Finn…You Really Are Fantastic 

Sooo… The Fantastic Mr. Finn and I have developed a magnificent morning ritual that we perform prior to our concrete compound announcing the mandatory 7:30am work call.

Right around 7:15 am, I whisper the word “clothes” into Finn’s long, soft, floppy black ears.

The moment my one-of-a-kind dog hears that “magic” word, he gallops eagerly over to my closed, rusted locker and locks his eyes on the special rope I tied to the handle.

After a few seconds of studying the dangling rope, Finn grabs it with his mouth and takes a few determined steps backward—swinging my rickety locker door wide open.

Once the door creaks open, he immediately scans the bottom shelf for my work uniform. And the second his beautiful brown eyes spot my government-issued khakis he gently picks them up with his teeth and proudly trots my “clothes” over to me.

Our morning ritual is officially complete the moment Finn delicately drops my uniform into my waiting lap followed, of course, by his signature smile and that unstoppable tail wag.

I just sit there sometimes… in awe. Because moments like that don’t feel normal in a place like this.

Each time Finn pulls off our morning routine, I find myself falling deeper and deeper in love with this dog. And I can’t help but imagine the joy, the confidence, and the endless smiles he’s going to bring into his forever family’s home someday.

I’m beyond grateful to be a part of Finn’s FANTASTIC superhero story… and if I’m being honest, I still struggle to fully believe that I’ve been given this opportunity—to become a service dog trainer while serving my prison sentence.

Because the truth is…

This place was supposed to break me.

The dark pit of prison—designed to feed off pain and shame—tried to consume every part of who I am.

BUT…

Here I am… sitting in a concrete cell… somehow overflowing with a level of peace and joy I never thought was possible. All because of these guardian angels with tails.

Who would’ve ever thought a broken man like me would be given the opportunity of a lifetime…

to step into purpose…
right in the middle of punishment?

I’m honestly still in awe of how God works.
How He takes our worst moments… our most painful decisions…
and somehow weaves them into something meaningful… something healing… something divine. As long as we’re willing to lay down our pride and surrender to His mercy.

Because somehow… behind razor-sharp barbed wire…
I’ve been given a front-row seat to just how expansive God’s grace really is for His children.

Even though my heart aches every single day to be reunited with my family my soul still finds a reason to dance, because the Holy Spirit is alive and moving, even in this overpopulated prison.

“Thank you, Lord Jesus, for slaying my shame at the cross and giving me a second chance at life.”

I truly love this new purpose God has placed in front of me.

There is nothing I would rather be doing with my time than preparing these incredibly special dogs for the families who need them most.

These dogs don’t just change lives…

they restore them.

And in a lot of ways…

they’re restoring mine too.

Our God does not abandon us in our darkest seasons.

He meets us in the middle of them.
He sits with us in the pain.
He walks with us through every shadow.

And He never, ever gives up on us…

because we are His beloved children—
fully seen, fully known, and deeply adored.

Finn…

Your future is so incredibly bright, my friend.

Your story is just getting started.

God already has the perfect family picked out for you, and I have no doubt you are going to fill their home with love, purpose, and healing.

You’re going to change lives, buddy.

And I am so, so proud of you.

Sincerely,
Brett
(A prisoner whose puppy helps him get dressed every morning)

---

Note from Noél 

Oh my goodness… just picturing Brett and The Fantastic Mr. Finn celebrating their new morning routine inside that cement prison cell brings the biggest smile to my face.

You can feel it all throughout Brett’s letter—he is absolutely beaming with pride over his super smart pup. And honestly… I love that he took a minute to boast a little.

Because the truth is…

Mr. Finn and my husband have worked incredibly hard to EARN every single breakthrough over these past 5 months.

And I am so dang proud of these two adorable gentlemen.

It’s so clear that Conrad and Finn have had a deep, lasting impact on Brett’s heart and soul. During our 15-minute phone calls each day, right before we hang up, he almost always shares with me about his BIG DREAMS. 

Dreams about someday teaching parents how to raise and train their own service dog—from start to finish. Because he knows there are so many families out there praying, waiting, and hoping for one of these incredible dogs. And many of them sit on waiting lists for years, not knowing if their family will ever be chosen.

That reality weighs on him.

All day, every day, Brett is thinking through ways to help those families—families who are desperate for a miracle. He truly believes that if parents felt empowered and equipped to train their own service dog, more children could experience the joy, comfort, and life-changing impact of having a guardian angel with a tail in their home.

And here’s one thing I know for sure about the man I love…

When he sets his mind on something—there is absolutely NOTHING that can stop him from finding a way to make it happen.

So yes… I really do believe Brett is going to figure out a way to bring more pups like Mr. Finn into the homes of families who need them most.

Truthfully though…

At this point in our journey, I am exhausted.

And if I’m being really honest… I have no idea what the next few years are going to look like for our family.

BUT…

I have this deep, steady feeling in my heart…

That our story is going to involve some furry little heroes with big floppy ears… and maybe even a few red capes.

What is my life, right??? 😂

“Lord Jesus, thank you for transforming the pain of our family’s prison story into a merciful masterpiece. The shame that once suffocated us has been shattered by Your abundant grace.”

I am beyond grateful that our GREAT and LOVING God sent two of the sweetest guardian angels with tails straight into my husband’s cement prison cell.

With so much love,
Noél
(A prison wife who could definitely use a pup like Finn to help her get dressed every morning 😉)

P.S. I want to say I’m so sorry for the delay on Shatter Your Shame. I had really hoped to have it ready by Easter, but this season has stretched me in more ways than I can explain. I’m working on it in every in-between moment and am praying to have it done by the end of this month. Thank you—truly—to every single one of you who has already purchased a copy. Your support means more than you know, and I cannot wait for you to read it… it’s so powerful. 💛