This Is My Story ♦ This Is My Song

 Sandy's gift for singing became noticable at age 4 and she began her singing debut at age 7.  Sandy had performed in the early 1970's during a time when her home church, the Glory Gospel Assembly Church of Paterson NJ, was planning a special event for all who desired to participate and share their talent.  It was then when Sandy met Godly men and women, all of Jamaican descent, whom with their prayers opened a prayer account for Sandy in heaven.  Sandy never knew what the future would hold, and the prayers of these saints would certainly come in handy many years later.  She was heard by a music teacher in Wayne-New Jersey who desired to launch her during a tender age of 7 at Broadway-New York, but God protected Sandy as her real challenge began in her life sufferings.  She grew up in a home to which Christianity was later substituted for religion; and denial of the truth kept her past family from receiving God's best.  Sandy suffered from abusive traumatic circumstances in her childhood which were kept secret behind a wall of religion, and Sandy was bound in weakness of her afflicted spirit to become emotionally frail.  The past abuse was considered strict discipline which brought about afflicted pain, anger, despair, rejection, and overwhelming grief to humiliate both the emotion and mind of a child.  Verbal abuse was also a factor to intimidate Sandy's desire to achieve great goals through her talent.  Other family circumstances which led to scar the emotion, and created distress towards distrust in which Sandy no longer felt comfortable in the family environment she was in.  The entrapment of her self image was shattered, and her musical abilities were laid to rest.  At the age of 9, she was afflicted with overwhelming fear to experience episodes of nightmares in her sleep, and laid awake during the night to affect her concentration in school; and this was the beginning of what later developed into "depression".  Years went by from childhood to teenager and unto adulthood, and she finally graduated high-school by a miracle.  When she began college, during the first semester, she reached her limit to experience a break-down caused by depression.  During a time of great despair in Sandy's life, she heard Nicky Cruz's testimony at the most opportune time.  She then received Christ as her Savior, at age 21, through the powerful testimony of Mr. Cruz who shared his story of "The Cross and The Switchblade."  Depression temporarily subsided from Sandy's life, and later returned since her emotional past injury still needed to mend & heal.  Salvation in the Lord was a start to begin her process of healing.

Sandy was always a lady in heart to have dated her 1st and only boyfriend by the name of Douglas Florence, whom she met at Brookdale Baptist Church of Bloomfield, New Jersey on October 20th, 1991.  They married on April 24th, 1993, and what a blessing as Sandy discovered a much greater hope to profoundly find trust and strength in her husband.  It was the strength to which Douglas helped his wife move beyond her incapability and sorrow.  Her devoted husband never gave up hope as he sheltered his wife with his unconditional love.  Depression was still a on-going issue in Sandy's life.  It was similar to a "fever" rising up high against her well being and health, and would debilitate both her mind and emotion.  Sandy questioned:  "Why hasn't God healed me?  Why me? "  The answer to all her questions was simply, "A broken spirit still needs to mend and heal."  A born again Christian will always have a pass to heaven, but God's wisdom brings to all believers power and unmerited favor. God's wisdom is love and His love brings restoration, but we must apply God's love to learn and act according to Matthew 5:44, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."  The human race is born with confidence as God so designed it that way, and each individual must develop their confidence from childhood. If childhood abuse takes place or other negative sources to injure a child's emotion, then the enemy has access to trespass and cause great disruption.  The bible clearly says in Hebrews 10:35, " Do not cast away your confidence which brings great reward."  Confidence is our wall of protection developed in unconditional love; and God's wisdom is higher love-(His superior confidence/security/self assurance) to bring forth strength, His power, peace and with it understanding, joy, and favor found in His greater love.  John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful."  The ultimate sign of God's wisdom is peace.

