Thank You Mr.Conrad

-Thank You Mr. Conrad-

I will never forget the horrible high-pitched scream my daughter Lula made when she was attacked by a poorly trained dog. She was only 3 years old at the time. She would have to endure months and months of surgeries and hospital visits. The image of her face gushing blood and her eye slowly swelling shut will forever be burned into my memory. I still have a recurring nightmare of her being attacked and me not being able to save her.

This was by far the worst day of my life! I honestly assumed I would hate dogs forever after that because of the pain my daughter experienced.

Never in a million years did I think my next career choice would be “dog training.” Especially not while incarcerated inside a federal prison.

But I think this is how God works. He can take the worst moments of our lives and bring purpose, healing, and beauty out of the pain. If we are willing to open our hearts, God can begin to work in us. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

At my lowest point in federal prison, I was accepted into the dog training program through Can Do Canines. I walked into my new cell and met my puppy Mr. Conrad for the first time. He was this adorable little black ball of fur—50% black lab, 50% golden retriever, and 100% cute.

The day I met Conrad, he looked up at me with his big brown, hopeful eyes, and I stared back at him with eyes filled with pain and struggle. I didn’t know it at the time, but God was about to use Mr. Conrad to heal some very deep wounds in our family.

Day after day, Mr. Conrad kept me busy and inspired me to push through the pain. His hard work and intelligence are exceptional. He absolutely loves to learn and looks forward to it every single day. Conrad continues to show me how amazing dogs can really be. He always gives me extra love on the really hard days when I’m missing Noel, Cambria, Willow, Lula, and Zion. I’m very thankful to have a dog and friend like Mr. Conrad.

Getting the opportunity to train Conrad has been an absolute blessing. Watching his personality blossom has been priceless. He will make an excellent service dog someday soon, and I’m honored that I got to play a small role in his life. In a few short months, Conrad will leave my cell and graduate to final training out in the real world. He is getting close to fulfilling his destiny. Soon he will officially become a service dog.

Once Mr. Conrad leaves this prison, I will never get to see my furry friend again. As I write this letter, my eyes fill with tears just thinking about the moment Conrad walks out my door for the last time. These are not sad tears, but thankful ones.

I’m thankful God brought Conrad into my life when I was at my lowest.
I’m thankful God showed me and my family that not all dogs are bad or dangerous.
I’m thankful that God gave me a new career path as a dog trainer.
I’m thankful that Mr. Conrad is going to a family that desperately needs him. I already know he will be the biggest blessing in their lives. This dog will be a superhero.

Thank you, God, for turning my pain and struggle into something beautiful. Thank you for bringing meaning to my prison journey.

I am truly a blessed man.

Sincerely,
Brett & Mr. Conrad

P.S. My little warrior princess Lula made an incredible recovery, and we plan to train puppies together when I get home. I mean, C’MON!!! How cool is that?!

 


-A Quick Note From Brett's Wife, Noél-

It has been 7 months since my husband surrendered to prison. Two months into Brett’s prison sentence, I unexpectedly lost my job. Fear and panic pulsed through my entire body. I was suddenly an unemployed mom to four little ones with a husband who is incarcerated thousands of miles away from us.

Normally, in times like these Brett is my rock and my person I turn to when crisis hits our family. But, unfortunately right now, he is locked in a federal prison and I am left facing this extreme financial crisis alone. The thought of carrying it all by myself has been paralyzing.

As this new reality has set in, I have felt the overwhelming cloud of depression and anxiety surround me, and pain I would not wish upon my worst enemy. 

THANKFULLY, at my absolute lowest point, people like you have stepped in to pick me up off the ground. You have surrounded me, Cambria, Willow, Lula, and Zion with the utmost love, kindness, and support.

From the bottom of my heart:
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
You’ve helped save me and my family.

I’m doing everything humanly possible to:

-Rebuild our financial situation and create stability for our family

-Homeschool my kids 

-Keep our little family afloat until Brett can come home

All this is not easy and is a constant exhausting juggle, but I’m determined to overcome this massive obstacle and show my kids what their momma is made of.

So many of you have offered to send a financial “gift.” Each generous gift truly helps us:

-Stay in our home

-Catch up on overdue bills

-Create some stability for my kids in this storm

There is absolutely no pressure. But, if this is something that is on your heart to help please send your financial "gift" to any of my following accounts. 

