Before You Meet Princess Roxy... 🐾

Before I introduce you to the newest little lady who has completely stolen my husband's heart, I wanted to take a moment to share something that's become such an unexpected blessing in our family's story.

As many of you know, I've been working incredibly hard to grow my little lash and brow business here in Orange County while Brett serves his federal prison sentence.

And gosh...

I wish I could adequately explain just how HARD, EXHAUSTING, and simultaneously REWARDING this journey has been.

Trying to build a business while raising Cambria, Willow, Lula, and Zion without my husband physically beside me has stretched me in ways I never imagined. There have been overwhelming days, plenty of tears, and moments when I've questioned how in the world I'm going to keep all the plates spinning.

BUT THEN GOD...

He continues to open unexpected doors, bring incredible people into my life, and remind me that even in the middle of a season I never would have chosen, something beautiful can still grow.

What started as a way to help provide for our four children has become something I genuinely LOVE. Getting to meet incredible women, hear their stories, build friendships, and help them feel beautiful and confident has brought so much unexpected JOY into my life.

And I wanted to show you a few of my recent transformations! 

Every appointment, referral, and person who shares my business is helping me build a more stable future for our family.

And I cannot thank you enough for that.

If you're in Orange County, or know someone who is, I would LOVE the opportunity to help with their lashes and brows! I specialize in Korean Lash Lifts, Lash Tints, Brow Laminations, and Brow Tints, and the best part is...

I COME TO YOU! 🙌🏻

You can text me at 714-210-9014 to book, ask questions, or refer someone. Even simply sharing my name with a friend means more than you know.

Thank you for continuing to cheer this mama forward as I try to build something beautiful out of a really difficult chapter of our lives. 💛

NOW...ABOUT THAT NEW LITTLE LADY IN BRETT'S LIFE!!! 😂🐾

Apparently, my big, bearded prison puppy trainer has fallen head over heels for a precious little girl named PRINCESS ROXY!

And what makes this story so tender is how this adorable pup has awakened the same loving, protective GIRL DAD heart Brett has always had for Cambria, Willow, and Lula.

It's another beautiful reminder that even behind razor-sharp barbed wire, God continues finding unexpected ways to bring healing and purpose into our family's story.

I can't wait for you to meet her...

LOVE...ALWAYS...WINS!!!

---

Princess Roxy

Prison Staff Member: "Oh my goodness, she's exceptional."

Me: "Yeah....there is something special about her for sure."

When I first laid eyes on my newest pup, PRINCESS ROXY, prancing around our prison chapel basement, it was head-over-heels LOVE at first sight.

This precious little lady was dancing around the room with such innocent joy and wonder that I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. Her curious eyes were taking in every new sight, sound, and smell while her adorable little body seemed to be celebrating the simple gift of being ALIVE.

And as I stood there watching an ecstatic Roxy Girl explore her new surroundings, something inside my heart began to stir.

Something familiar.

Something I hadn't been able to fully experience in a very long time.

MY GIRL DAD INSTINCTS.

Oooohhh...my goodness.

I could literally feel every single part of my dormant Daddy instincts kicking into overdrive, wanting to protect, nurture, encourage, and provide for this precious little lady.

Roxy Girl's gentle spirit, calm demeanor, inquisitive mind, and big beautiful eyes full of wonder made my heart melt into the happiest of puddles.

There was something about the way she approached this unfamiliar environment with such innocent curiosity that immediately reminded me of three extraordinary young ladies who have completely captured my heart.

CAMBRIA.

WILLOW.

LULA.

As my beautiful, talented, and AMAZING daughters will tell you, I am...and forever will be...

A GIRL DAD AT MY CORE!!!

And if there is one thing I have always wanted my daughters to know, it's that they are deeply, completely, and unconditionally LOVED & ADORED BY THEIR DADDY.

I want my girls to know they are seen and heard.

I want them to know their thoughts, dreams, questions, fears, and feelings matter.

I want them to know they are strong enough to conquer difficult things, courageous enough to pursue extraordinary dreams, and precious beyond anything this world could ever measure.

Most importantly, I want them to know they NEVER have to earn their Daddy's love.

It's already theirs.

Forever.

And gosh...

One of the most painful consequences of my past decisions is that I cannot physically be there to remind my daughters of those truths every single day.

I can't always be there to wrap them in a giant Daddy bear hug after a difficult afternoon.

I can't always sit beside them and listen to every little detail of their day.

