This is the first time I've ever given my testimony... I was born in 1964 in Carrollton, Ky. to Christian parents. My brother, sister and I were raised in the Christian life. I accepted Jesus at the age of nine; as a matter of fact, my brother and I accepted Jesus on the same night..and were both baptized together! I remember mom had me in one room, and dad had my brother in another room, making sure we both understood the decision we had made! New Year's Day, 1977 -- my family was traveling home to Georgia after a visit with mom's family in Kentucky. A car hit us from behind, causing dad to lose control of our van, and we crashed off the interstate. The car that hit us left the scene (we later found out it was two teen boys who were high on drugs and had been drinking). Mom was killed instantly. The rest of us were alright, except for a couple of broken legs. I COULD NOT believe mom was gone. This was something that happened to other people, not my family. I think my dad and we three kids were in a state of shock for several days after mom's funeral. But I remember.... I never got mad at God..never blamed Him. I don't know why. I was a 12 yr. old child...maybe I had "that child-like faith". I missed mom desperately and wanted her back, but I never lost my faith that Jesus was there... taking care of me and taking care of mom! My dad remarried seven months later to a woman who had lost her husband to a terminal illness in January 1977. She was.. and is..the best thing that happened to us since mom's death. She has a son and daughter...we are all very close to this day! It's amazing to me that we all blended together so wonderfully! Don't get me wrong...we had our share of problems..but we stayed close through it all!! I was basically a good kid...until I graduated from high school and started x-ray school. There I was introduced to a world of partying! That was the thing to do with the class I was in... go out to clubs and drink, drink, drink! And that is just what I eventually did...joined the crowd and went out to drink and dance at the bars. I turned my back on God and the way I was raised...even though I continued to go to church. I wasn't worshipping God there.. I was just showing my face there. I still believed in God...I just didn't show it AT ALL! Instead of following God's Word...I wanted to have FUN!! I hadn't had fun like this ever before in my life. I had fun dancing with all the guys...and getting drunk. Eventually, I quit going to church at all. Why bother...I stayed out too late on Saturday nights anyway! I was in such a sad state and didn't even care! I married at age 20 to a man who did go to church. We started going every Sunday. I had our daughter and son by the time I was 23. We always had them in church. Only problem was...we were living a lie. My dh had a problem with drugs. He was arrested for a drug deal when I was 8 months pregnant with our second child. He had to leave for 6 months to live in a halfway house. This was the beginning of the end of our marriage. I was left to raise 2 children under the age of 2 by myself..went from 2 incomes to 1 income..bill collectors started calling.. and I became full of resentment towards my dh. I quit going to church and gave up on my marriage. My resentment consumed me. Satan had a strong hold on me! I stayed in the marriage for another 6 years (for the kids) but I filed for divorce in 1992. I met a man before the divorce was final and had an affair with him for several months before it ended. I started missing God in my life and wanted to get back into church. But I had such a tremendous amount of guilt from the divorce and the affair that I let it keep me from God and church. Satan had such a hold on me through my guilt. I asked God over and over to please forgive me...but I would never accept His forgiveness. I started going out with friends again to bars and drinking. (I couldn't stand to be home alone without the kids while they visited their dad on his weekends). I let this night life fill a void in me that I refused to let God fill. I let my guilt rule my life! January 1994 -- I was introduced to Darry (my dh now). We started dating in April 1994. He was also divorced and has 2 daughters. We married in June 1997. I was still not going to church and following Jesus. Yet..I prayed to God often. 1999 - my stepmom asked me to read "Left Behind". I read it and was hooked! (Revelation has always been one of my faves). It also awakened my need for God in my life. My sister asked me to come to her church to see if I liked it. My family went in June 1999. We visited just as VBS was starting. I volunteered to help...and that's how our kids and myself got to know everyone well! Within 3 weeks of attending this church, we joined! I re-dedicated my life to Christ...and.... my dh accepted Jesus and was baptized the next Sunday!! PTL!!!!!!!!!! All four of our children accepted Jesus and were baptized before the end of the year!! December 2001 -- we are still at the same church..we love it! My dh is very involved in the "Brotherhood"..and I was recently elected for WMU director for 2001-2002. Talk about coming a LLLOOOONNNNGGGG way!! God has blessed me and my family tremendously in these past 2 years that we came back to Him! I have experienced an abundant amount of spiritual growth in these 2 years. I can't get enough of God's Word! All four children are very active in their youth groups! I praise God for being a merciful God...for not giving up on me or turning His back on me like I did to Him. He still loved me while I was away from Him..and He has forgiven my sins...ALL OF THEM!! Our God is an AWESOME GOD!! I love him with all my heart! I know this got long...thanks for staying with me through my first testimony! Now I need to share this with my church family! I'm glad to share this with my "net" family!! Anita