Regina Burdett

You are an author, what is your book about?

"Souls in the Sand: Stories of Setbacks, Surviving, Stepping and Soaring," is a collaboration of courageous women of faith who have journeyed through life’s most challenging seasons and have discovered strength, healing, and a greater purpose beyond their comprehension. These women have chosen to share a part of their story and their heart with you with one intention: To inspire you, encourage you, and reassure you that you are not alone in the journey called life.

How long have you been an author?

I have written professionally in my child life career, but writing on a personal level is new to me. This is my first book on a personal topic.

What made you want to write this book?

As we traveled on our journey raising a child born with medical needs, my husband always encouraged me to write about it. He knew that our story would help someone else. It was too hard to write about it early on, because it was still too close to my heart. Taking care of a child with complex medical needs is overwhelming, takes a ton of energy, bombards a parent’s heart and energy levels are way down due to lack of sleep. To say the least, I was not up for the challenge. Now that we are farther along in our journey, when I was asked to be a part of this book my heart immediately said yes. That was my indication that it was time to tell part of our story for others. It was still not easy to write about it, in fact, many tissues were used during the days of putting this story into the written word.

Who would you recommend your book to?

At first, I thought it would be women, but I think just to anyone who’s had a life struggle or knows somebody with a life struggle. It will help you know how they’re feeling and how you can support them.

What are your future goals?

Since the book has launched, each author has shared how it has already touched the lives of women and men alike. We all have told by one or more person’s how one story in the book relates to them. My goal is for as many people as possible to have access to this book so that they know that there are others out there having setbacks and came through them on the other side. This has led me to feel the calling to create other opportunities for women to come together, share their stories, connect with others like themselves and reconnect with the One who can give them the strength, love, and compassion needed to be an overcomer.

What is your background?

I was born in Bremerhaven, Germany while my dad served in the Air Force. I have lived in many parts of Texas since I was 4 years old. I attended UT in Austin and received my bachelor's degree in Child Development. Following college, I began my career as a certified child life specialist and got married. Doug and I have been married for 29 years. Doug was already living in the Houston/Galveston area and that I how I came to move back here. During these 29 years, we started a family and have two sons.

As a child life specialist, I work with hospitalized children and their families. I utilize play to help teach children about their diagnosis and medical procedures. Play also is used to help children cope with being in the hospital, it is used as a way to focus during painful events and to create an environment for normal growth and development. I am a lifetime member of the child life national professional organization, Association for Child Life Profession (ACLP). I have served on the membership committee and currently serve on the Education and Training committee.

Both of my sons are involved in Boy Scouts, which has led me to be a registered leader in the program. I have served on the committee for the pack and troop level, held den leader role in cub scouts, served as an Assistant Scout Master at the troop level and held several leadership training roles in the Bay Area Council. My scouting experience as a leader has allowed me to meet a diverse set of families from around the United States and to help mentor youth. Proud to say that our oldest is an Eagle Scout and our youngest is on track to earn it during this school year. Our oldest son was a student in the Galveston Brazoria Cooperative for the Hearing Impaired (GBCHI) and graduated from Clear Springs High School. While he was in school, we founded a parent support group for families who have children with a hearing impairment. This group not only help to bring peer support among the family members, but it came together in advocating for a change in the school system. Most of the changes that occurred due to this group’s efforts are still in place as of today.

Our family has been members of the League City United Methodist Church (LCUMC) since 1989. I have been involved in the children’s church ministry, play special music on the flute and currently serve on the board of trustees. My favorite part of being a member at LCUMC is being an active member of our Sunday School class. The members of all the Sunday School classes, are friends who you can count on at any time of the day or night. This became evident during the weeks following Hurricane Harvey.

What do you love about League City?

That people here actually do care and love each other. We are not perfect but we strive offer the best of what we have to give.

Favorite thing to do in League City?

The annual Christmas parade. The historic park area is beautiful and having different organizations are out to volunteer alongside everyone. The school rivalries all go to the wayside and everyone comes out to celebrate. That is one time League City has the small town feel in our community.