Let me introduce myself, I am Billie the creator of Mama in the Waves.

I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico where my favorite memories are of my sisters & I running wild in the yard and playing with our animals which ranged from horses to peacocks. We moved to Minnesota when I was 5 years old and we lived in two houses that were surrounded by nothing but fields & woods. Much of my childhood was lived outside, running wild, usually without shoes or my hair brushed. Some of my happiest times were visiting my grandparents, aunt & uncle on the east coast. Summers spent on the Atlantic beaches of Connecticut where I fell in love with the ocean. We would spend the whole day splashing in the cool ocean water, building cities of sand, seaweed, rocks & shells. The smell of the ocean always brings me back to those days.

When I turned 18 I packed up and moved to Portland, Oregon having never been there before. I fell in love with the beautiful Pacific NW and called it my home for over a decade. Upon arriving I began skateboarding, and found it not only incredibly rewarding, fun & challenging but also a means to meet many amazing people. The skateboarding community is something unique & beautiful. While in Oregon I also enjoyed tons of camping, hiking, fishing, mushroom hunting, crabbing, clamming, helping to make wine, & so much more. While in Oregon I studied photography at the University of Oregon and received my B.A. in art. I am so grateful for all the beautiful years spent in Oregon.

Leaving Portland was bittersweet, as I embarked on a journey to travel through Europe for a year. I worked as a means of having places to stay and meeting new people. There was honey harvest in France, olive harvest in Italy, house & dog sitting in Spain, & so many more adventures. Many times taking the road less traveled & spending time in places I never would have seen otherwise. The people & experiences will be with me forever, the memories will always bring a smile to my face.

Just over ten years ago I moved to Baja California Sur, with dreams of learning Spanish & finally learning how to surf in warm waters. The Sea of Cortez has been an absolute dream for learning how to surf. In the beginning I spent my entire day at the beach, surfing two or even three sessions in a day. Salty, sandy, exhausted & happy I would return home. Surf has brought so much joy & peace into my life. Being in the water away from everything else allows you to slow down, breathe, see the world around you, hear the birds, appreciate being alive, & feel the thrill of riding waves.

The next chapter in my life was motherhood. The most thrilling & rewarding journey yet. I am so grateful that my daughter has come into my life, bringing with her so much joy & happiness. So excited for all to come as I get to watch her grow & journey through this life.

Thank you my beautiful daughter for inspiring me to write this book.