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 encouraging each other in their daily walk with Jesus. Now Naomi fills her days with mothering, homemaking, writing, and leading the Wholehearted community.
Executive Team
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.
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: Cream Leatherette
Emily Miller
Content Manager & Editor
Emily 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 of 5 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.
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: Plum Linen
Abby Houston
Instagram Manager & Collaborations Coordinator
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.
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: Cream Leatherette
Kayla Boyce
Graphic Designer
Kayla is a graphic designer who lives right outside of Washington, D.C., and fills her time serving at her church and freelancing. She's always up for a good movie or game night, exploring museums, new cities, and places, cracking jokes with her loved ones, and boxing classes with her best friend.
Favorite Bible verse: Isaiah 43:1
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: A cozy blanket and a big glass of water
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: early morning
Favorite Morning Beverage: water and half of a Celsius energy drink (if I drank the whole thing I'd be off the walls because of the caffeine!)
Favorite QTC: Flourishing
Danielle Dammeyer
Administrative Assistant
Danielle is 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.
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: Flourishing
Kennedy Wilhite
Community Director
Nothing brings Kennedy more joy than welcoming friends and strangers alike into her home. Her time is spent caring for her daughter, reading, cooking, baking, walking, and planning parties.
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: Cream Leatherette
Our writing team
sarah adrian
Sarah enjoys drawing, painting, baking, being outdoors, Twin Bings (if you know you know), coffee, road trips, and kayaking.
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: Moonrise
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.
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: Plum Linen
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.
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: Moonrise
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. She shares personal stories and Scripture to encourage young women on her blog, Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth.
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 1:6
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: colored pens
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: morning
Favorite morning beverage: Iced mocha latte
Favorite QTC: Ocean Deep
miranda ewing
Lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana with her husband, Sam, and son, Jack. She and her husband actively serve together at Headwaters Church.
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: Cream Leatherette
Arianna Li
Arianna lives with her husband in Nashville, TN. She currently works as a teacher in a homeschool co-op, has a strong passion for community building, and is regularly involved in her church. Arianna can also be found hosting friends for dinner, baking for loved ones, and going on neighborhood walks.
Favorite Bible Verse: Deuteronomy 31:8
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: The perfect pastel highlighter set & a cozy blanket
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: early morning
Favorite Morning Beverage: a warm cup of tea
Favorite QTC: Clay Linen
Erica Hunt
Erica 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 conversations with friends.
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: Ocean Deep
Tiffany Layton
Tiffany lives with her husband Lex in Alabama and graduated with a degree in theology from the University of Mobile in 2011. She now serves on staff at her church leading worship, and small groups, and as the church administrator. She loves fall, coffee, songwriting, and staying organized!
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: Plum Linen
Nicole Schrader
Retired homeschool mother who loves to travel, bake bread, read, and spend time with her kids and grandkids.www.nicolelisamaria.com.
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: Flourishing
Jordan Sparnroft
Jordan 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.
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: Plum Linen
Katie Gutierrez
Katie loves an urban cafe as much as the smell of campfire and pine. She works in communications while studying business and non-fiction writing, and is most happy when leading worship and discipling others.
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: Plum Linen
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.
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: Plum Linen
Amy Hornbuckle
Amy works full-time for her church as a Children's Director, Women's Director, and Bible Teacher. She's passionate about penning words for the idle and hungry believer to faithfully walk with the Lord. Amy is also a biological mother, foster mom, wife, and founder of The Bible Study Workbook. You can catch her reading, walking, or playing in the yard!
Favorite Bible Verse: 2 Peter 3:18
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: a dim lamp
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: morning
Favorite Morning Beverage: Black coffee
Favorite QTC: Moonrise
Jessica Thiele
Jessica is passionate about encouraging and building others up in the Lord. She enjoys country swing and line dancing, reading, writing, being outside, bonfires, and going to rodeos.
Favorite Bible Verse: Lamentations 3:21-23
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: Eucalyptus Candle
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: Early Morning
Favorite Morning Beverage: Caramel Macchiato
Favorite QTC: Everlasting
Meghan DeWalt
Meghan is an author of stories about remembrance and redemption. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband and best friend, Jeff, and their young son Luke. They're each pursuing degrees at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Boyce College, serving in their church's college ministry and small group.
Favorite Bible Verse: Isaiah 55
Favorite Quiet Time Accessory: candle, good non-bleed fine tip pens for underlining, and the ESV Bible app
Favorite Time of Day for Quiet Time: Morning by far!
Favorite Morning Beverage: strong coffee with heavy cream or a good bracing English Breakfast or Earl Grey tea.
Favorite QTC: Petals