My Life: By Judy Vermillion

All I ever wanted out of my life was to marry a good man and have a family. God granted me this, He gave me four beautiful children and a fine life.

Then I was introduced to a drug called cocaine. Within months it became a part of my daily routine and went on for years. Eventually I lost my husband and

our home. I quickly met a man I fell crazy in love with. We lived a straight life, had my fourth child together. We had a wonderful home and everything we could possibly want. Then that drug called to me again. We quickly lost all we had gained. Our home, our vehicles, our prized possessions, not to mention our closeness, self respect and the respect of others. We stole and schemed in order to maintain our high. Things we normally would not do.

It finally caught up to us. I now sit in one prison, with him in another. Our children are separated not only from us but one another.

In the first month of my incarceration, I was called and moved by God to start reading the Bible. I did out of curiosity. It grabbed me as quick as that high

did years ago. But this was and is natural, not to mention peaceful and gives megreat happiness.

God could have turned His back on me, but He didn't. Instead He saved me by putting me here. He has given me another chance in life. Now, He is my life and will never leave me as many others have done to me.

My life has changed dramatically thanks to Jesus. He has given me a new life in Him. Where once I struggled to create a life for myself and family, now that

I have given Him the controls of my life, He is leading me and guiding me into what is best for me. He fills me with His desires which most please Him and the result is I am happy doing the things that He places on my heart.

I now have hope, security, peace of mind, and I'm just plain and simply avery happy person. Yes, even while I serve out my sentence for breaking the law.

I have Jesus here with me and in me. He fills me with His peace, unlike the world's peace. This peace is here to stay like Jesus, is here to stay with me forever.