Quick Update from Noél

Sooooo… right now I’m running on way too much caffeine as I help bring Brett’s handwritten manuscript, Shatter Your Shame, into the world.

And I can PROUDLY say… this book is beautiful. It is powerful, and I truly believe it will transform the lives of people who feel chained to their past.

If you feel it on your heart, I would be so grateful for your support. This book isn’t just a project—it’s a mission to reach our brothers and sisters who are suffocating in the shadow of shame.

Every single order matters more than you know. Not only are you helping spread this message, but you’re also helping me keep going—paying bills and pushing through these late-night editing sessions to get this book finished.

I’m currently doing everything I possibly can to sell 200 copies by April 12th (my BIG bills doomsday 😅). So far, I’ve sold 45, and I am beyond thankful for every single one of you who has already supported us.

If you want to be part of this shame-slaying story, you can text me at (714) 410-2191 to grab some first edition copies of Shatter Your Shame.

Ok… that’s the end of my “shameless” sales pitch for a book born out of the pit of prison.

I LOVE YOU, and I’m so incredibly grateful for your support.

Now scroll down and enjoy Brett’s latest letter about Mr. Finn… it’s called FINNTASTIC 🐶

I’m so ridiculously in love with my husband… even from 2,000 miles away, and behind barbed wire. 😉

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Finntastic 

“Finn’s by far the worst dog in the hallway.”

“Finn’s way behind all the other puppies. He will never catch up.”

“Finn’s future as a service dog is NOT looking good.”

“Finn’s definitely the worst dog of the litter. I’m so glad I did not get him.”

These were the discouraging words I heard on a daily basis during The Fantastic Mr. Finn’s first 30 days in federal prison.

To be totally honest, I don’t blame the other dog trainers down our hallway for doubting my good buddy Finn.

HE WAS AN ABSOLUTE TRAIN WRECK WHEN HE FIRST ARRIVED AT OUR FEDERAL PRISON!!!

Every trip to the designated potty yard proved to be an epic failure because Finn’s favorite spot to “relieve” himself was the exact place where all our heavily geared correctional officers stand guard. Oh, don’t worry—after using their boots as a convenient toilet, he would then launch himself at them for about five minutes straight, tail wagging like he just made a new best friend. Meanwhile, I’m standing there in full embarrassment mode, trying to wrangle a wild puppy while offering up the most awkward apologies imaginable to a group of armed officers who definitely did NOT sign up for that part of their shift.

When Finn wasn’t irritating an on-duty officer, you would typically find him sprinting down our hallway chasing one of his siblings (Flossie, Felix, Franklin, Freddy, Fergie, or Farley). Finn ADORES his brothers and sisters more than life itself and is ALWAYS looking for any opportunity to play with them.

Like I said before, the first 30 days of Finn’s service dog journey were NOT his brightest moment.

LUCKILY…

My big brown-eyed dog Conrad taught me that training a future service dog is a marathon, NOT a sprint.

To unlock Finn’s true hidden talent, “The Networker” and I had to practice massive patience and create a customized training process for our one-of-a-kind pup. That patience and intentional approach created the space for Finn’s potential as a service dog to truly blossom.

For example:

• Finn is EXTREMELY high energy and struggles to learn if he’s not moving. After noticing his pent-up potential, we made sure to incorporate movement into every single training session. If Finn performed a proper “sit,” we would immediately reward him by throwing a piece of kibble across the room. Our furry friend loved learning on the move.
• Finn had a hard time retaining multiple skills in one day. Instead of overwhelming his brain, we focused on him mastering one skill at a time. He thrived with the clarity and pace that matched his learning style.
• Finn was easily distracted during walks around our concrete compound. (FYI, having a dog suddenly stop in the middle of a “controlled move” is NOT fun.) To help him stay on task, we introduced a collar called the “Gentle Leader.” Even I was shocked at his transformation after just a few weeks. Now he walks stride for stride with us and stays locked in.
• Finn HATED going into his kennel at first. To change that, we threw a full-on kibble party every time he even touched it. Today, his kennel is his favorite place on earth. I’m pretty sure those kibble celebrations had something to do with it. 

“The Networker” and I NEVER gave up on our furry friend.

Our patience and customized training created the space for Finn’s potential to finally blossom.

Now, 90 days later, here’s what the other prison puppy trainees are saying about The Fantastic Mr.Finn:

“Oh my gosh!!! Finn is like a whole new dog. How did you do it???”

“I honestly can’t believe that’s even Finn. He’s completely changed!”

