When Soul Sister 1969 Had a Stroke…Our Journey Shifted

On February 20, my sister Kim (born 1969) had an ischemic stroke. One moment she was fine—teaching art, living her life—and that night, everything changed.

I’ll keep this short for now, because one day, when Kim is ready, we’ll share her story in her own way.

As for me, I can’t carry on with 2 Soul Sisters without my sister—it was always our joint journey, and it gave us such a special bond. Together, we shared art, life, and so many memories. Since life has taken us on an unexpected turn, I’ve decided to begin a new adventure.

After many heartfelt talks with family and friends, I’ve opened a Teachers Pay Teachers store called The Bertie Club, Click HERE for The Bertie Club, inspired by my sweet therapy dog, Bertie. With my degrees in art and early childhood education, I’ll be creating resources for both art and general education teachers. Bertie is such a joyful part of my life, and I’d love to share her spirit with you too.

Here’s a freebie to kick things off—it’s perfect for the back-to-school month. If you’d like, click over and snag it! Click HERE to get Bertie's Fun Pack for Back to School!

And what about Kim’s art journey? Kim and I are starting a new journey for her. She will be creating in new ways, finding fresh paths to share her art. Our hope is that she can reach out to other stroke survivors who love art and show them that creativity doesn’t stop—it just takes a new form on this journey.

Thank you for supporting us through the 2 Soul Sisters years. Sometimes life doesn’t go the way you planned, but teachers especially know how to regroup, adjust, and create a new path. That’s exactly what Kim and I are doing. Even Kim’s brain is hard at work making new paths around the part that decided to “act the fool” on February 20.

More to come soon. ❤️1965