🌿 A Life Rooted in Healing & Heritage

I was born and raised in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, where the mist settles in the trees and the medicine of the earth runs deep in our roots. As an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, I carry with me the stories of resilience, reverence for the natural world, and a deep understanding that healing is both a spiritual and physical journey.

 

My life’s path has been woven through many roles — healer, teacher, minister, businesswoman, and mother. With over 30 years of experience in children’s ministries and education, I’ve poured my heart into creating safe, joyful spaces for kids to express themselves through dance, theater, and faith-based creative arts. I’ve run my own clinics, led community wellness programs, and launched holistic health businesses where my work as a licensed massage therapist, herbalist, and aromatherapist has allowed me to treat bodies, minds, and spirits with dignity and compassion.

 

But even with a life so full, something shifted. I found myself in a quiet season of longing — for connection, for companionship, and for creative purpose.

​

🐾 Then Came Angelina

Enter Angelina the Adventure Cat — a fluffy Maine Coon with polydactyl thumbs, fierce intelligence, and the gentlest green eyes I’d ever seen.

She wasn’t just a pet. She was sent from God. Her name means "Messenger of God"

 

From the moment we met, she knew things. She could sense my anxiety before I spoke a word. She alerted me to migraines before I could feel them coming. She comforted me on dark days when I couldn’t explain the ache in my heart. She pressed her paws (thumbs and all!) into my hand like she was holding it — and maybe she was.

Today, Angelina is a trained Medical Alert Cat. She also talks using Petfluent buttons, which she uses to ask for walks, tell me she loves me, or gently nudge me into self-care when I forget to pause. Her vocabulary grows with each season — and so does her place in my heart.

 

📚 A Story Was Born

One day, sitting in the garden where I often prayed and wrote, I imagined Angelina finding a tiny door at the base of an oak tree. A door that opened into another world…

A magical garden.
A glowing path.

Fairies, frogs, and a curious cat named Angelina.

 

That moment became the seed of our first children’s book:
"Angelina the Adventure Cat and the Garden of Whiskerwinks"

 

Though whimsical in tone, the heart of the story is very real — it’s about healing, bravery, friendship, and the sacred connection between a girl and her guardian cat. Since its release, it’s touched readers from all walks of life — children, homeschool families, special needs households, and grownups rediscovering wonder through their pets.

 

🙏 Faith in Every Footstep

At the center of all I do is my faith. I believe God works through creation — through plants, through prayer, through people… and sometimes, through paws.

 

Angelina’s ability to sense pain and bring peace is no accident. I believe she was given to me not just for companionship, but as a vessel for healing and love. Our story is one of divine timing, grace, and restoration.

That’s why my books and products — while playful and imaginative — are also steeped in purpose. Whether you’re downloading a Pet Adventure Journal or reading a bedtime story from Whiskerwinks, you’ll find encouragement, empathy, and a quiet invitation to trust in something greater.

 

✨ What This Website Offers

Here at angelinatheadventurecat.com, you’ll find:

​

• 📖 Books – Our growing children's series filled with magical adventures & life lessons

• 🎒 Pet Adventure Journals – Printable tools for creative play, pet bonding, and emotional reflection

• 📸 Behind-the-Scenes – Real-life stories, training tools, and social media updates

• 🐾 Resources for Families – Especially those navigating anxiety, autism, homeschooling, or emotional support animals

• 💌 A Faith-Fueled Community – Where healing, play, and spiritual connection coexist

 

🐱 From My Heart to Yours

Every part of this journey — from writing books to sharing Angelina’s life online — is about creating meaningful connection. I want kids to feel seen. I want families to feel encouraged. I want those who feel “different” or “too much” to realize they’re exactly as they were designed to be.

So whether you came here for a storybook, a printable, or just a fluffy dose of joy… welcome. This space is for you.

 

With grace, gratitude, and a little cat hair,
Maria E. Lyons & Angelina