Sandy then conceived and was informed of her pregnancy during her 10th wedding anniversary; and her beautiful healthy daughter was born on December/24/2003.  On December/25th, Sandy was holding God's promise gift of a child.  The incredible story of her daughter's birth is still to be told.  It began either the last few months of Sandy's pregnancy or shortly before delivery, for her baby girl transferred blood to her Mom from the umbilical cord.  Sandy was developing health issues in which she was not aware, and the miracle blood transfer from her daughter kept her safe.  During delivery, her daughter was born anemic.  Incredibly, Sandy's baby girl showed no sign of anemia to have temporarily fooled the nurses and doctors with her strength.  Three blood examinations finally confirmed of her daughter's low blood count, but her new born child seemed normal and healthy and never needed a blood transfusion.  Her baby daughter recovered soon from the anemia and left doctor's mind boggled with the incredible recovery.  Sandy too recovered quite soon due to the heroic miracle help of her daughter.  This amazing circumstance was an opportunity for all hospital staff and doctors to witness God's sovereign power.  Sandy's health was soon diagnosed and corrected in perfect timing through chiropractic treatments.  If she had waited any longer, her health would have depleted and affected her ability to sing; and would have paralyzed her dream in ministry for the Lord.  Genesis 50:20, "What the enemy meant for evil, God intended for good."  A few years later, on December/19/2007, her lovely daughter received Jesus into her heart at a tender age of 3.

After the birth of Sandy's daughter, God instructed Sandy to learn scriptures from the heart meaning to meditate on God's word.  It was also a step by step process to which Sandy would sing and experience God's healing power during her debilitated health, and while enduring the painful discomfort of muscular treatments.  The more she sang, the more she healed to experience God's power and develop more of her talent.  This source of strength enabled Sandy to express her testimony in songwriting.  She completed her first single release "Sacrifice", and her song was launched by a small organization named Higgins Music Group in Nashville-Tennessee.  On January/2007, Sandy's single release "Sacrifice" reached the Power Source / Christian Country Chart at #76.  The surprising news motivated Sandy's desire to pursue an album.  She never toured, never recorded a full album other than just her first try out single-release; and was certainly not experienced within the music industry.  To reach the Christian Country Chart was a blessing and encouragement, so Sandy found the opportunity of sharing God's transforming power in her songs.  She then completed her first album of 10 songs using the same title "Sacrifice."  Though in her physical stage not quite ready to do a full album, she still trusted God for His will; and God planned her steps to enable her health and professional recording come true in His grace.  Sandy's health was affected by years of depression to have also affected her diaphragm, but she continued singing as God wanted her to.  With her diaphragm weak, struggling with muscle issues along with damaged nerves which were still healing, she plunged forward to do God's plan and completed her first album.  With God by her side there is no failure, and He proved Himself to Sandy during the most challenging and painful sufferings of her life.  She has become a "Sacrificial Offering To God", because she vowed to serve Him with all her heart; and God's wisdom has become her greatest gem to express peace, strength, restoration, and great power.  Sandy quotes, "To trust God is to know He is as real as you and me.  You know He cares as you understand God's spirit of Love in Trust.  Love will open your eyes of understanding to see God in ways you've never known as quoted in Matthew 5:8, 'Blessed are the pure-(humble) in heart, for they shall see-(connect with) God.'  You connect with God when your heart is most humble in brokenness, for in desperation you seek God in faith.  Depression incarcerated my spirit, my identity, and kept me in isolation.  As far as I'm concerned, depression is worse than being in prison, for at least in prison you have the freedom to move around.  I've never been in prison, but a gentleman who once shared his testimony at my church  quoted to me personally,'I served my time in prison as I also suffered from depression, and I can assure you that depression is worse than prison.'  Depression are handcuffs which keeps you bound or tied down to feel immobile and unmotivated.  Depression is sad and boring to find life unworthy or meaningless; and I would have traded places even with a cancer victim who had confidence and freedom to enjoy the last days of their life.  I craved for life, I craved for freedom, and all I desired was a normal life and to raise a loving family.  God is life in wisdom, and He will 

certainly give you your heart's desire found in Psalm 37:4-5, 'Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.'  Life became normal for me soon after I healed from past emotional pain, and my health began to improve in faith; and depression was finally gone."  In Hebrews 10:5-8 explains how God became a sacrificial offering at Calvary for us, so all He ask of us is to submit entirely in trust to Him; and we become God's sacrificial offering in love towards a new beginning.  Be a sacrificial offering to God, and use your talents for Him to become all worth while.