Esther's Jewels sparkle like a beautiful crown! Each jewel represents one of our dear ladies and the ministry the Lord has given to her. Esther has been blessed with ladies who love the Lord! Each lady has such wonderful qualities and we especially enjoy one another's fellowship. Come and rejoice with us as you read about each jewel.
Most importantly, our ladies meet each other's needs by praying, writing notes, sending cards, etc. It is the love that Christ spoke of in 1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren..."
Now... meet our Jewels:
Esther's Jewels sparkle like a beautiful crown! Each jewel represents one of our dear ladies and the ministry the Lord has given to her. Esther has been blessed with ladies who love the Lord! Each lady has such wonderful qualities and we especially enjoy one another's fellowship. Come and rejoice with us as you read about each jewel.
Hi, my name is
Sue. I'm Esther's "owner" and have been for a few years.
Many years ago, I lost a child only
several days old. If I was a Christian before that, I wasn't after. I blamed
God for my loss and could not reconcile myself as to how an "All Good" and "All
Loving" God could let something like that happen.
I went my own way, and tried to find meaning somewhere else. The problem was
that there was no meaning anywhere else. I followed the usual route that grief
takes you. I tried any method that anyone suggested to rid myself of the pain.
Nothing worked. Finally I turned to alcohol and partying. That did not work
either, I only found that it is possible to be lonely in a crowd.
While I was going through all this, I had several Christian friends who stuck by
me and tried as best they could to keep my head above water. I guess that I
would still be dog-paddling along, but something happened ten years ago that
changed my life. My daughter went into premature labor, and the child that we
had been looking forward too was in jeopardy. The weird thing was this happened
on the anniversary of my little daughter's death. I was sure history was about
to repeat itself.
I was in the waiting room and very nervous. I was pacing and crying, alternating
between anger and despair, when a nurse happened to come into the room. She sat
down and talked with me. I didn't ever ask her name, and I can't clearly
remember what she looked like, but I poured my whole life story out to her. I
think she must have been a Christian but I don't know for sure.
There was nothing she said that my friends had not been saying for years, but
somehow, this time they sunk in. This I do remember, she said that we must trust
The Lord in all things. He knows best. She said that when God closes a door He
opens a window. Little did I know it at the time, but He was about to do just
that. In fact He opened three windows.
I'd like to say that I immediately turned to The Lord, but it took two more
years of resisting His tug, before I was ready to stand before Him and admit
that I was a sinner. That I needed Him.
That was 14 years ago. Since then there have been bumps and turns in my road,
but always He is there, to smooth the way and dry my tears. If a day really was
a thousand years long, there would still not be enough time to repay Him.
Hello
Ladies!!
My
name is Della.
I was born in a little town in Maine
called Lebanon in October 1950. I was the oldest of five children. I lived
there until I was 17 and then went to Manchester, New Hampshire to college in
1968 for one year majoring in accounting. Due to financial hardship I had to
quit after a year even though I worked part time which covered my books and
food. Then I stayed at home and worked full time until I was 20 and at that
time went into the Army. I stayed in the Army for 10 years spending five of
those years in Germany and Italy. I met my ex-husband in Italy and moved to
California where I live today.
Lebanon is a small town with less than
1000 people spread out on farms. My dad worked days 6 and sometimes 7 days a
week. My mom worked swing shift. As the oldest, I came home from school and
babysat from the time I was 11. Before that we had a sitter. It is a beautiful
state and I have a very large family there. I really enjoyed school and was a
good student but I was very large for my age, as my daughter has been too. I
was 5’10” by the time I was 13. I got teased a lot since I have a large bone
structure too. I was taller than a lot of the guys. They were jealous. They
used to call me the Jolly Green Giant or yell, “How’s the weather up there?”
