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 have had a blessed life, despite the hurdles. Born into a broken home, very common these days but not then. My Father had just left my Mum, when she found out she was pregnant. Mum was very ashamed of being divorced; I was raised with a lot of secrets. Mum remarried when I was about 5 years old and the marriage was not a happy one. When I was 10, my Mum had a breakdown and attempted suicide. She tried to take my life as well. Thankfully we both survived. Things actually improved in the marriage after this cry for help. My Mum and I were very close; she was my world. Being an only child she was my big sister and my friend. Tragically she died when I was 19 from cancer. Her second husband adopted me at 17. I had always felt he was my real father, being the man who day to day loved and cared for me. Mum's death hit me very hard but I had the love of my boyfriend, Brad, to help me through.
We were married in 1981. We were blessed with a gorgeous daughter, Alycia in 1987. Brad had been raised Anglican, but did not believe in God. I had been sent to a Roman Catholic school, with no real backup at home, so had let the whole thing slide. In 1990 Brad found God and we started attending the Baptist Church. I loved the return to church, as I had never actually lost my belief in God. We were both baptised. In 1991 our first son Nathan was born and died 48 hrs later, causes unknown, with multiple problems.
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When I became pregnant again we were told at 18 weeks the same things were wrong with this child. In 1992 our second son Aidan came into the world quietly, stillborn. In 1993 I was diagnosed with cancer, and underwent 3 operations, chemotherapy and radiation over the next 6 months. I received two miracles from God, one has too much of a story to explain here, but the other was another chance at life. I wrote one of my first songs then, All I Can Give and soon after James and Miracles to Claim. (Angels really did visit me while I was pregnant with Aidan. Though I did not see them, I felt them, physically touch me).
The past 11 years have been the best. To begin with there were some niggling doubts about my survival. I was determined to fight, but when the annual CAT scan was due a little fear would rise inside me. As long as I can remember I have loved to sing. In primary school I was not happy enough to sit in church and sing alone, so I joined the adult choir at about age 9. I sang in church after we were baptised and again once I was well enough in about 1994. I sang in the Mt Pleasant Baptist Church for about 8 years, have done some amateur theatre, sung in cafes in Fremantle and Subiaco and at some Christian Women's Communicating International meetings. Through all the good and bad in my life, God has always been close to me, even when I was a long way from him. I don't know why he spared my life; twice now, or why I have been so blessed. I do know he is my Lord, my friend and my Father and no matter what, he loves me. I must never take my eyes off him. If my songs touch one heart, make one person laugh or cry, or see God's love and grace, then this has all been worthwhile.
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