Lisa Copen and her husband make sentimental message jewelry, specializing in wedding bouquet charms, with their business Gutsy Goodness. Their handcrafted, meaningful jewelry, lifts the spirit of many as it makes a moment into a memory.
She is an author at heart, however, and is recently back to those roots with her latest project, "The Flower Girl and the Dancing Butterflies"--a heartwarming children's book aimed at helping young flower girls feel confident and excited about their role in weddings. Her new book combines her storytelling skills with her experience in creating uplifting, memorable content.
She began Rest Ministries in the mid 90s, which for 25 years was the largest Christian organization that served the chronically ill. Lisa authored many books for those with chronic conditions, most of them faith-based, including resources for chronic illness support groups and guides on starting a chronic illness ministry. Her work has been featured in Reader's Digest, CNN, and Huffington Post, and she founded National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week in 2002.
Lisa resides in Oregon with her husband and son, and continues to juggle her passion for writing, jewelry-making, and chronic illness advocacy. Her journey reflects her belief that even in the face of challenges, there’s always room for creativity, compassion, and new beginnings.