After I joined the Army and came home in my green uniform it gave it new
meaning. I rather enjoyed walking through the nearby town where I attended high
school in my uniform. It is a good thing we all grow up. My mom and I have
never been close. She was so busy she either did not notice anything was going
on or just wanted me to be quiet because she did not have time to deal with it
and needed me to help her at home, which I did. I was not allowed to date until
senior year so missed much of my high school’s social occasions. In my senior
year, I brought some guy’s home and after the third one stopped because my
mother gave them such a third degree they ran and did not want to come back.
She was unhappy when I left for college and wanted me to stay home and go to a
local college so I could help her. She told me she dropped out in the 9th
grade and since I had been fortunate enough to finish high school that should be
enough for me. When I came back home she expected me stay and was very unhappy
when I joined the Army and left for good. My dad, on the other hand, was very
supportive and happy for me. He was always there for me. He died in 1983 when
my daughter was 10 days old. He never saw her but my mom and the hospital kept
telling him so he finally understood he had two new grandchildren, my sister
gave birth to her son, the day before my daughter was born.
I joined the Army in May of 1972, and
had basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama through the summer. It was very
hot. Then I went to two schools and became a legal/admin clerk and court
reporter. The Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island was fun because it
was so beautiful there. I was one of two WAC’s there (Women’s Army Corp
members, eventually disbanded) and when the ships came in they found out about
us right away. I was getting emergency calls all night long at the payphone
near the main desk in the barracks and they were gross. After a few nights of
that I was given a whistle, which I used and got a few choice words back and
they quit.
I traveled a lot in the Military and
really enjoyed it. I was stationed in Frankfurt as a battalion legal clerk and
then Nuremberg, Germany as a verbatim court reporter. There was some very
interesting court-martial cases. It is the largest court-martial jurisdiction
in US Army Europe. I loved traveling around to see the castles in Europe. I
also went to East Berlin before the wall came down, Garmish and Bertchesgarten,
which were beautiful. Then I came back stateside to Fort Campbell, Kentucky and
after about a year I just wanted to go overseas again so I asked what was
available and I lucked out because there was an opening at Camp Darby (nicknamed
camp swampy) Italy. It was not far from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I took
square dancing lessons there with my ex-husband and we danced on top of the
tower in full petticoats. It was fun. We also traveled and danced. We danced
in front of the Vatican in Rome.
I also went to Florence to see their
gorgeous artwork and the original statue of David. I went to Assisi where Saint
Frances was born. That was interesting since I went on Easter weekend. They
have a ceremony on Good Friday where they turn off all the lights in town and
light torches on all the buildings on the street. Four men carry a platform
with a statue of Jesus on it covered by a thin veil through town and back
again. It is beautiful there in the mountains.
I visited London on vacation while I
was stationed in Germany and it was wonderful. I met a great guy who drove the
taxi and took me all over London for free, no strings attached. I saw the crown
jewels, the Tower of London, the castles. It was great.
Then I got out in 1982 and came to
California and got married. The first three years were great and then he wanted
to go out and not tell me where he was going. I was at home with a small child
and going to college part time.
He was out of work for six months and
did not want to work. We nearly got evicted and I lost all the memories I had
stored in trunks in storage. In 1992, he left me for another woman who, “made
more money than me”. That is when my personal walk with the Lord began. He
fought me for a year for the divorce. He wanted it but he did not want to marry
her. He just wanted her money and to have the door here open for him. He also
wanted me to pay all our bills and give him our daughter. No way! A friend
invited me to the church I attend today and I felt right at home. I took a
class there just because I needed to be around people and it opened up the Bible
to me and made it come to life. I have been there for 10 years now and my walk
with the Lord has become stronger and closer. They are a wonderful teaching and
evangelistic church. I have taught Sunday school at Kindergarten level for 7
years and have been a Deacon and am secretary of the Evangelism Committee. I
studied to be a Stephen’s Minister and have enjoyed all these ways of serving
our Lord.
My favorite colors: purple and red.
