At age 56 – 1994 to be exact (In case you are wondering, I’m now 78) I finally came to know and accept the Lord personally! It amazes me the way the Lord has worked in my life! Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” What a plan he had for me!

My husband, Don and I were both born, baptized and raised by religious parents. We both attended religious schools and abided by all the rules of our religion. We married in 1958 and raised our children the same way — 2 boys and 4 girls. Our second oldest daughter, Laura, was born with Rett Syndrome, which is basically a missing enzyme. As a result, she is wheel-chair bound and is mentally at the level of a 3-month-old. The doctors said she wouldn’t live beyond 21 — She’s now 55! Praise the Lord! But that’s a whole different story!

So…we taught CCD, worked with Teen Challenge, became involved in the Charismatic Movement. Marriage Encounter. Cursillo,”A Short Course in Christianity”, we were lay ministers and members of our church council. These experiences encompass about 40 years of religious living, but we never really studied the Bible, we were too busy working our way to heaven and were always wondering if it was enough.

But as Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through the gift of God — not by works, lest any man should boast.” Well, in the early 90’s we were asked to join a group studying the Bible. We did and then started questioning our life long beliefs. Finally — after a long search, we joined a Bible-believing church and accepted the Lord. Then the testing began…my husband’s job was dissolved at age 60, our savings disappeared, our health insurance was lost, we took a huge financial loss on our big home — down-sizing to a more affordable home. We lost a lot materially, but at the same time, our family was given all the spiritual wealth that God has to offer! All of our children came to the Lord!!

Once I accepted the Lord, I developed an unquenchable thirst to know and study God’s word — Joel 2:25 says: “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten!” And God did! I immersed myself in listening to tapes and Christian radio — Anyone ever hear of J. Vernon McGee?…an old but solid country preacher…I loved him! But I knew I needed structure, so…Don and I both became involved in many Bible Studies, but especially Bible Study Fellowship — which was very similar to this community Bible Study. For 12 years Don would get up at 5 a.m. on Saturdays to go to his leader’s meetings. Then lead his group on Monday nights from 9-11 p.m. He would stay home each Monday and Tuesday mornings long enough to get our Laura on the bus to her Special Needs Program so I could do the same – Mondays leader’s meeting and Tuesdays, lead my group.

Well…God was definitely preparing me for the year 2006 — 10 years ago…in January of that year, my oldest daughter’s husband lost his battle with cancer — he was 48 and they had 6 young children. A month later, my oldest son, Don, his wife and 6 children, who lived just 5 minutes away, left to be missionaries in Bolivia. Our world was changing…then five months later on September 26, my wonderful husband of 48 years died of a sudden massive heart attack. I was devastated…and the only thing that got me through was my faith and trust in God’s promise that one day we will be reunited – because of His Son!

2 weeks after Don’s funeral, I had such a need to get back to my Bible Study group and be in God’s Word — and with the help of my precious daughter Stephanie, who is with the children’s group upstairs, coming every Monday and Tuesday to get Laura out to the bus, I was able to do so!  Jeremiah 31:13 says: “I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them and make them rejoice rather than sorrow.” That’s what being in God’s Word did for me.

To this day I am amazed at the peace beyond understanding God has given — Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I thank God for this and the great gift of good memories!