About Me

Welcome to my page "If I had walked with Jesus"

First off, let me assure you that I am NO expert in the Religious field of study. I am an ordinary individual just like you, who is taking this opportunity to share bible study time with you. I like to go slow and imagine myself in that time and wonder what else was going on around what we read. I ask OODLES of questions and most of them won't be answered here on earth.

Over the years I have had many ups and downs in my walk with Jesus, but I have never wandered so far away that I couldn't hear him in the background calling to me. My heart grieves for those who have, but that is not my story.

During my walk, especially in the down times, I have come to rely on journaling. It started with simply putting down my thoughts, pain in particular, and letting them lead me where they would. That process brought me a little peace but not nearly as much as I craved. When I finally invited my bible, and my Lord, into my journal time I began receiving more of the peace I was so desperately seeking. Is everything peaceful and perfect for me now? Not hardly!!

I tried approaching the scriptures through the typical bible study methods (i.e. topical studies, in depth analysis) but always felt lost or unqualified. It wasn't until I simply read a short passage and wrote about what I had read, while placing myself in that picture, that I felt connected to God's word. I would imagine what the people around the character were doing, or come up with a question I knew someone must have been thinking at the time. Often these questions lead me to inspiration or insight into my own life.

Frequently I felt like my pen/pencil took on a life of its own as the answers or insight flowed out of it. These times I attribute directly to God and have come to recognize Him speaking into my life by me being open and willing with pen and paper ready. I have learned so much in this open process.

I want to share some of it with you. I want to do this in a couple of ways. First, I want to invite you to walk with me as I slowly look at the scriptures again. I've gone through the bible reading and writing before and thought about just posting my past journal writings but felt it would be so much more profitable for us all to simply start again, in Matthew, and go through it this time with you.

Secondly, I have compiled several of my previous poems and reflections into a book that I self-published for my family one Christmas. If this site allows, I want to make it available for you to view too. If you feel inspired or touched by something you read, feel free to print that page and/or repost it. All I ask is that you give me and God credit for it, as we together authored it.

I am ALWAYS open to your views, questions, and/or opinions on what I post and welcome comments. I trust this will be a journey unlike any before. I also trust that God will guide our steps as we walk in Jesus footsteps.

Nannie and her grandbabies Dec. 2013: Top: Damion, Jared. Left: Aurora. Right: Akuma. Lap: Eve, Eli, Cailyn. Nannie: Annette Vincent

My mom sent me an email recently and told me that I don't even have my name on my own page. She also wanted me to share some of my personal story too. When I started this blog, I was mainly concerned about stating what I was hoping to accomplish, and why I was going about it the way I was. I guess now is as good a time as any to peek behind the curtain and meet me.

I am the second oldest child in a family with five children. We are my older sister (Karen), me (Annette), my brother (Tim), my second brother (Daniel), and my baby sister (April). Our home was seldom quiet with all of us running around getting into mischief. One of our favorite phrases, when my parents would leave us at home for some reason, was "Nobody tell on nobody and nobody gets in trouble." My poor parents probably still don't know half the things we got into, and I'm still not telling! They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2011 so we at least didn't destroy them in the process.

I got my first pair of glasses when I was 13 months old. I had such severe vision problems that it interfered with my gross motor development. It is a good thing I was born a stubborn child and muscled my way through anyway. I never have been good at taking "no" or "you'll never be able to do that" for an answer.

I was first introduced to writing when I was a Sophomore in High School. We had to keep a journal for my English class. I discovered that I loved to write, especially poetry. I didn't pick up serious journaling after the assignment was finished, but did begin writing poetry whenever my feelings overwhelmed me to the point that I just HAD to get them out.

I returned to journaling while in college the first time because of a Creative Writing class. Yes, I said "college the first time." I actually have completed three college degrees and one vocational training program over the years. I initially returned to college to support myself and my children. After 10 years in the military (he did the service and I was the spouse) and 11 years married, my husband decided he didn't want to be married any more. We had four beautiful children over the life of our marriage; my oldest son Don, my daughter Sasha (who changed her name to Kelyana), my middle son David, and my youngest son Joseph.

After graduating college the first time with my Associates degree in Occupational Therapy, my children and I moved from Oregon to Tennessee. I drove the Ryder truck with my van on a car trailer behind it, while my children read the maps and street signs. It took us four and a half days to complete our trip to our "new future."

I also redeveloped my eating disorder, that started in High School, which landed me in the hospital for a month and eventually lead to me losing my job. My mom came out while I was in the hospital to stay with my children and, once I lost my job, my dad flew out and we all "wagon trained" back to Oregon. My children and I lived with my parents for the first year of this schooling, then relocated to Gresham Oregon to complete my associate's degree. This was a very dark time for me and only through faith in God, journaling, and MUCH support (including counseling and medication) did I survive it. I fought suicidal urges on a near daily basis for several years.

My children and I lived with my parents a second time for a year. After finding no feasible jobs in my home town, I returned to collage again, getting my bachelor's degree in computer science. I was still struggling with depression and my eating disorder during this time. I was unable to find a good paying job, even after two collage degrees. I was finally hired at Wal-Mart and by a local naturopathic clinic. One shining moment in that dark place was the birth of my first grandson, Damion. While working at the naturopathic clinic I met my wonderful husband, Steve. I had been single and faithful to my children alone for twelve years. We met in January and were married in November of the same year. We have now been married for 10 years and plan on a lifetime more!

I went back to school and earned my Master's degree in Applied Psychology. My husband had, at a much earlier time in his life, suffered from a brain tumor. The resultant treatment, including five brain operations and radiation therapy, left him with serious disabilities. I willingly chose to become his caregiver, and was mercifully able to do so through a program that pays me to provide his care.

I LOVE music! I sing every chance I get. I have always loved children and have ministered to them through many different avenues. I enjoy sewing and just discovered quilting last year. I completed over 25 quilts in 2015. I love reading. My favorite genres are mystery, Christian fiction, drama, and most any children's book. I LOVE reading to my grandchildren and making the characters come alive with different voices for each.