My websites:
http://home.att.net/~direne
I was born into a
Christian family. Some of my early memories are of being in Sunday School and
church. My daddy was Sunday School superintendent, my mom was a teacher, both
served the Lord, and I grew up in a home where God was loved and obeyed and
worshipped. I've never known anything different. There was no teenage
rebellion, I wanted to be a good girl and to please Him.
I was saved when I
was 9 years, not sure, it wasn't written down, this is just a guess. As I
grew I learned more about the Lord and wanted to serve him with my life.
After graduation from
high school I worked in NYC for two years, earned enough money to go to Bible
School at Nyack, NY. There I met my husband Roy, who was a senior in the
school. That was in 1950, we were married December 1951. I had grown up in
the city, but Roy and I went back to his father's farm where I learned how to
milk cows, drive tractor, birth calves, work in the woods, I loved it. We
worked in the church in that town, in charge of the young people. Roy left
the farm after 2 years and got a job in town, it wasn't long until we
discovered that our first baby was on the way. We found a Baptist church and
became resident church janitors, we lived there 4 years, and had 3 babies
during that time.
Roy was in charge of
the young people, and one project was to show them how to serve the Lord by
starting new churches. He did this in a nearby town, started a new church
there. Our pastor preached for a while, then another pastor came. The church
grew and prospered, We stayed there for about ten years. God moved us to
Bethel Baptist where I still am. Our family grew to five, the Lord gave us
our present home, Windy Hill Farm, on 25 acres in the country in Western NY
state. God has been with us the whole time we were together, and blessed us
always. Now that Roy is gone to be with Glory I can look back and see God's
hand in every part of our life. We were never wealthy but God always supplied
our needs. All five of our children went to college, we always had a car, and
were able to pay our bills. We had such a good time while the kids were
growing up, and now that we have grandchildren, I have fun with them too. Roy
and I built a cabin back in the woods, and our family has enjoyed, and still
does.
Roy was called home to
glory in January 1996, after just six weeks. I miss him, but I know God will
care for me until I join him.
I never had a job
while the children were growing, but Roy ran a light fixture store, and I
learned how to assemble and repair and build lights and lamp fixtures. Later,
I learned how to do upholstery, and had my own business for about 25 years,
this included working in a high end furniture factory for 10 1/2 years, being
their upholsterer. When I was 13 I learned to play piano, and this became my
main service for God, playing piano and organ in church, and am still doing
it. I've worked in many different ways in church, it's been my joy to serve
God.
When the children were
young I told them stories, winding our life into silly tales. This has grown
now to include my grandchildren and now It's fun to tell them in Esther. I
loved to tell stories of Jesus to my Sunday school class in the nursery at
church , to 1-2 year olds for about 20 years. I love to make quilts, play
piano, grow flowers, tell stories, and play on the computer.
I live in a lovely part of
England, North Yorkshire. The city I live in York is one of England's most
historic places. We have buildings still in use dating back to the 13th century.
York Minster is the finest Cathedral in Europe. Although I live in the city just
a few minuets drive and I am in some of the most beautiful countryside
imaginable
I am a mother of two, Jason and Helen. I have a wonderful son-in-law and a
gorgeous three-year-old grandchild Joshua, and another grandchild due in August,
Thomas, cannot wait to meet this new member of the family. My beloved Daniel to
whom I was married to for 29 years went home to Jesus on 20th March this year.
