MY PRESENT: Have you heard that life begins at 40? Well, I just turned 40 and I am just beginning a new life. For almost a year and a half, I was separated and standing and praying for the restoration of my marriage. I believed that was what God wanted me to do. This last year and a half has been the most challenging of my life. I had never really lived alone before and it was terrifying at first and then became miserable…. but, it gave me the opportunity to spend time developing a relationship with God. Yet, I was not living a victorious Christian life. I felt like if I gave up praying for my marriage I was not being obedient to God. I felt opressed and heavily burdened over it for a very long time. I recently heard Joyce Meyer say that at one time she had enough Jesus in her to keep her out of hell, but not enough to keep her walking in victory. Well, I could definitely relate. But, I am ready for victory and I finally have peace with moving on with my life. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do. I know He has awesome plans for me (Jer. 29:11) and I am excited to find out what they are!! So... a bit about me…. I am a college instructor. I have the cutest dog in the world (do not try to argue - she is!) I am blessed with a fabulous family and awesome friends. My closest friends are men - I do not typically like "chick" activities. I am disorganized, I don’t cook well, and nobody will mistake me for a bikini model. But, I love God and I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139). I attend Free Chapel in Gainesville, GA. You should check out our services on TBN (Kingdom Connection) or on streamingfaith (http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/content/view/36/137/). I am not as strong in my Christian walk as I want to be, but I realize that I will never be perfect and I am cool with it. Jesus said that he came so that we may have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). I am ready to live life to the full!!!
MY FUTURE: This summer, I will be writing up the results of my dissertation research and I plan to finish my PhD by December. As far as future plans...I want to learn how to ride a motorcycle and how to waterski. I want to go on a cruise, go back to Mexico, and go to China. In the next few years, I want to adopt at least one child and continue to grow in my Christian walk. I also want to find more ways to help others - possibly do some mission trips. Did you see the second Terminator movie? Remember Sarah Connor’s monologue at the end??? It was something about the future being unwritten and she could finally face it with anticipation (okay – my memory is not great either so that might not be exactly what she says)… Well, only God knows my future, but I can finally face it with anticipation and total peace.
MY PAST: I taught special education for almost 13 years (middle schoolers with moderate to profound mental retardation, then special needs preschool, then elementary school kids with physical disabilities). I spent too many years partying and being selfish. I lived 38 years of my life without putting God first which was a life without true peace, joy, and purpose. I have a different perspective on life now and I want different things than I did in my previous existence. To quote a Ricardo Sanchez song, “I’m not going back. I’m moving ahead. I’m here to declare to you, ‘My past is over.’ In You, all things are made new. Surrendered my life to Christ. I’m moving, moving forward…†(See my friends list and go listen to it on his space! Very awesome!)
