Meet the
Wholehearted Team

Wholehearted Founder

Naomi Vacaro

Naomi grew up as a missionary kid in Outer Mongolia before moving to Central Florida at the age of 18. After graduating with a degree in graphic design, she started a photography business and worked as a wedding photographer for 4 years. Naomi married Matthew Vacaro in 2017 and in 2020 they welcomed their son, Cove into the world.

In early 2018 Naomi created a journal called the Quiet Time Companion and founded Wholehearted, an online community of women committed to encourage each other in their daily walk with Jesus. 

Now Naomi fills her days with mothering, homemaking, writing, and leading the Wholehearted community.

Our executive Team

Maddie Curran

Graphic Designer

An introverted artist, stationary collector, lover of books, and a creative at heart. Currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Web Design at the University of Florida. She usually spends her days designing, coding, and learning, with a cup of tea in hand. 

Home State: Florida
Favorite Bible verse: Psalm 90:14
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: a cozy blanket for sure!
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: late morning
Favorite Morning Beverage: tea - preferably earl gray with sugar and cream
Favorite QTC: Green Pastures

ABBY HOUSTON

Instagram Manager

Abby loves all things theology, people and coffee! She enjoys spending time with her friends talking about what the Lord is teaching them, as well as evenings at home with her family. You can often find her at her keyboard composing melodies, at the gym, or writing on her laptop.

Home State: Illinois
Favorite Bible verse: Psalm 34:3
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: Blanket
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: Early morning
Favorite Morning Beverage: Coffee coffee coffee!
Favorite QTC: Teacup Blooms

TONI AHRENS

Creative Director

Toni grew up on the beaches of southern New Jersey where she learned to love the Lord (and soccer). After graduating from Liberty University, she spent a few years working in fashion and marketing in New York. She has since left her career to focus on her role as a wife, a mom to her two young children, and leading new believers to Christ in her area. 

Home State: New Jersey
Favorite Bible Verse: John 21:25
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: Bluetooth speaker with worship music
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: Early morning or late evening
Favorite morning beverage: Iced coffee with almond milk
Favorite QTC: Classic Black

EMILY MILLER

Content Manager & Editor

She began having a daily quiet time at the age of 13. This habit has been one of the few constants in her life as she transitioned from being a missionary kid in Mongolia to a barista in Oregon to a stay-at-home mom in central Florida. The Word of God has anchored Emily to Jesus through depression, struggles with doubt, health issues, and her son’s cystic fibrosis.

Home State: Florida
Favorite Bible Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: loads of gel pens!
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: first thing in the morning so I can watch the sun come up as I read
Favorite Morning Beverage: Coffee
Favorite QTC: Teacup Blooms

KENNEDY NOVAKOVIC

Community Director

Nothing brings Kennedy more joy than welcoming friends and strangers alike into her home. Newly married, her time is spent homemaking, leading Bible study, reading, cooking, baking, walking, and planning parties.

Home State: Florida
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 30:5
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: theology books
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: early morning
Favorite Morning Beverage: coffee
Favorite QTC: Teacup Blooms

Audrey Russell

Marketing Director

Loves being outside, Texas sunsets, and long chats over a cup of tea. When she is not helping others run their businesses, Audrey enjoys watching all things Hallmark, singing with her sister, educating women in her health & wellness group!

Home state: Texas 
Favorite Bible verse: Isaiah 26:3, Psalms 34:5, & 2 Corinthians 9:8 
Favorite QT accessories: My journal, and colorful pens for a pop of color
Favorite time of the day to do my QT:Prayer in the morning, God’s Word and journaling in the evening.
Favorite Morning beverage:Coconut water, Açaí smoothie, or tea! 
Favorite QTC: Rose Blossoms

Our writing team

sarah adrian

Enjoys drawing, painting, baking, being outdoors, Twin Bings (if you know you know), coffee, road trips, and kayaking.

Home State:South Dakota
Favorite Bible Verse:Psalm 16 
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory:I love to just have coffee with my quiet time! 
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time:early morning
Favorite morning beverage:strong black coffee 
Favorite QTC:Winter Pine

kelly arena

Works for a pregnancy help clinic and is the founder of From Weary to Worship Ministries where she encourages fellow Christians living with chronic illnesses to draw closer to the Lord in the midst of their suffering. 

Home State:Florida
Favorite Bible Verse:2 Corinthians 12:9 
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: my blue chair
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time:night time
Favorite Morning Beverage:coffee 
Favorite QTC:Teacup Blooms

vanessa bonilla

Lives with her husband, Eli, in Brooklyn, NY where she homeschools their five children. Vanessa is also the Children’s Director at her church, and she loves fire pits, friends, and spending time with her family.

