One of my greatest desires in sharing this testimony with you, is that you may behold the grace that my Saviour has bestowed upon me and longs to share with you. By man's reckoning I have reached the halfway point on my journey through this life. I am thankful God does not reckon as man reckons, but that real life will begin when this one is over.
My first memories were spent on the beach in Ventura, Ca. where I was born. Three brothers precede me and one sister followed shortly after. The wonderful memories of all the little feet clambering on the floor, the hot sand to lie in, the ocean seconds from my house. Bliss!
My first 8 years of school were spent in Catholic schools and church. I received a very high scholastic training. The nuns were very strict- rulers across the hands, uniforms had to be neat and oxford shoes only were allowed. Boys and girls had separate play grounds, mass was attended daily, confessions, penance... As I entered high school, I realized there was a whole world out there that I knew nothing about. The public high school in Southern Ca. offered a good education, but also many other things--drugs, sex, profanity, alcohol, rock music... You could forge your mom's signature to any note you may want to write.
During my high school years we (my rowdy friends and I) stole clothes or food just for the fun of it. We didn't really have to, we had plenty of money. We had virtually everything money could buy. My dad worked very very hard to provide for us.
As life wore on I began to become aware of some harsh realities. A number of the members of my household had become slaves to alcohol and drugs. I was not the least offender to all this sordid lifestyle. Some of it has never been told, and doesn't need to be, because when God took ahold of my life, he washed all that sin out of my life and replaced it with a clean slate as white as the driven snow. HALLELUJAH!
My conversion was a gradual process- I was fighting every step of the way and the Holy Spirit was tugging at my heart. Thank God he never gave up. My brother was quite heavily into drugs and we did everything together. I have the fondest memories of hiking with him in the forests, driving to Arizona, cross country-snow skiing, jumping off humongous rocks into the water, winding up mountain roads... I realize now that we didn't need the high of this world because God's high is much higher than the world's. I didn't need to fill this earthly temple with smoke and booze trying to choke out the world and forget.
One day my brother moved up to Northern California and became a Jesus person. WOW! I share this in common with my husband's testimony of the impact his sister had on his life when she was converted. My brother started sending me Bible verses and talking about the Lord. Weird! I don't know how long this went on, as I wasn't thinking clearly most of the time!!! Curiosity got the best of me, though. My boss said I could take a vacation so I could go up North. When I decided to go, my boss changed his mind so I quite my job. We must be willing to forsake all in this world to follow Christ.
I landed in Berkley, California on my way to a little town near Sonoma called Glen Ellen. I was delayed there at the University (U.C. Berkley) for longer than I should have been as the Devil had his grips on me. I broke loose from there and finally arrived in Glen Ellen. My brother shared a little cottage out in the woods with 2 other guys. I always liked guys, so this was fine by me. It was so cool--they hunted for their food (Oh by the way, I'm a vegetarian now), had fresh turkey and chicken eggs. I didn't even know about these things being a CITY girl. I loved it.
A few days later we went to church. A bunch of country people in long dresses. "Oh well...," I thought. My brother gave his testimony that day of what God had done in his life and how he had changed him completely and gave him a new heart--he stood there weeping. That was it for me. There I was crying (which I never did) in front of all these weird country people in their long dresses and men in beards. I wanted whatever it was my brother had. I prayed with the elders and gave my life and heart to God. The next day I was baptized 2 miles up a windy mountain road in a dough boy pool. Wonderful is all I can say. God gave me new eyes with which to view this world. It was a high that this world could never give. If you've experienced it, I need not say more.
I ended up leaving Southern California and moving up North out of the city. Good move. I met many wonderful people along the way. About four years after this I met my husband (almost love at first sight). We married six months later, and had our son 11 months later. 17 months after that, we had a little girl. She is brain damaged with cerebral palsy. She has to have total care as she can do nothing for herself. My son is now 19 and my daughter 18. Through all the numerous struggles GOD has been there through them all.