I cannot remember a time in my life when I did not know of God or Jesus, my
wonderful grandparents taught me His name and His ways from as long as I can
remember. My parents were not Christians, and my childhood was not a happy one
as my father was an alcoholic who was very violent when drunk, and that was
every day that I can remember from my childhood. However, God is faithful, and
both my parents came to know the Lord before they fell asleep, my mother just a
few weeks before she went home to Jesus, and my father the night before he too
went to be with Jesus. The one thing I have learned over the past 40 years that
I have been in Christ is to never give up in praying for someone's Salvation,
God never gives up until the last breath is taken and neither should we! It has
also taught me a quiet calm confidence in not looking at the circumstances, but
to turn those I love over to Him, and just to be faithful in prayer, leaving Him
to work in their lives, even when it appears to the human eyes nothing is
happening. As a mother I have had the joy of leading my two children to the
Lord, I have also had the pain of watching my daughter rebel against God for a
short time in her life. I realized that there was nothing I could do, 'Sermons'
would only harden her heart, nagging, quoting the Word would all have done the
same. God's word says 'train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is
old he will not depart from it'. I handed Helen over to her heavenly Father, and
Daniel and I prayed. When Helen returned to the Lord in her heart, she told her
father and I, that is a thousand ways, a thousand times a day God reminded her
of who's child she was!! She could turn away, but He never turned away from her,
and reminded her constantly where home was! Thank You Jesus!
It is 40 years since I asked Jesus into my life and gave control of my life to
Him, He is more precious to me than anything or anyone, He IS my reason for
living, and He is the very breath I take.
A new phase in my life has commenced; it is not the path I would have chosen for
myself. I always imagined Daniel and I growing 'old' together, sitting by the
fireside in that quiet communion that years of knowing each other so intimately
brings. That was not to be. God does know best, despite the pain and yes ladies
it does hurt, far more than I could have ever imagined, but the one who called
me by name, wrote my name on the palm of His hand, is the one who is my joy and
strength and comfort. He has not finished with me yet! And has plans for me, and
all He asks is that I follow Him wherever he leads.
These past few weeks after the initial shock, and yes even though I expected it,
it is still a shock, and God has moved me on, although I am only now beginning
to be aware of this. Just before Daniel had the stroke last year I was asked to
help with a scheme for the disabled in our city. I was thinking this over when
Daniel had the stroke. At the time I had to say no to this request, at the same
time it was decided to form a 'Friends of shop-mobility scheme to act as the
fund raising arm for the scheme. The time needed to be given to this arm was
much less in the amount of time spent 'away from home than working in the office
on a regular weekly basis. I prayed this through and it became clear that this
was Gods leading. As it required just one meeting per month, plus work that I
could do at home from my computer and telephone, this was not difficult to fit
around the needs of my husband. Indeed, it was a good outlet for me, something
very necessary when nursing a very sick man for several months.
Since Daniel went to the Lord I have begun a regular weekly session as a
volunteer at the Shop Mobility scheme as well as serving as chair of the friends
of Shop-Mobility. I love my times spent there. Most of the staff and volunteers
are Christians and people my own age group. It is wonderful to fellowship with
them at 'work' The church I attend does not have anyone my own age group, a few
very elderly ladies, but most of the church is under thirty years of age, so it
vital for me to be with other Christians nearer my own age. God knows my needs
and always provides. I enjoy my voluntary work, as a disabled person needing to
use a wheelchair to get around outside, it is a wonderful scheme. I can go to
the city be dropped off right outside the door and get around the city on my
own. It gives me independence and a 'life'. Helping out at the scheme gives me a
chance to give something back to something that brings a great deal of pleasure
into my life.
Another of my great pleasure is my computer. I have met some wonderful people on
the Internet. A wonderful friend who is more like a sister to me than an
Internet friend. I have also met all of you lovely sisters at Esther. God led me
to you, and you bring so much pleasure into my life. Thank You Jesus for
everything. Thank you for the cross, for paying my debt. Thank you that I know a
Fathers love through you. Thank You Father for ALL the blessings you shower on
me day by day, and thank you that one day I will be with you for ever. Yes I am
in a new phase of my life, but I confidently take the hand of the one who has
led me for the past 40 years, knowing that whatever nothing can ever separate me
from His love. The life he has given to me is real life with a capital L.
