Re: My Grandparents

Elder Abuse (Taken from Wikipedia)

Psychological/Emotional: e.g. shouting, swearing, frightening, or humiliating a person. A common theme is a perpetrator who identifies something that matters to an older person and then uses it to coerce an older person into a particular action. It may take verbal forms such as name-calling, ridiculing, constantly criticizing, accusations, blaming, and general disrespect, or non verbal forms such as ignoring, silence or shunning.

I have noticed from some of the comments on this blog, that people have made mention of my grandparents. (my dads' parents)

I HAVE asked them if they would be willing to share their story on here, but I also need to realize that there is a LOT of hurt and pain that is still fresh in their minds.

They have recently received some hurtful and libelous email letters from both my mother, father, and brother Michael... ALL of them claiming that, if my grandparents would only quit having ANYTHING to do with me, then repent for keeping in contact with various other former members of the church as well, then all would be as it was before and they could resume the family relationship.

I and a few others have copies of these emails.

I only hope and PRAY, that my children do not marry someone or become like this towards myself or my husband. To say and do such things that DIRECTLY contradict the Scriptures is hard to imagine.

On Christmas Eve of 1999, my grandparents came out to Steinbach and took me out for lunch.
I had been working at a dairy farm at the time and had received a bonus, after I had purchased something for myself, I chose to buy EVERYONE in my family a Christmas present.
After our lunch, when my grandparents dropped me off at my house, they told me that they would be going to my parents' home for supper that night.
I asked them if they would be willing to take all the gifts I had purchased to my family and they were MORE than happy to do so.

After they took the gifts to my parents' house, things completely blew up in their faces. My parents were SO ANGRY that they would even DARE to come see me. ( I had been 'church disciplined')
I cannot speak for them as to what was said, but they left Canada shortly thereafter.

If you don't believe me....Ask them!

** Feel free to look us up on Facebook **

A little bit of 'Now'

  At around the young age of 3 or 4 years old, I told my mother that I did NOT want to go to hell, and that I wanted to become a Christian and go to heaven when I die.

My mother was the one who led me to Christ that day.

At around 5 years, I 'attempted' to get baptized, but since it was under a bridge somewhere in Michigan and the water was PRETTY SCARY....I TOTALLY chickened out!
I was eventually baptized at the age of 8 or 9 (I'm not 100% on the age, but my parents still have the baptism certificate) at a church in Winnipeg.

Now, to push things up a 'few' years....

I and my husband Jason live on an acreage with 2 horses and several other small animals.
God has seen fit to bless us with our twin daughters (now 5) and a single little princess.(now 2)
We are attending a non-denominational church and are VERY blessed with pastors that love and serve God. I have been able to become a part of one of the worship teams there, and am using my music abilities to serve and worship in the church.

Something that I had realized several years ago, before I had my youngest....was how I would, on occasion, worry about my twins and all the 'what ifs' that I'm sure alot of other mothers out there experience.
It was as if the Holy Spirit slammed my chest as I was driving home from work one afternoon.
How could I....be so bold as to even ASSUME that I could protect my children ALONE?!?!
I was forced to acknowledge, that it was GOD that had blessed me with these little ones, and I needed to allow and trust HIM to protect and shield them.

Do I need to be sloppy? NO!!!
I just need to leave my worry at Jesus' feet and continue to raise my Beautifuls to love their God and serve only Him.
I just needed to realize, that there are things that are WAY out of our control and that EVERYTHING is in HIS ultimate and amazing hands!
Something else that I have noticed, is that I have a MUCH closer bond to my daughters that I probably would not have had I not gone thru such hard times in my past.
There has yet to be a day, where I don't hear the sweet words " I love you." from my three little ones.
Those three words are SO precious to me.
Now, don't get me wrong...I TOTALLY realize that there are days coming, where I will hear less 'friendly' words coming from them, but I hope that I am able to continue talking and keeping ALL subjects open with them.

Just the other day, my little 2 year old said as I was putting her down for her nap, "God is in heaven, and He's in our hearts....He saves ALLLLL the people and is our Saviour!"

Proverbs 22:6   (KJV)

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.


I don't know what else to say, other than..... GOD IS GOOD!

Tuition Reciepts From Canadian Baptist Bible College

I was unable to load the file, but if anyone wants to see them, I have copies of the reciepts from the college for the tuition that I paid....In my name.

Simply post your email and I will gladly foward the copies to you.


Laura

!!! ATTENTION !!! (REVISED)

I realize that I said that I would not be deleting comments....HOWEVER!

I WILL be deleting any and ALL ridiculous comments that do not at all pertain to the content of this blog.

This does NOT help the cause of Christ.

REVISION***

Due to constant harassment ( aka,JASPER, ex-mennonite,etc)  I have been forced to approve all incoming comments.

More Facts

Fact : I am NOT attacking the PVBC, I have just stated the FACTS of the series of events during my trying to 'run away'.

Fact : I dated a different man that my parents APPROVED of for just over a year and a half PRIOR to 'dating' the 'guy' they did NOT approve of. My husband Jason is the ONLY man I have EVER given myself to.

Fact : I taught both violin and piano lessons AS WELL as working full time as janitor for the PVBC. I had to work VERY hard to make ends meet.

Fact : I paid for my car with money that I had saved from mowing lawn and babysitting. My brother Michael also GAVE me a little bit of money towards it as well.

Fact : My parents sold my car for what it was valued at WITHOUT my consent, and gave me a cheque for $75.

Fact : Gordon Harde gave me my first horse as a GIFT, it was not paid for.

Fact : I sent Christmas presents to my ENTIRE family in 1999 and the kids were not allowed to open them. They were never sent back to me.

Fact : My husband Jason has met with my dad on TWO separate occasions. He is not going solely on anything that I have said. HE has experienced Mike Sullivant D.D. for himself.

Fact : I am CONTINUING to serve the Lord to the best of my God given ability within the church I am now a part of.

Fact : I have not, nor WILL I post any comments, I will ONLY be adding posts to this blog.

Fact : I have, and will continue to read any and ALL comments.



Note: Some of these facts are in response to a 6 entry commentator.

Bitterness

I just wanted to let you all know, that I appreciate any and ALL feedback on my blog.

I don't believe in posting anything until I get full peace from God about what to write next. I know that to some that may sound 'Coo Coo', but that's what I believe.

I am SO thankful that I have been such an encouragement to so many! I had no idea prior to writing my blog as to how God would be able to use my story to help others, and I couldn't do it without HIS help.

I WILL be continuing my story.

I think that in order to even BEGIN to heal, one has to get rid of the bitterness and anger. Yes, it IS easier said than done....I'm not done with my story at ALL yet!
Fighting with bitterness/hurt/pain can sometimes be a daily, lifelong process, but with God's help you can truly be free and unchained.

Hebrews 12:15     KJV
         Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.
A year ago last September, I was able to do something I honestly never thought possible.....I not only forgave my father for all the horrible things he had done, I was able to pray BLESSING on him!!!!
Do you have any idea how awesome that was for me???
Was it easy?   NO
Did it happen overnight?   DEFINATELY NOT!

But it DID happen!

Bitterness is a terrible and destructive thing, it eats away at the soul and can create such scars and hardness of the heart.
Some days are harder than others. I will never forget what has been done to me and what is currently being done to others by my dad in his church, but that doesn't mean that I have to dwell on the negative!