-Venmo: @NoelBartlett 

-Zelle: influenceinnovations@gmail.com

-PayPal: influence innovations LLC  https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/RUWMFZF7X6J4Q

-Cash App: @noeldbartlett

 

This is a VERY vulnerable time in our journey. But I am in awe of the people God has brought into our lives and am truly so beyond grateful.

I promise to work hard every single day to provide for my children and get my husband (Brett) back home to us.

Thank you for helping to heal and save our family.

With love, extreme gratitude, and blessings,
Noél

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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
I, Noél Bartlett, am committed to following all applicable Federal Bureau of Prisons policies and procedures while sharing, documenting, and memorializing our family’s prison journey and the letters and manuscripts Brett sends to me.
For complete clarity, I alone am the owner, operator, publisher, and financial beneficiary of Proud Prison Wives and this website. I am also the sole publisher and beneficiary of any books or other works published through Proud Prison Wives, including SPEAK DOG, SHATTER YOUR SHAME, and any future manuscript of Brett’s that I independently choose to edit, develop, and publish.
Brett is currently incarcerated in federal prison. He does not own, operate, manage, or conduct business through Proud Prison Wives, nor does he receive any financial benefit from the publication, sale, or promotion of these books, letters, manuscripts, or website content.
I am incredibly proud to take my husband’s raw letters and manuscripts and transform them into beautiful, meaningful books that allow others to witness his journey and cheer him forward as he chooses to use his time in prison productively.
Brett and I also take the safety, security, and privacy of the institution extremely seriously. In the letters and manuscripts he sends me—and in the material I ultimately choose to publish—identifying details may be intentionally changed, combined, omitted, or rearranged. This may include characters, conversations, events, timelines, locations, and other details in order to protect the privacy of staff, fellow incarcerated individuals, and the institution itself.
The heart and spirit of Brett’s writing are based on his lived experiences, but these writings should not be interpreted as a literal, chronological, or identifying account of daily institutional life. Some details of Brett’s experience will simply have to wait until he has fully completed his obligations to the Department of Justice.
Again, I, Noél Bartlett, am fully committed to respecting and following applicable Bureau of Prisons policies and procedures. I consider it a privilege to preserve our family’s story, document this chapter of Brett’s life, and share the good that can still come from an incredibly difficult season.
Thank you for reading, supporting our family, and respecting the purpose and boundaries behind what we share.
— Noél Bartlett
Owner & Publisher, Proud Prison Wives

Shatter Your Shame- Sneak Peek

Shatter Your Shame, Chapter 1

Shatter Your Shame, Chapter 1

Shatter Your Shame, Chapter 2

Shatter Your Shame, Chapter 2

Shatter Your Shame, Chapter 3

Shatter Your Shame, Chapter 3

Shatter Your Shame is NOW AVAILABLE

Brett and I are so excited (and honestly still a little in awe) to officially announce

Shatter Your Shame is LIVE on the site.

This book was written inside a federal prison—on random pieces of scratch paper, with a dull pencil, behind razor-sharp barbed wire and an electrified fence. What started as handwritten prison letters has turned into a powerful testimony of redemption, responsibility, faith, and purpose.

Shatter Your Shame is for anyone who carries the weight of their past, the burden of regret, or the quiet pain of shame—and is ready to see how God redeems what the world calls broken.

Brett writes with raw honesty about the worst decisions of his life, the consequences that followed, and the miraculous way God met him in the pit of prison and transformed his shame into purpose. These are one-of-a-kind prison stories that will help you heal, rise, and walk forward unchained.

(Perfect for small groups, book clubs, churches, or gifting to someone who needs hope.)

Every order directly supports me and my 4 beautiful children during this season Brett is away.

This journey hasn’t been easy. Prison is heavy. Shame is heavy. But God is proving—once again—that He specializes in turning massive messes into healing miracles.

Thank you for believing in redemption.
Thank you for supporting our family.
Thank you for helping us share this message with the world.

With so much love,
Noél

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SPEAK DOG is NOW AVAILABLE

Speak Dog is not your average dog-training book. It is a testimony, a powerful blend of storytelling, breakthrough psychology, and the real-life prison puppy training program that God used to transform countless lives, including Brett’s, and our family’s.

This book carries redemption on every page. It shows what God can do with a broken man, a hurting dog, and a second chance. It’s hope, healing, laughter, purpose, and breakthrough all wrapped into one unforgettable journey.

I am SO beyond excited for everyone to get their hands on this book and experience the same heart-shifting, faith-building transformation that we did.

Shop Now