Hi! I'm CathyAngel. I have two daughters and one son. I'm
a
grandmother of two boys ages 17 and 11. I have been married to my soul
mate for 42 years. I Love the Lord, my favorite part of the Bible is
the Psalms, I prefer the Old King James version because I think the
verses are more poetic. My favorite Psalm is the 23rd, when I'm upset
I recite this Psalm and it seems to help me relax. My favorite
Evangelist is Billy Graham, he's so On Fire for the Lord, you can tell
just by listening to him how much he Loves the Lord Jesus. I could
listen to Billy for hours. I also like some of the others. Chuck
Swindoll, John MacArthur to name a few. My favorite past time is my
puter and listening to spiritual music. I like both Gospel and Praise
music. I also love classical music. I like to just sit and listen to a
concerto by Beethoven or Brahms sometimes I like the music just slow
and easy, other times I like it to speed up like Revel's Bolero or The
William Tell Overture.
The Lord has given me a gift for
poetry and I use it to Praise and
Glorify His name.
I love collecting angels of course!
My sweet friend Angelic Angie sent me one for
Christmas last year and I put it on my tree and I will every year from now on.
H
ello
Ladies!!
my name is wendy
It is a
wonderful and delightful to be part of the Esther Group. I have been blessed
more times over and I am just so happy to have not only sisters of love, but
true friends. I am married with 4 children, one which is disabled (Tabitha) and
cannot walk, talk, see, eat on her own nor move around without assistance. SHE
WAS APART OF MY SALVATION....and without her I would not be here today.
In the
beginning of my life's journey I married a man who loved me but I ventures with
Satan and took the wrong road. Something I would never ever go back to all the
days of my life. I hurt Walt deeply and the LORD through experiences after my
divorce was showing me the way but I just did not capture it. The Lord forgave
me for my wrong and so did my ex-husband and that meant the world to me.
I then
met a man which I felt deeply in love with and had 3 children with. Allan III,
Tabitha and Ashley. But before Ashley was conceive Allan Jr. ran away from his
life and himself, which enabled me to learn that GOD gave me the strength
survive, cope and deal with life's challenges. I went through such an ordeal
with Tabitha that it was not until my friend Michele took me to a BIBLE church,
that I then understood my life and what I wanted which GOD by my side. HE GAVE
ME SALVATION!!!!! The most precious gift I could have ever received. God made it
happen he changed my life around and helped me to raise my children alone. Even
after my children's father passing away to sit at the right hand of the father.
I still had the will as a mother to move forward.
Before that day came I had met my husband now Roy. He came into my life right
when I needed it, like Jesus enabled our paths to cross. Roy and I have been
married almost a year now and we are trying our best to give these children a
future. We have a beautiful daughter together Alexandria who will be almost 2
years old. And we have been maintaining and dealing with life's obstacles
together. We are even planning our future now to gain property in WV and build a
better environment for the children.
With God's will and his plan for us we can survive in today's world. And one day
see the beauty that he hath created for us all. To all of you now, I only say
this. CHERISH what you have today for tomorrow you may not have it, LOVE the
one's you dislike for tomorrow there will not be that chance to grab and
APPRECIATE your ability because some of us do not have it. FOR what a WONDERFUL
THING TO have is our senses.......the most powerful of them all is the COMMON
sense we all have been given....GOD BLESS you sister in Christ Wendy in MARYLAND
I live outside New Bern
North Carolina in a cross road named Cove City. If anyone has read the Notebook
by Nicholas Sparks, it took place in New Bern. We are 90 miles from Raleigh and
50 miles from the beach right smack in the center of hurricane alley, but we
grew up on Long Island and we are use to it!! Sue is my husband's aunt and this
why you see me say hi Aunt Sue. I am thankful that she showed me the Esther
site.
My testimony really is not
that earth moving. I felt an emptiness in my life and started to attend a
church here in New Bern, NC. I have been truly blessed with a loving church
family. Last year, Ralph and I were having major problems. After many months
of constant battles, he asked me what he had to do. I told him to be in church
next Sunday. Not only did our marriage get stronger but so has our Christian
life. Last year, after we placed our membership, we were asked to represent our
church at the synod conference in Hickory, NC. We were suppose to go up there
and hear all the synod business . But our Lord and Saviour had different plans
for Ralph and I. I am now on the church council. I am the chairperson of the
Social Ministry and I have about 5 committees under me. Ralph is co-chair of
the Lutheran Brotherhood Disaster Relief Committee. They go out and help in
case there's another flood here in eastern NC. Due to his health, he has to
stay behind at church and man the phones.