I can't always look into their beautiful eyes and remind them how incredibly proud I am of the young ladies they're becoming.

And there are moments when that reality absolutely breaks my heart.

BUT...

Even though prison has physically separated me from my daughters, it has NOT taken away the enormous amount of fatherly love I carry inside my heart.

Not even close.

And somehow...

God keeps finding these unexpected little ways to remind me that the most beautiful parts of who He created me to be are still very much ALIVE.

Which brings me back to...

PRINCESS ROXY!!!

I'm not gonna lie, hanging out with and training a girl dog feels TECTONICALLY different from my forever furry fellas, Conrad and Finn.

Don't get me wrong...

I absolutely ADORE those two handsome knuckleheads.

Conrad and Finn have forever changed my life. They loved me through some incredibly dark moments, helped me rediscover my purpose, and showed me that even behind razor-sharp barbed wire, God can create something beautiful out of a very broken situation.

Those boys will ALWAYS have a special place in my heart.

HOWEVER...

There's something uniquely tender about this precious little princess.

Roxy Girl has a heavenly innocence about her that instantly reminds me of my three extraordinary daughters.

The way she looks up at me with those curious eyes.

The way she approaches the world with such wonder.

The way she seems to be quietly asking whether this big, bearded prison puppy trainer is someone she can trust.

And every time she does...

my heart whispers the same thing.

ROXY GIRL...I GOT YOU.

We're going to learn together.

We're going to make mistakes together.

We're going to celebrate every tiny breakthrough together.

And along the way, I'm going to do everything within my control to help you discover just how TRULY exceptional you are.

Because here's something I've learned from being both a Daddy and a prison puppy trainer...

TRUST ISN'T SOMETHING YOU DEMAND.

IT'S SOMETHING YOU EARN.

Through patience.

Through consistency.

Through gentleness.

Through showing up again and again.

And when I look at Roxy Girl, I don't simply see another dog I'm responsible for training.

I see a precious life that has been entrusted to my care.

A future superhero service dog who will someday have an enormously important job to do.

A little lady who will need courage, confidence, patience, and an unshakable belief that she is capable of accomplishing extraordinary things.

And I have the unbelievable privilege of helping her develop those qualities.

LOOK...

I understand that Roxy is a dog and my daughters are human beings. 😂

But the tenderness, patience, responsibility, and unconditional love that God calls me to practice as a father are some of the very same qualities I get to practice every single day as her trainer.

And I don't take that privilege lightly.

Because somewhere out there in "The Free World" is a person whose life may eventually be changed forever by this precious little pup.

Someone who doesn't even know Roxy Girl exists yet.

Someone who may be praying for independence, companionship, confidence, or the ability to do something that currently feels impossible.

And while that future person waits...

Roxy and I have some very important work to do.

And someday, God willing, I'll watch this precious princess walk confidently into the future she was created for.

Just thinking about that moment makes my heart swell with pride.

Because I don't want Roxy to simply become a well-trained service dog.

I want her to become a confident, joyful, trustworthy companion who knows how to love and serve her forever person.

And if I can play even a small part in preparing her for that extraordinary future...

then what an incredible HONOR that will be.

Roxy Girl...

I want you to know something.

You may have entered my life as another puppy assigned to a federal prisoner.

BUT...

You've already reminded me of something much bigger than dog training.

You've reminded me that even though I'm separated from Cambria, Willow, and Lula, I am STILL their Daddy.

I still have a heart overflowing with love to give.

I still have the ability to nurture, encourage, protect, and serve.

And I still have a responsibility to keep becoming the kind of man my cherished children deserve.

Thank you, Roxy girl, for awakening that tender part of my heart.

Thank you for reminding me how much I LOVE being a GIRL DAD.

And thank you for giving this broken man another beautiful opportunity to practice loving someone with patience, gentleness, and unconditional devotion.

PRINCESS ROXY...I GOT YOU, MY PRECIOUS LITTLE LADY!!!

I look forward to EARNING your trust.

I look forward to discovering your personality.

I look forward to watching your confidence grow.

And I look forward to cheering you forward as you begin realizing just how incredibly capable you are.

Roxy...I mean it when I say it's an absolute PRIVILEGE to be your prison puppy trainer.

Now...

Let's walk this purpose-filled path together.

One beautiful day at a time.

Because a BIG, BRIGHT, AND BEAUTIFUL FUTURE AWAITS YOU, ROXY GIRL!!!