“Finn is going to make an incredible service dog someday. Way to go, guys!!!”

My cellie and I were NOT surprised when our fellow felons changed their tune about our gifted pup..

Just look at everything Finn has mastered in the last three months:

“Sit”
“Down”
“Stay”
“Break”
“Let’s Go”
“Under”
“Park”
“Mat”
“Kennel”
“Nudge”
“Step”
“Heel”
“Side”
“Shake”
“Settle”
“Back”
“Off”
“Get Dressed”
“Chin”
“Visit”
“Auto Leave It”
“Loose Leash Walking”
and…
“Name Recall”

Not too shabby for a 7-month-old pup.

I already know The Fantastic Mr. Finn WILL be a spectacular service dog someday.

I’m honored to have played a small role in his superhero story.

At night, when it’s pitch black in our cell, I close my eyes and imagine Finn’s forever family—hugging him, loving him, in a warm home filled with joy. I picture him standing tall, ready to serve HIS people, wearing his bright red service dog cape. His journey wasn’t easy… but it will be 100% worth it.

Our great and merciful God continues to bring massive meaning into my prison journey. I am so grateful for His grace and beyond blessed to walk this purpose-driven path.

The shame of my past no longer suffocates me because Jesus transformed the mess I created into a healing miracle.

Getting to train future service dogs inside an insane federal prison is one of the greatest honors of my life.

I’m truly so thankful.

Love,
Brett
(Mr. Finn’s Biggest Fan)

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A Note From Noél

I literally KNEW Brett would find a breakthrough training strategy for his buddy Finn. When pessimistic people see an impossible obstacle, my husband sees a sea of possibilities.

Uggghhhhh… I miss doing life with my ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC forever person. I miss him in the small moments. I miss him in the chaos. I miss him in the quiet. I miss him in ways I don’t even have words for some days.

As Brett’s wife of almost 17 years, I know he’s not perfect. I’ve seen his flaws up close. I’ve lived through the hard seasons with him. But I’ve also seen something in him that most people don’t get to experience… this unshakable ability to stand in the middle of a storm and not fall apart. To stay steady. To stay focused. To keep moving forward no matter what’s in front of him.

He was always my co-pilot—the one who could calm the chaos when everything felt like it was spinning. And now… I’m learning how to do life without him sitting next to me, and some days it feels like I’m barely holding it together.

I know my husband so well, I can close my eyes and picture him standing in that prison cell… hearing the comments, the doubt, the negativity about his one-of-a-kind pup, Mr. Finn. And I know exactly how he responds. Not with anger. Not with discouragement. Just a quiet confidence… a little smirk… and then he gets to work.

That’s who Brett is.

He doesn’t argue.
He doesn’t defend.
He proves.

And he proves it over and over again.

Whenever I’ve asked him how he stays so optimistic, his answer has never changed:

“I focus on the solution, NOT the problem.”

Even though every bone in my body HATES that he is over 2,000 miles away from me and the kids… even though there are nights I lay in bed and feel the weight of his absence so heavy it literally takes my breath away…

My soul still finds peace knowing that God knew EXACTLY what He was doing when He sent my husband to one of the only federal prisons in the country with a service dog training program.

Because somehow… in the middle of all of this…

God is bringing my husband back to life — back to the man I’ve always known was still in there.

These courageous and noble pups—Conrad and Finn—are not just part of a program… they are part of his healing. Brett is pouring everything he has into them—his patience, his leadership, his love… and in return, they are reminding him who he is. Not who his past says he is. Not who the system calls him. But who he is in the eyes of our Father in Heaven.

A man with purpose.
A man worth redeeming.
A man still capable of changing lives.

There is something so sacred about what’s happening inside those prison walls… something I never would have chosen, but something I can’t deny is real.

An unbreakable bond is being built behind razor-sharp barbed wire—and it is both heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time.

“The shadow of shame never stood a chance in my family’s story because of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying and rising again so ALL of us could be set free from our past.”

With so much love,
Noél
(The proud wife of the Prison Puppy Trainer)

P.S. I’m exhausted. I’m not going to pretend I’m not. I’m staying up late and waking up early editing Shatter Your Shame while also being Mom, Dad, teacher, and provider for Cambria, Willow, Lula, and Zion. They miss their daddy so much… and I feel that weight every single day.

If you think of us, please pray for real, sustaining strength. I’m doing everything I possibly can to hold this family together and bring him home.

I am so beyond grateful for this incredible community. We love each and every one of you.