Yes, I can thank God for the
miracle He has done in our lives! Praise His name forever! I have two
children, a son David who will be 28 in July . I am expecting my
daughter-in-law, also in July. They have decided to come here to New Bern to
get married in our church. I also have a daughter, Kathryn, who will be 23 also
in July. She works at a daycare here in New Bern and she has not decided if she
wants to go into the Air Force or college. I was also blessed with three loving
step sons, James 27, Thomas 24, and Adam 23. Yes, it was like raising twins on
the weekends as Adam and Kathryn are only 5 days apart. No wonder I am
gray!!!!!
I am 49 approaching the good
ole age of 50 in August 22nd. Tis why I am mary822!!
My favorite colors are blue,
light blue and all shades of yellow.
My favorite Bible verse is
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and 1 Peter 5:7.
The Lord has blessed me with a
soprano voice and I love to sing unto Him! I have only one problem ... I can
not read music to save my life. So they just let me learn the tune before I
join in at choir :-) I guess that is about it for mary822.
God Bless all of you and thank
you for having me as part of your group!
God Bless mary822
Hi My Name Is Wyndy C
I am 51 years old soon to be 52
I live in a small town in northern Saskatchewan, Canada
beside a river in the forest.
I have a husband Ted, a corgi Simon, and two cats, Salt and Tigger.
I am an Avon representative. I have a degree in political science, history and
nursing. I have been a born-again Christian since 1977 but have attended the
United Church of Canada all my life,
in fact, one of the regular disagreements with my parents was having to play the
organ on Sunday mornings all through high school
- I wanted to sleep in. *smile*. I collect angels and butterflies
and websites. I am interested in alternative medicine
and health and help to monitor the Healthy Eating group.
Hi, my name is Janet.
I live in Victoria B.C.
My husband and I both came to the Lord in 1963 at a "Barry Moore"
crusade. We had our 40th. wedding anniversary last Sept. We have five
children and five grandchildren!
The Lord has given me the gift of teaching small children, which I
have done for a number of years.
The Lord has reunited us with one of our daughters whom we have not seen
in over six years.
My favorite color is red
My favorite Bible verse is Phil. 4:13
My favorite hymn is "It is Well With My Soul"
I live
in the Midwest near Louisville, KY. I am a homemaker and stay at home mom and
love every minute of it. I volunteer a lot at school. My hobbies are reading
(when I find the time), playing cards, and doing cross stitch. I like learning
new words in Russian. I studied Russian in Junior and High School and still love
picking up a new word here and there. I accepted Christ when I was 11 years old
at a Southern Baptist Church during bible school one summer.
Hi my Name is Joan
Imarried my first husband when I was very young. He was in the Air Force
stationed in Ft. Worth, TX. We both were very immature. We had two children,
Michael and Kim. I loved my babies so much and wanted them to have a stable home
so badly and I was also raised by very strict parents who did not recognize the
word "divorce". So, we rocked along for twenty years - both not very kind to
each other. He was gone so much in the Air Force which helped keep the marriage
together. There were other women during these twenty years but I tried to just
ignore it.
When we got transferred to AR, I decided to go to work outside the home. This
helped me gain confidence in myself and I had lost my parents in a tragic
incident, so I decided I would leave my husband. He filed for divorce
immediately and was married again in a couple of weeks. My son was 18 at this
time and my daughter 14.