You truly are...

EXCEPTIONAL. 

And to my own three princesses, Cambria, Willow, and Lula...

Daddy hopes you never forget that the very same God who sees extraordinary potential in this precious little pup sees infinitely more in each of YOU.

No prison fence, no amount of distance, and no mistake from my past will EVER change how deeply I love and adore you.

You will ALWAYS be my girls.

And I will ALWAYS be your Daddy.

LOVE...ALWAYS...WINS!!!

Sincerely,

Brett (A broken man, forever GIRL DAD, and incredibly grateful prison puppy trainer who continues to live in total awe and amazement of God's redeeming and weaving LOVE for His cherished children.)

---

A Note From Noél

Oh my goodness...

This letter from Brett brought SO many beautiful, tender, and healing emotions to the surface of my heart today. 

I don't even know if I can adequately explain what it feels like to read my husband's words about Princess Roxy and immediately recognize the very same man I've watched love and adore our three daughters for so many years.

For those of you who don't know...

MY HUSBAND IS A FANTASTIC & ONE-OF-A-KIND GIRL DAD!!!

And I don't just say that because I'm his wife.

I say that because I've had a front-row seat to the incredibly beautiful way Brett loves Cambria, Willow, and Lula.

He has this extraordinary, God-given gift of making each of our girls feel individually SEEN, HEARD, VALUED, and CHERISHED. He doesn't simply tell them he loves them. He intentionally makes sure they KNOW it. He speaks life into their hearts, encourages their dreams, celebrates their individuality, and reminds them over and over again that they are precious beyond measure.

And gosh...isn't that exactly what every little girl deserves from her Daddy?

Someone who sees her beauty beyond what the world tells her is beautiful.

Someone who reminds her she is strong, capable, courageous, and worthy of being treated with kindness and respect.

Someone who helps build a foundation of confidence and security that she can carry with her long after she's grown.

Someone who makes sure she never has to question whether she is loved.

THAT is the kind of Girl Dad Brett has always strived to be.

And one of the most beautiful examples of this is something that happens every single night...

FROM INSIDE A FEDERAL PRISON.

Without fail, Brett takes the time to write Cambria, Willow, and Lula their own individual goodnight letters.

Not one generic message addressed to all three.

THREE SEPARATE LETTERS.

Three opportunities to speak directly into the hearts of three very different, very special young ladies.

He encourages them.

He celebrates them.

He reminds them of their worth.

He speaks words of affirmation into their developing and sometimes vulnerable hearts.

He tells them how proud he is of who they're becoming.

And most importantly...

he reminds them that no amount of distance, no razor-sharp fence, and no prison sentence will EVER change how deeply their Daddy loves them.

Just think about that for a moment.

While so many fathers have the privilege of walking down the hallway to kiss their daughters goodnight, my husband has to sit inside a cement prison cell and carefully type out the words he wishes he could whisper into their ears.

He can't tuck them into bed.

He can't pull their blankets up around their shoulders.

He can't give them one last forehead kiss.

He can't scoop them into his arms when they need a little extra reassurance.

BUT...

He can make sure that before they close their eyes, they have another reminder that their Daddy is thinking about them, praying for them, believing in them, and loving them with his entire heart.

And he does.

EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT.

I cannot begin to tell you how much that means to me as their mama.

Because while this prison journey has taken SO much from our family, it has not taken away Brett's heart for his children.

It has not taken away his desire to protect them.

It has not taken away his commitment to being a present and intentional father in every way his circumstances allow.

And it certainly has not taken away the enormous amount of LOVE he has for his girls.

Even from behind razor-sharp barbed wire, Brett continues doing everything within his power to be their safe place, their biggest cheerleader, their protector, and their HERO.

And then...along came PRINCESS ROXY. 🐾

Oh, sweet Roxy Girl...

I don't think you have the slightest idea what kind of man God has placed in your life.

You see, our family knows something about your new prison puppy trainer that you haven't had the chance to discover just yet.

HE HAS THE BIGGEST GIRL DAD HEART!!!

And for far too long, that heart has been aching to physically pour out the kind of love that comes so naturally to him.

He misses his girls.

He misses the little moments.

He misses the hugs, the laughter, the silly conversations, and the ordinary everyday privileges of being a Daddy.

He misses being able to SHOW his daughters how much he loves them instead of having to rely on a computer screen, a phone call, or a handwritten letter.

