I grew up in an unstable home.  My mother had three marriages by the time I was 10 yrs. old.  I never saw my real father.  We moved every two or three years, with no stable school or home.  I had difficulty in making friends for that reason.  My grandmother basically raised me since my parents were always busy.  She instilled good Christian values in me.  She took me to church and I learned about Jesus; but I never had a change in my life.  I was just going through the motions. 

I was ten when mom, her third husband, and me moved across the country, far from the rest of the family.  I resented the new family, including his two little girls, and became rebellious.  At school I befriended kids who were smoking, drinking, and having sex.  At 12, my mom decided I was out of control.  At the suggestion of her pastor, she sent me to a Christian foster home.  It was very strict, but after a few months I straightened up and grew to love the family.  At the end of a year, I didn’t want to leave, but had to.

Back at home, I soon returned to my old ways.  Mom asked Grandma if I could come back to live with her.  Grandma sent me to Calvary Baptist School from 9th to 12th grades.  I was living a double life – acting one way at school, but sneaking out at night to be with my old friends.  I got pregnant at 16 and secretly had an abortion, which would be one of many.

After High school, at the encouragement of Grandma, I entered nursing school, living in the dorm.  My life of drugs and boys increased, going in and out of relationships, schoolwork suffered.  The second year of college, one boyfriend introduced me to cocaine, then crack.  I graduated from nursing school, but after failing the state boards three times, gave up on that career.  I worked as a medical assistant for the next eight years, but continued to use drugs and live with guys.