds come and go from the feeder, I’m sitting here in a dorm with over 60 other women.

I won’t let this place, or my time here, break me like it has so many others behind these walls. I know my life will look different when I leave, and I’m okay with that. I’ve accepted it—and honestly, I’ve embraced the unknown.

I trust God and His divine plan and purpose for me.

However, I don’t believe He intervened in my life that night because I needed some kind of divine redirection. I may not have been perfectly walking the straight and narrow path to the pearly gates, but I also wasn’t speeding down the highway to hell.

I don’t believe He caused the accident or my cancer diagnosis. But I do believe He will use it for good.

I know, without a doubt, He redirected me toward something bigger—to reach and help others in a greater way than I had before.
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I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how I wanted to share my thoughts, experiences, and just plain survival since my accident on January 7, 2024.

Writing a book seemed like the easy answer. But I wanted something more
personal—something more immediate. So, in addition to putting my memoir on paper, I decided to create this blog to share my journey in real time.

Writing has always been a joy of mine. I’ve been doing it for years—much of it tucked away with the hope of being published one day. I may even share some of those pieces along the way, in hopes they might inspire someone else too.
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Many of you may or may not know the full scope of what has happened in my life over the past two years.

If you know me personally, you know the truth. But for those who’ve relied on internet reports or the good old-fashioned game of telephone… sorry, you do not pass go and collect $200.

About 99% of that information falls into the “fake news” category—thanks to Donald Trump for coining that phrase ;)

​Every time an internet troll, journalist, or gossip king or queen shared their self-righteous judgments about me—my accident, my health, or my family—I prayed for them. I asked God to forgive them, soften their hearts, and help them to understand instead of judge.

Because they didn’t know the truth.

“Why, Liz, are you so confident in telling your truth?”

taps microphone *ahem*…

Because if everything that was reported about me were true, I wouldn’t be here writing this blog.

That’s hard to say, but it’s the truth.

I’m here because God knows my truth—and He has pushed me to share my story with you.

So come along with me as I share this journey…
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Last year, one of my favorite book series was “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman.

If you haven’t read it, I strongly suggest you do—or at least check out the audiobook.

LitRPG isn’t usually my go-to genre, but it was all over TikTok last year. And wow… it was a wild ride.

Here’s the quick version:

Planet Earth is suddenly destroyed and replaced with a massive alien dungeon that functions as a brutal reality TV show for the universe to watch.

I know… it’s starting to sound a little familiar to my upcoming journey.

Survivors are forced to compete, and everything runs on video game logic. Think Survivor meets MacGyver meets Mario Bros meets Grand Theft Auto—all for the viewing pleasure of alien audiences.

Ridiculous? Absolutely. Entertaining? Even more so.
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The story follows Carl, an ordinary guy trying to survive alongside his ex-girlfriend’s very judgmental (and hilarious) cat—who can now talk.

Together, they descend through increasingly dangerous levels, trying to stay alive while navigating bizarre rules and a system that is clearly flawed.

Hits a little close to home, right?
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So, with faith in my heart, I’m stepping into my own version of “Dungeon Crawler Carl.”
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And if you know me, you know I love to make people laugh. Through everything, I haven’t lost that part of myself.

Until next month…

Stay tuned—39 more levels of mayhem and life experiences ahead