Well....I was born in a tiny town in Iowa called McGregor. Now there is no hospital there, now. OK, I'll not do the boring stuff 
.
I was baptized Catholic 10 days after I was born & actually raised in the Church until I was about 4. We did live in a small town, and when my parents divorced, my mom left the Church. We were raised in different churches throughout our childhood (had a sister & 2 brothers), but no real emphasis on going til I was a teen. We joined a Nazarene Church, and I loved it! I was very active in the youth, sang in the choir, and had noon prayer meetings. At 17, I married, and although I never quit praying, definately drifted away. 3 children later, and at 22, my marriage was over. I went back to school & became a nurse. I would send the kids to church, but worked almost around the clock, so wasn't often.
Admittedly, my whole life I have felt drawn to the Catholic Church. As most of my friends were protestant, I just couldn't go back, though.
Fast foreward to when the kids were teens & ready to leave home. I was very depressed, and started to go back to church. I went to a Nazarene Church, a non- denom, a Baptist, and while looking, married my now husband. (I had known him for about 4 years) He says I led him to church....we began going to a big Assembly of God Church. He became active, and I did, too. I completely rededicated my life, and my husband was saved. My husband was happy, but I had this nagging feeling that something was missing. I prayed, and prayed, but still felt God wanting something more of me.
We began going to Church at a much smaller AG much closer to our home. My husband was at home, he said. I was still restless. God wanted more of me, and I just could not figure out what.
Almost 3 years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 4 her2+++ breast cancer. Now that was a shock! I had no family history, no risk factors, and being the good nurse I was, never gave it much thought. My doc said the best he could do was hope for remissions....I went thru so many emotions! For the first year, I prayed & prayed, but now the need to do what God wanted of me was important. I talked to our pastor with the AG, I talked to 'healers' and felt something missing. MY church prayed over me, and honestly made me feel like If I was not healed, it was because I didn't have enough faith. When I started venturing on CF, I would sometimes just go in the Catholic Forum, just to look....knowing they were so wrong. Also, my doc is Catholic...... I decided to go to a Mass, and although I felt lost, I also felt a tug. That scared me! How could God be in the Catholic Church?? How could these people who chant, pray to Mary, and....know God????? Well, I asked questions, and started reading, and most of all....prayed. My husband took me to the Monastary outside of Atlanta, and I prayed. For the first time in a long time, I knew what God wanted. I went home and called my Parish Church, made an appointment, and talked....and talked....and talked. I read, I studied, I asked questions....and I started RCIA. As I learned the truth about the Church-I realized I had been Catholic all my life, but was going home. My daughter, Anita, also became Catholic, and now my youngest has been going to Mass on a regular basis, and I am praying she starts RCIA this next year. My youngest had no interest in church before.....
I am in remission, and have been since Aug 2004....when I started RCIA. I have accepted my cancer as a wake up call...A call to go home.
.I was baptized Catholic 10 days after I was born & actually raised in the Church until I was about 4. We did live in a small town, and when my parents divorced, my mom left the Church. We were raised in different churches throughout our childhood (had a sister & 2 brothers), but no real emphasis on going til I was a teen. We joined a Nazarene Church, and I loved it! I was very active in the youth, sang in the choir, and had noon prayer meetings. At 17, I married, and although I never quit praying, definately drifted away. 3 children later, and at 22, my marriage was over. I went back to school & became a nurse. I would send the kids to church, but worked almost around the clock, so wasn't often.
Admittedly, my whole life I have felt drawn to the Catholic Church. As most of my friends were protestant, I just couldn't go back, though.
Fast foreward to when the kids were teens & ready to leave home. I was very depressed, and started to go back to church. I went to a Nazarene Church, a non- denom, a Baptist, and while looking, married my now husband. (I had known him for about 4 years) He says I led him to church....we began going to a big Assembly of God Church. He became active, and I did, too. I completely rededicated my life, and my husband was saved. My husband was happy, but I had this nagging feeling that something was missing. I prayed, and prayed, but still felt God wanting something more of me.
We began going to Church at a much smaller AG much closer to our home. My husband was at home, he said. I was still restless. God wanted more of me, and I just could not figure out what.
Almost 3 years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 4 her2+++ breast cancer. Now that was a shock! I had no family history, no risk factors, and being the good nurse I was, never gave it much thought. My doc said the best he could do was hope for remissions....I went thru so many emotions! For the first year, I prayed & prayed, but now the need to do what God wanted of me was important. I talked to our pastor with the AG, I talked to 'healers' and felt something missing. MY church prayed over me, and honestly made me feel like If I was not healed, it was because I didn't have enough faith. When I started venturing on CF, I would sometimes just go in the Catholic Forum, just to look....knowing they were so wrong. Also, my doc is Catholic...... I decided to go to a Mass, and although I felt lost, I also felt a tug. That scared me! How could God be in the Catholic Church?? How could these people who chant, pray to Mary, and....know God????? Well, I asked questions, and started reading, and most of all....prayed. My husband took me to the Monastary outside of Atlanta, and I prayed. For the first time in a long time, I knew what God wanted. I went home and called my Parish Church, made an appointment, and talked....and talked....and talked. I read, I studied, I asked questions....and I started RCIA. As I learned the truth about the Church-I realized I had been Catholic all my life, but was going home. My daughter, Anita, also became Catholic, and now my youngest has been going to Mass on a regular basis, and I am praying she starts RCIA this next year. My youngest had no interest in church before.....
I am in remission, and have been since Aug 2004....when I started RCIA. I have accepted my cancer as a wake up call...A call to go home.
