Planted in faith, blooming in purpose — come grow with me.

I’m Shakara Anne Graves, and this is more than just a blog — it’s my living testimony. At 31 years old, born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, and having built my life in Austin since 2013, I’ve seen both the peaks and the valleys. With a background in Tech Operations and the Staffing Industry, I was leading teams and living independently for over a decade.

But in November 2023, everything changed. I faced an unimaginable storm: the loss of my beloved grandmother, my loyal dog, my job, my apartment, and the terrifying brush of almost losing my mother. As a trauma survivor living with CPTSD, I’ve carried heavy burdens — but I’ve also carried hope.

Crown and Canopy is my sacred space to rebuild, reflect, and rise. It’s where I share my journey of healing, faith, patience, and new beginnings. Here, I honor my past, nurture my present, and grow toward a future full of love, abundance, peace, and purpose.

This is my mission: to transform pain into power, and to claim every blessing God has in store for me. I haven’t come this far to stop now. My life has meaning, and through these words, I hope to inspire others to find theirs too.

Welcome to my journey beneath the canopy — where healing grows, and crowns are never too heavy to carry.