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laughinggirl -> RE: Our Testimonies (2/22/2008 12:35:50 PM)
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I was born to loving parents in a Christian home, and I prayed to receive Christ at the age of 4. I still remember it distinctly. The minister prayed the prayer at the end of his sermon. I thought, “Hmm, I haven’t done that yet, and I probably should.” So I prayed along with him, and that was that. I prayed the prayer many times again over the next few years; I guess I thought that since I was so young, it didn’t “take” the first time. My dad finally prayed with me again, once and for all, at the age of 10, and I was baptized on Easter Sunday a few days later.
My dad was a teacher and my mom stayed home with me and my two younger brothers. We were poor. At one point when I was 7, I remember having to have some medical tests done and worrying about the cost because I knew we couldn’t afford it. Of course, my parents made a way, but it’s weird for me now to think I was already worried about money at such a young age. We had a huge garden and chickens in the backyard and sewed our own clothing; this was out of economic necessity, long before being “green” or organic was cool. In fact, it WASN’T cool then, and that was hard for me. I was always considered different by my peers, both because we were poor and because I was the goody-goody Christian girl. I was homeschooled, at my own request, during grades 6-8, which added to the feeling of being different when I returned to public school in grade 9.
I worked very hard as a child, both in our own home/garden, and elsewhere to earn extra money. I started babysitting, picking rocks out of our garden (a nickel a bucket), cleaning houses, mowing lawns, anything to earn a little extra. By the time I was in high school, I was pretty much responsible for purchasing most of my own clothing, shoes, etc. I was valedictorian of my high school class, and earned some scholarships that made it possible for me to attend college. My parents and I worked together to pay for it, and somehow I made it through. I earned stellar grades because with good grades generated more scholarship money. Earning A’s was like a job in itself, in addition to the other jobs I held during that time. I taught piano, babysat for my professors, had a campus job, and at one point was the secretary at my church. I graduated in 5 years with both my BBA & MBA in accounting. I was so glad when it was over; I’ve never worked harder in my life. However, it was a good experience and I made some great friends who I hold very close even to this day.
At this point, I assumed that the natural next step would automatically occur – I’d always wanted to be a wife and mom and now that I had finished college, it was time, right? Not so much. I spent the next decade or so working as an accountant, being active in my church, and crying out to God about my prolonged singleness. When I turned 30, things changed for the better. I had developed more confidence. I had a tight-knit group of wonderful Christian friends. I finally was making enough money to do some really fun things, like traveling all over the U.S. and Europe with my friends. I am now thankful that God gave me that time with them and allowed me to have those experiences. I wouldn’t trade them for the world, even though at the time I would have traded them in an instant for the chance to be married and have a family. God knew best.
Then, in His infinite love and wisdom, in 2005 God saw fit to bless me with the finest man I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. We met on eHarmony, of all things. Brian is a kind, loving, good, godly man – and he is the best husband I could have ever dreamed of for myself. We met and married in just less than a year, on May 6, 2006, and we saved ourselves for our wedding night. That year was a whirlwind of romance and excitement, and after a year and a half of marriage, it just keeps getting better. Brian has a mild case of cerebral palsy which causes his right arm and leg to be smaller and weaker than his left side. Sometimes I think God saved him for me until we were older – I was 32 and he was 31 - so that I would be mature enough to realize what a true gem he really is and not dismiss him based on any perceived limitations. He really isn’t limited much at all, and most of the time it doesn’t even register to me that he’s “different” anymore, because I love him so much and all of his uniqueness. After waiting for SO LONG and nearly giving up on marriage altogether, the life I have now with him is a blessing beyond words.
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