Stephanie’s personal testimony…

FIRST, before y’all lay into me about using my blog for a personal type post I will say I paid for this website.  It belongs to me so I can post what  I please.  I will not make a habit of this type post but I’ve been getting a tugging to share this with you.  If you’re reading this it might be meant for you or it might be for someone you know.  I’m not sure who’s supposed to see this only that I’ve been asked to share this with the world.

When I was a toddler my parents noticed something wasn’t right with me health wise.  They took me to see my pediatrician who then referred us to a specialist who then was working for Duke Medical Center.  I had all kinds of x-rays taken, blood work, you name it I was two when this started I believe.  At any rate the doctors found some irregularity with my kidneys & bladder.  Basically the only route to take for me was surgery.  What I haven’t said is that I also had a heart murmur.  It was causing all kinds of problems.  I had to wear a heart monitor, and of course what child wants those things stuck to them and a machine beeping all the time reading their heartbeats?  I was 4. I didn’t understand what was happening.

Prior to surgery my doctors searched the country for a Pediatric Cardiologist.  They found one in Oklahoma and flew him in for my surgery.  My parents had me baptized in our home church prior to the surgery as who knew what would could happen during this type surgery.  Here’s the unbelievable part of my story.  While I was on the operating table my heart stopped.  Thankfully they had the cardiologist there to help my heart start beating again.  One thing I remember clearly from that point in my life is seeing white clouds and golden light.  I knew I was safe.  I wasn’t scared.  The next thing I knew I was being wheeled back to my hospital room and there were people in the hallway waiting for me to return so they could visit with my mom and see how we were doing.

Now, I know what you’re thinking.  It was the lights from the operating room I was seeing and the white walls.  I wouldn’t have a clue as to what that operating room looked like.  I never saw it.  They gave me the laughing gas and I was out almost immediately.  I firmly believe that while my heart stopped I took a little trip to Heaven.  I didn’t see anyone while I was there but I felt at peace.  It’s kind of strange for a 4 year old to remember such a feeling or site, but I’m telling you it’s still so vivid in my mind.

I was brought up in the church, taught how to be a good person, etc.  Don’t get me wrong.  I didn’t stay on the straight and narrow.  I’m a sinner.  I was born a sinner.  However, I have learned to ask for forgiveness and move on.  I try to do the best I possibly can by the people I come in contact with and I give selflessly to those I care about and some I don’t.  🙂

I’ve had some ridicule because of my faith I can’t possibly read smut.  There’s a whole book in the Bible that could be considered “smut.”  The Song of Solomon is a love story.  I’ve read and still read Christian romance novels.  Some of them are just as “bad” as some of the other romance novels I read.  There’s a personal reason I read books like these.  My husband’s cool with me reading them and I’ve prayed about it many, many times.  I haven’t been told to stop.  I’ve been told to tell you my story.

I hope you don’t think less of me for sharing this with you or get angry and say bad things and throw out hateful statements towards me or this blog.  I am posting this knowing someone will do just that, because Satan is real and he doesn’t want anyone to be happy or voice that they believe God is real and Jesus saves your soul.

I can’t tell you how many people have touched my life.  I have a huge circle of friends yet I have few close ones.  I cherish those that I consider to be my closest friends.  There are only a handful of them but they’re supportive and allow me to ramble on and on about this blog, books, and the authors I interact with online on a daily basis.  Sometimes it I find myself fan girling over an author responding to me via email or private Facebook message.  They’re busy people too and for them to take time to “speak” to me means so much.

I hope Stephanie’s Book Reports can help authors achieve their dreams.  My goal for this blog when I started was to have a place my friends could come to to see what  I had read recently and recommended for them to read.  I am frequently asked what I recommend to read for xyz mood.  Hence SBR was born.  🙂

Thanks for reading my story.  I hope it didn’t offend you but enlightened.  I also hope that as this blog continues to grow you’re able to find authors you adore and stories you include on your list of favorites.