And now...

God has entrusted him with this precious little princess who needs someone patient, gentle, encouraging, and completely committed to helping her become everything she was created to be.

OH MY GOODNESS...HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD?!?

Because while Brett is teaching Roxy how to trust, learn, grow, and eventually serve her forever person...

I have a feeling Princess Roxy is going to be giving my husband something incredibly special in return.

Another opportunity to nurture.

Another opportunity to protect.

Another opportunity to encourage.

Another opportunity to love with the tenderness that has always made him such an extraordinary Girl Dad.

And perhaps, on some of those especially difficult days when missing Cambria, Willow, and Lula feels almost unbearable, Roxy Girl will be one more beautiful reminder that the loving, devoted Daddy inside my husband is still very much alive.

Not because a puppy could ever replace his daughters.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

But because love is one of those extraordinary gifts from God that somehow continues to multiply when we choose to give it away.

And I can already picture it...

My incredible husband inside a federal prison, completely melting over this adorable little lady while telling her how exceptional she is. 

YEP...THAT'S BRETT!!!

Roxy Girl...

You are in THE GREATEST OF HANDS.

I promise.

Your new trainer is going to celebrate your smallest victories like you've just won an Olympic gold medal.

He's going to patiently work through your mistakes.

He's going to cheer you forward when something feels difficult.

He's going to remind you how smart and capable you are.

And he's going to LOVE ON YOU every single chance he gets.

Because that's just who he is.

And someday, when the time comes for you to leave his side and begin your own purpose-filled journey with your forever person, I know he'll send you forward with the same overwhelming pride and tenderness he carries for the people he loves most.

BUT...

For now, sweet girl...

You have some very important work to do together.

And I cannot wait to watch your story unfold.

As for me...

I continue to stand in complete awe of the way our GREAT & MERCIFUL GOD is redeeming pieces of a family story I once feared was completely shattered.

Please don't misunderstand me.

This season has been absolutely BRUTAL and continues to be one of the hardest roads I have walked in my almost 40 years of life.

There are days when the weight of raising our children without my husband physically beside me feels insanely overwhelming. There are moments when I would give anything to turn back the clock, change the decisions that brought us here, and spare our children the pain of being separated from their Daddy.

I would NEVER have chosen this journey, and would never wish it upon my worst enemy.

BUT THEN GOD...

He keeps showing up in the most unexpected places.

In letters sent from a prison cell.

In the hearts of four extraordinary children.

In the encouragement and support of people who continue loving our family.

In the healing that has slowly taken place inside my husband.

And apparently...

in the form of another adorable little service dog with a BIG, BRIGHT, AND BEAUTIFUL FUTURE ahead of her.

God hasn't erased the consequences of our story.

But He continues to remind us that those consequences do not have to be the final chapter.

He is still restoring.

Still healing.

Still teaching.

Still preparing.

Still weaving the broken and shattered pieces into something far more beautiful than I could have imagined in the middle of our darkest days.

A MERCIFUL MASTERPIECE.

And Princess Roxy...

I believe you've just become another precious little piece of it.

So from one incredibly grateful wife and mama...

It is my absolute pleasure to OFFICIALLY WELCOME YOU TO THE BARTLETT FAMILY!!! 

We already love you, sweet girl.

We are already cheering for you.

And we cannot wait to see all the incredible things you and your prison puppy trainer accomplish together.

WE GOT YOU, GIRL!!!

Now let's walk into your...

BIG, BRIGHT, AND BEAUTIFUL FUTURE TOGETHER!!!

Because if there's one thing our family knows for certain...

It's that even in the most unexpected places...

LOVE...ALWAYS...WINS!!!

With so much LOVE & GRATITUDE,

Noél (A very PROUD prison wife who has had a front-row seat to watching her husband become one of the greatest Girl Dads she knows...and who is pretty darn excited that Princess Roxy gets to experience that same incredible love.)

P.S. PLEASE...PLEASE...PLEASE...scroll down and look at the absolutely ADORABLE pictures Brett mailed me of Princess Roxy and her entire puppy family!!! 🐾 I promise these heartwarming little faces will make your day. And seriously...how am I supposed to handle THIS much cuteness?!? 💗

This is Roxy on the right with the pink and tan collar sitting with her brother Russell.

This is Roxy's mama with all her brothers and sisters.

And one last one of the whole crew.

Fun fact: they try to keep all the brothers and sisters together while they are training.