I met John, my current husband, in 1982. After telling everybody repeatedly I
would never remarry, we were married in 1984. John is a very good husband. He
retired from the Air Force in 1982 and then retired from the Post Office in
1997. My greatest heartache is that he is not saved. While I can say he is a
very good man, he will not open his heart to God. I try to not harp on it and I
try to live my live in a way to witness to him. It is a touchy situation and I
welcome prayer for our marriage and John's salvation.
I was raised in the Baptist church and we were in church every time the doors
were open. I went forward as a young girl and told everybody I was saved but I
later discovered this was not true. I stopped going to church after I married
but there was always a nagging in my heart that something was missing. I did not
start back to church until after I married John. Just got up one day about a
year after we were married and told John I was going to church. This surprised
him but out the door I went. I went to the first Baptist church I came to and
fell in love the Pastor and people. The church is a strong New Testament Church
and I have learned so much there. Well, it didn't take me many Sundays before
the Holy Spirit touched me and I opened my heart to my Savior and my Lord. There
was so faking here - I acknowledged I was a sinner, confessed my sins, repented
and thanked the Lord for sending His only Son to die for me so I could live.
While there have been tragedies in my life, I have to say God has truly blessed
my life. My son had a brain Aneurysm in 1990 and it was already bleeding when
they did the surgery. It was deep in the brain but he did survive - Praise the
Lord. However, he is 100% disabled now. He has had many emotional and mental
problems since this time but he is on medication and doing great. He is able to
live alone and I check on him very often. I am proud to say he loves the Lord so
much and does not hesitate to tell people this.
My daughter is married to a man in the Air Force. They have their up and downs
but I love her husband as a son so try to never interfere. I wish they were more
faithful in their Christian walk though. When my only grandchild was born, Jim
was gone with the Air Force so I got to be Kim's coach. Wow! That is all I can
say. It was fantastic to see my beautiful grandchild come into this world. My
daughter had many complications and she is not able to have further children so
Jayme is really special to us all. Now, I will have to admit I have contributed
to spoiling her a wee bit. She is a strong willed young lady but loved so
deeply.
I love to read my Bible and study God's Word. My husband teases me that I don't
need any more Bibles, but I seem to feel I have to always have just one more. I
do like to read different translations and I also think this helps me understand
better.
I retired when I was 60 years old. I had worked for Regal Ware, Inc. for nearly
20 years when they closed their plant in AR. I was the H.R. Manager when they
closed. I am a very quiet person (nearly an introvert) so people have always
laughed over what I did. I tried to do my job as God wanted me to. I never
failed to say a silent prayer when a discipline problem came up or if somebody
came to me for counseling. When I did retire, I was proud to say Jesus was
visible in all my actions during my work career. I had many people tell me over
the years they could tell I was a Christian. What a compliment!
While viewing a Christian website I saw Esther listed as one of the top
Christian sites. I felt led to go to this site and I have been blessed every
since. I pray I will be a blessing to my Esther sisters and I am blessed daily
by them.
My name is Barbara S
My first marriage to Otto resulted in 4 children. Monique is now 35, Dave is
33, Ray is 30 and Michael is 25, He was a gambler, alcohlic and abused the kids
and me. He wouldn't admit to having any problems and thus did not participate in
counselling. I did initially until the counsellor said he really needed to see
both of us. The problems began after we were married about 4 years and we had
just celebrated our 14th anniversary when I walked away.
When I met Allen we were both patients in the hospital. A friendship developed.
We would see each other when he came to the hospital for clinic appts. I worked
there. The meetings were by chance if I was on a break. He was married but not
happily. Men can also be abused...they just don't talk about it. Allen was
everything Otto wasn't. One day months later we had coffee together and he told
me he was separated and living with a son. He lived in my neighbourhood and
started attending the same church as I and the kids. Months later I had a
nervous breakdown and was advised to end a loveless marriage. My health was
going diwnhill fast. I tried to make it work but one day decided I couldn't
handle it any more and walked away with 3 of the children. Dave wanted to stay
with his dad.
Allen was my saving grace. He helped me get my life back on track. He thought of
my children as his own and showed them a father-like love they had never known.
