May, 2026 CAVARTS Spotlight Feature #1: Kimberly Guidry
Kimberly, a proud Air Force Veteran and children’s author, is transforming a lifetime of military experiences into stories filled with heart, hope, and healing. In her debut book, SweetPea's Chore Challenge: A Bugland Adventure, she reimagines the challenges of growing up in a military family through a lens of courage, positivity, and faith.
After a 27-year career in service, Kimberly discovered a renewed sense of purpose through art and writing—creative outlets that have helped her process her journey, find peace, and inspire others. Her work is more than storytelling; it’s a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the power of turning life’s hardships into something beautiful for future generations.
Name:
Kimberly Guidry
Branch of service:
Air Force
About:
Kimberly, an Air Force Veteran and children's author, draws inspiration from her experiences growing up in a military family. Throughout her life, books became her refuge—a source of strength and how to navigate the challenges she faced. Her stories, infused with themes of courage, love, positivity, and faith, reflect the values that shaped her journey. These guiding principles not only helped her overcome personal obstacles but also led her to uncover deeper truths about herself and the world around her.
Website:
www.strokeofsunshine.org
Social Media Handles:
@kimiguidryveteran
Piece:
Title of Piece:
SweetPea's Chore Challenge: A Bugland Adventure
Link to Purchase:
https://a.co/d/dlZ46hd
Medium of Piece:
Paperback children's book
Meaning Behind Piece:
This book series is about me as a little girl growing up in a military environment and learning to navigate my challenges alone. I want to take negative situations and turn them into positive outcomes. I was writing a book and it got too dark, so I have been blessed with my faith and peace in order to switch the genre and turn ugly into pretty. I'm excited to share my experiences and leave a legacy for my two boys and my grandchildren. It's the big me teaching the little me to look at life through a positive lens. I'm live on AMAZON as a published author and I'm still in shock I was able to accomplish this feat.
What inspires you to create art?:
After coming back from my last deployment I attended a women's retreat. I decided to do a paint class for 3 hours. This provided me an overwhelming peace that I hadn't felt for years. After the retreat, I went and purchased any and all paint supplies I could in order to start painting. This has been the BEST purchase I've ever made in my life. I've found my peace and safe space. I'm now working on a children's book series, because I wanted to continue to be creative. I want to turn my past traumas or challenges into a positive outcome. Writing the children's book has been a healing process for me.
What part of your life has benefited the most from your creative pursuits?:
Unfortunately, I didn't think I was creative until after 27 years of serving in the military. Painting and writing has been a healing process for me. I'm in a better space in my life. I see life differently now and the journey so far has been the best in my healing. I've now found my peaceful safe space.
Is it important for you to challenge yourself in your art? Tell us why or why not!:
Yes, it's very important for me now. I've been an athlete all my life and I served in the Air Force for 27 years, in which I feel both of these were my life's passions. I'm very blessed to find my new life's passion and that is through art and writing books. I'm very blessed to be able to find a new journey in life. Through painting and writing, this has settled my PTSD brain and has allowed me to find my inner and outer happiness. I always enjoyed a challenge and this gives me the challenges that I need to use my brain in a creative positive way. I'm definitely out of the darkness and into the light.
What is your process or ritual to get your creativity flowing?:
My brain doesn't stop now since I've been writing. I've always had a huge imagination and I'm thrilled that now I can tap into this imagination. I want to be able to put on a canvas or paper, my life experiences. This is causing me to be so much more positive and outgoing with others. I'm a planner and list person, so this allows me to organize my thoughts and gives me back my routine and structure that I've missed after serving in the military. My ritual now is when I wake up I say good morning Jesus, say all of my prayers, reflect and do some mindfulness and then I set time to write, or create.
What does CAVARTS mean to you?:
I'm excited to be part of CAVARTS, because I see that this platform is made for all who are serving and have served. I get to connect with others that are in my same situation and have dealt with trauma, pain and negativity in their lives. I feel this is the perfect platform to connect those who want to learn and have the same camaraderie as we all shared in the military.
Our monthly theme is Sound Minds, but Kimberly submitted this earlier this year when we were celebrating Art and Soul. Here’s what she had planned:
I will be promoting my new book and I'll be reflecting on my last year's journey. I want to count my blessings and share my journey to as many people as I can. My journey is about loving myself, forgiving myself and others and to give back to myself. I'm always about learning more and hoping I can contribute to that education through my experiences.
What words of inspiration do you have for your fellow CAVARTists?:
My motto is never a Victim always the Victor. Live your life's truths and be passionate in whatever you want to do. Believe in something that is GOOD and provides you with inner peace and happiness.Continue to be creative and NEVER stop. I'm very blessed to be part of this community and I know I'll be forever grateful for having this camaraderie in which I was desperately seeking for.
