Welcome back! Over the next few weeks the blog is going to look similar to a Wikipedia page. LOL. I will start out with my early childhood years, then high school, and so forth to where I/we are at now in life. I feel like this is necessary for you to see the whole picture...from the beginning to now. Let's get started!
I grew up 5 miles south of the "Village" of Belle Rive. The population was about 400 and we lived 25 miles from the nearest Wal-Mart. My home was surrounded by fields and I wouldn't realize, until my adult life, how much I appreciate the country setting. I was raised in a devoted Christian home. My parents were faithful to serve the local church the best they could, and because of that, I am who I am today. They never ceased to point me to the Cross in all of life's decisions and for that I will forever be grateful! I am the oldest out of 4 children. I have a younger sister and two younger brothers. We are all about 26 months apart. We were and still are the best of friends. I can't imagine life without them. My parents didn't have a lot but they made sure we always had everything we needed and A LOT of times what we wanted. Some of my favorite childhood memories include:
The pig farm that my parents owned for several years.
Spending time on my grandparents farm with all of my cousins (there were 19 of us!) We use to swim, play in the barn loft and treehouse, and climb on the tractor tires that my grandpa half buried in the back yard for hours!! There is a recent photo at the bottom from the grandkids ONLY night that we planned for my grandma last weekend. There were a few of us missing:(
Summers at the 4-H Fair
Jubilees and Revivals
Broadway Youth Camp (where I met some of my very best friends who I am still close to after so many years.)
All the sporting events that my parents hauled us to.
And many many more!
One specific thing that I wanted to share about in depth a little more is when I started feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit and my relationship with Christ. Like I previously stated, I was raised in a Christian home. I hadn't really done a lot of bad things but knew I was lost and if I died I was going to hell. I remember our church being in a Revival one week. The pastor led me through the sinners prayer and he said, "that because I said the prayer and meant it I was saved." I knew all the right words to say but was confused about everything else. I left questioning everything. Did I say all the right words? Did I have enough faith? Was I in unbelief that God would do what He said He would? All of these questions had me confused for MANY years! Through much prayer, the Lord continued to work on my heart for the next 20 years and continued to draw me to Him. It was in a way that only He could do. Every time I share my testimony and think of where I could have been, I stand amazed that He never gave up on me after all that time. I am thankful that I was surrounded by people who encouraged me to seek His face. In a later post, I will share how the Lord brought me to the end of myself. If you are unsure where you stand at with Christ please, do not hesitate to reach out! I would love to talk and help you have assurance in your relationship. We, as humans, want to think that we have everything to do with our salvation when in fact that is opposite from the truth. It's about EVERYTHING that HE has done for us!! We deserve nothing and owe Him our complete lives and nothing less!
Until next time, I pray the Lord blesses you and keeps you, and that all you do, be done FOR HIS GLORY!!
xoxo, Kayla