We had 13 years of being together when the Lord called him home. We had always
felt that our Heavenly Father had put us together.. During visitation at the
funeral hone the day before the funeral, while talking with the Priest who had
worked with me during my first marriage, separation and divorce plus the union
with Allen, he made the comment that he had always liked Allen and that he "was
certainly the
light at the end of the dark tunnel I had been travelling down".
Unfortunately, Monique managed to become an unwed mom. She was not mature enough
for this role and I prayed she would put the baby up for adoption. We weren't in
a position to take on the responsibility of a new-born but she insisted on
keeping Robyn. He will be 14 on April 24 and is Grandma's precious jewel. At
about the age of 7, he was diagnosed with ADHD and has a learning and
comprehension problem. He has had a rough life. Monique still lacks a lot in
parenting skills but has tried her best. Her lifestyle leaves a lot to be
desired but I won't go into that. She is still unwed but fortunately she cannot
have any more children.
Dave is a confirmed bachelor so no grandchildren expected from there. Ray is
engaged to Sarah (a very loving and great girl) and has been for nearly 3
years). Don't know why the delay in taking the next step. Michael has a
girlfriend of about 3 years (Milena). Have yet to meet her as they are in
Florida but have spoken with her many times on the phone and she also appears to
be a very loving girl. Maybe one day Sarah and Milena will give me more
grandchildren. One can only pray.
Hi ladies
my name is Mary Lou,
I was born into a Christian family and attended church from the time I was about
a month old. At the age of 5 my mom says I asked Jesus into my heart but I
remember doing it at about 7 and at 9 I was baptized to join the Baptist church.
My dad was a farmer/truck driver so my sister and brother and I had to help with
the feeding and watering of the animals as well as haying carrying wood, weeding
the garden and canning or harvesting them. We were poor but knew we were loved.
We didn't have a TV till I was 12 but did a radio so to this day I love music
and like to read.
After graduating from High School I went to Glen Cove Bible college in Glen
Cove, Maine where I met my husband. We began dating in May 1972 and were married
on that date a year later.
I moved to Stratton where he was working in a saw mill and we began our life
together. It hasn't been easy we've had our troubles but are still together
.During that time I taught a Good news Club and enjoyed it very much. I wanted
children so badly and would cry month after month cause we didn't have any.
Finally we moved down nearer my family again and we attended an Assembly of God
Church where we sang in the choir and taught 4&5 year olds. Things were fine
till I found my husband looking at every new baby and I figured I couldn't give
him one so we split up for 3 months. The worst 3 months of my life. Then he
asked me to go see a friend with him and they offered me to stay there if I
needed to so I did. During this time I learned about a loving caring God. Soon
we got our own place and I began reading my Bible like a story book.
After several months of reading and studying I knew I wasn't a Christian so I
called Doug and told him I needed to be come a Christian. He said meet me at the
building in an hour. Al and I were both Baptized into the Lord at 11P.ME.
In Nov. of !991 they discovered I had uterine cancer and I had a complete
hysterectomy leaving me no chance to have children. Then in May of 2000 my
husband was having spells at work so a MRI was done when they discovered cancer
and did surgery then Radiation then Chemotherapy. During this time I was working
with Mentally handicapped adults as a house manager,a job I loved,but there was
just too much on my plate so I had to go back to direct care which I really
didn't mind.Everyone asked me if I was still working but I didn't know why. I
knew I was tired and weak but didn't realize my muscles had been destroyed by
that time it was too late. Now I suffer from not only arthritis but gout, FSGS,a
kidney disease, but also anemia, and neurotherapy. God has been good though and
our needs seem to be met some how. Al is such a big help and without him I don't
know what I would do as I can't do much cooking or be around anything too hot as
I might burn myself.
One day I was searching through the internet and saw this thing that said other
sites or links so I clicked on it and found Esther which has become such a
blessing to me. Thank you my sisters for brightening my life.