God & Me

My mother faithfully taught me about Jesus and salvation from as early as I can remember. At eight years old she gave me my own copy of the whole Bible - the paraphrased Living Bible - because I had developed a desire to read it on my own, and she knew it would be easier for me to understand at my age than an actual translation (I do NOT recommend the Living Bible or anything paraphrased, but at 8 years old, I understand my mother's choice for me!). I can remember many "wondrous" times sitting propped up in bed with the large, green faux leather-covered book in my lap, starting on the first page of Genesis and reading through verse after verse, chapter after chapter over time.

Soon I was in Exodus, then Leviticus, then, Numbers, then... Deuteronomy.... then.... GENESIS again! Bogged down with all of the details of the giving of the law in Deuteronomy, going back to the more narrative, story-telling style of Genesis and Exodus was more appealing to my young, adventurous mind.

I don't recall feeling like I SHOULD read the Bible or that God expected me to read it in order to fulfill some sort of duty or would be angry with me if I didn't, I just wanted to. And now, at the ripe old age of 66, I still do, only all the more and with an insatiable appetite!

I am blessed

Even before the age of eight, I would spend hours roaming the woods behind our house, always intrigued by the plant and animal life around me. During those times I never felt alone, always having a running backdrop of conversation with God. I say "conversation" but really just recall sensing His presence AND His personality, which is the same "personality" I know Him as having today.

We went to a doctrinally conservative Lutheran church (i.e., John 3:16: salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone) when I was a child, and I was an eager student in Sunday school and in the church services themselves. I loved the hymns and melodic liturgy, as well. My best friends from elementary through Jr. High years were my friends from church. We sang in the Jr. Choir and went through confirmation classes together.

During high school my passions took a bit of a turn, but at the age of 19 - after reading Joni Earekson Tada's book Joni - I returned my attention to God. This was just in time to prepare me for the greatest difficulty I was to face in my life, as at during that same time period my mother - at the ripe old age of 49 - was behaving very strangely. She was soon to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The Lord managed to squeak in for me a year's solid Bible study at Word of Life Bible Institute and then marriage to high school sweetheart Dale Montrone before we set up household in Londonderry, New Hampshire, where together we would care for my mother until her death in 1986.

Throughout those years I enjoyed life immensely and continued to "grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord." I am a person of strict discipline in my daily habits and would usually rise around 4 am in order to have plenty of time to spend in the Bible and prayer before my mother would awaken. Through the years, although the exact time of rising varies, starting my day in the Bible and in solitary time with my Lord has not changed.

One day, during those years with Mom, two neighbors on our road stopped by; two women, friends. They said, "We don't know what it is about you, but you aren't like the rest of us. What's up?" I told them it was my faith in God. They asked me to tell them more, and so I started a Bible study with them. I also taught the children "Monday School" after school in the living room with Mom, using purchased Sunday School material and setting up a classroom of sorts. I love to teach!

A year after my mother passed away, I became pregnant with our daughter Krista. During her growing-up years I earned my bachelors degree in Holistic Nutrition long distance, and in 2005 founded my company and practice: Wondrous Roots.

I love God. I love God more than anyone or anything. I can say that without batting an eye. I am so grateful as I look back on His faithfulness throughout the years of my life, and I open my eyes each day looking forward to the next adventure at hand, looking for His essense in everything that occurs with intention to participate in His plan in whatever ways He chooses.

Jesus called this way of living "abundant life," and I am one who can say without hesitation that it is so.