Home State:New York
Favorite Bible Verse:Proverbs 24:3-4
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory:Bible, highlighters, and markers
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time:As soon as I wake up
Favorite Morning Beverage:Coffee
Favorite QTC:Rose Blossoms 

Danielle dammeyer

A stay at home mom and youth pastor's wife in Fort Wayne, IN. She holds a Master's of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and loves all things cozy, learning new things and making to do lists.

Home State: Illinois 
Favorite Bible Verse:Romans 8:1
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory:Gel highlighters 
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time:early morning
Favorite Morning Beverage:hot chai latte
Favorite QTC:Teacup Bloom

miranda ewing

Lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana with her husband, Sam, and son, Jack. She and her husband actively serve together at Headwaters Church.

Home State:Indiana
Favorite Bible Verse:Revelation 22:3-5 
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory:a printed copy of the passage of Scripture I am studying, and ParKoo gel pens! 
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time:Midday or early evening 
Favorite Morning Beverage:water- I am one of those quirky people who do not like tea or coffee! 
Favorite QTC:Green Pastures

Carley Fischer

1st grade teacher living in Ocala, Florida. Enjoys  biking, reading, walking her daschund, Poe, cooking, and going to yoga class.

Home State:Florida
Favorite Bible Verse:Jeremiah 29:11
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory:fall scented candles 
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: evening
Favorite Morning Beverage:coffee!!!!
Favorite QTC:Green Pastures

Erica Hunt

Lives with her husband, Justin, in South Dakota. She teaches middle school and loves traveling, collecting quotes, learning fun facts and historical information, drinking coffee, eating ice cream and enjoying good conversation with friends.

Home State:South Dakota
Favorite Bible verse:Philippians 3:12-14
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory:blanket
Favorite time of day for Quiet Time:morning
Favorite morning beverage:coffee
Favorite QTC: Teacup Blooms

Tiffany Layton

Lives in Alabama with her husband, Lex. She works at a local Credit Union and volunteers at her church, where she serves as a worship leader.

Home State:Alabama
Favorite Bible Verse:Philippians‬ ‭4:6-9‬
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory:candles, coffee, and highlighters! 
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time:early morning before anyone else is awake and the day hasn’t begun yet
Favorite Morning Beverage: coffee, coffee, and more coffee! 
Favorite QTC: Rose Blossoms

Nicole Schrader

Retired homeschool mother who loves to travel, bake bread, read, and spend time with her kids and grandkids.www.nicolelisamaria.com.

Home State:Florida
Favorite Bible Verse:Isaiah 41:10
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory:colored markers and index cards - for taking notes and writing down verses to memorize
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time:early morning
Favorite Morning Beverage:coffee
Favorite QTC: Winter Pine

Jordan Sparnroft

Lives in historic central Virginia with her husband and daughter. She is a first grade teacher at a Christian school, and loves early mornings and spending time with her family. 

Home State: Virginia
Favorite Bible Verse:Hebrews 10:23 
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: Pilot Pen with G2 0.5mm tip, highlighters, and Truth Group Journal
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time:6:00am
Favorite Morning Beverage:Nespresso Melozio Coffee with Frothed Almond Milk and Caramel Skinny Syrup
Favorite QTC:Teacup Blooms

Katie Stone

Loves an urban cafe as much as the smell of campfire and pine. Works in communications while studying business and non-fiction writing, and  is most happy when leading worship and discipling others.

Home State:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Favorite Bible Verse:Psalm 34:8-10
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory:Just my Bible, QTC, a good quality pen, and a cup of coffee. 
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time:first thing in the morning
Favorite Morning Beverage:Black Coffee
Favorite QTC:Teacup Blooms

KATE VELASQUEZ

Lives in Kentucky with her beloved husband from Mexico. Together they run a construction business, flip houses, and serve in their local Hispanic church.

Home State:Kentucky
Favorite Bible Verse:Exodus 33:14 
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory:fuzzy blanket 
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time:morning 
Favorite Morning Beverage:black coffee 
Favorite QTC:Teacup Blooms

Grace McCready

Grace enjoys spending time with her family, hanging out with friends, and watching her favorite TV shows. She is the author of Real Recovery: What Eating Disorder Recovery Actually Looks Like (2022). She shares her struggles at her blog,Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth.

Home State: Tennessee
Favorite Bible Verse: Ephesians 3:20-21
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: colored pens 
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: morning 
Favorite morning beverage: milk, which might sound weird but I think it's great!
Favorite QTC: Winter Pine