I am truly blessed!

I grew up with an alcoholic and abusive father.  He wasn't abusive to me but he was abusive of my mom and older siblings.  My dad died when I was nine of an overdose on alcohol and pills.  My mom worked very hard with four children to support us while dealing with her abusive husband and trying to get through nursing school.  She graduated a few years before my dad died.  We were very poor when I was little.  Before my mom finished school we lived in a trailer with 2 bedrooms.  All four kids shared a bedroom.  It took my mom 5 tries at marriage before she finally found a keeper.  That was just last year!

There's a lot more to the sob story but the point is.....things could have turned out a lot worse for me.  Actually, things weren't looking good for me when I got pregnant at 15 years old.  We got married and moved away with the military.  My husband and I raised our daughter by ourselves without any financial or emotional support from any family.  Things still didn't really look good.
In spite of everything, my husband and I have stuck through the hard times and are now at 16 years of marriage.  We have a 16 year old daughter, 12 year old son, and 2 year old son.  Our kids are such a blessing!  I wouldn't trade my life or my family for anything in this world.  My kids are not perfect but they are really good kids.  I don't have to worry about them getting involved in drugs or worry that they are out getting in to trouble when they are with their friends.  I can't wait to see what wonderful things God has in store for them when they grow up.  Kristin in beautiful, fun, creative, and gifted in music.  Levi is super intelligent, witty, and outgoing.  Noah is just a plain doll! 
Besides having 3 beautiful children and a loving husband, I have an amazing church family.  I haven't had a relationship with my family since they are all addicts and have lived in different states.  My church family has always been there for us.  We always have "family" to spend the holidays with.  We know  our church family loves us and accepts us in spite of our imperfections just like we do them. 
Recently, my mom moved to the area, met a new man and changed her life.  This has been an amazing blessing as well.  Now my children have real grandparents that live a little over an hour away.  They have always had my husbands parents and family but they live in California.  This is the first time in my life my children have had the opportunity to have a relationship with my mom.  They also now have an awesome grandpa.  I wish he would have been around my whole life but I'm glad we have him now!
My life is proof that God cares and things can change!  I'm so thankful for all that He's done in my life!