I am writing this story about myself, Laurie Ann Carlisle; middle child of Billy and Joann Carlisle. My siblings are Lisa three years older sister and Keith three years younger brother. My father was in the United States Army and mom was homemaker and later town clerk for Huachuca City Az for 19 years. My family arrived in Sierra Vista Az in 1974 and my father retired here in 1976.
My first job at age 16 was in a mens' clothing store called Pant Palace. I will never forget it, I loved that job. There was a womens' clothing store right next door and we would take turns going over there and spend all our money. At age 21, I realized that I could not make enough money in this small city to live on my own; so I went in the United States Air Force in 1985. My first duty station was Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino Ca. After sowing my oats for several years, 26 years old, and still not married; I said to myself "If I don't get married soon, I am just going to have a baby." And not long after that I spotted this very handsome man in the club and we started a relationship. I fell head over heels in love and got pregnant after only about three months of dating. I told him right away I was pregnant and it just seemed we drifted apart with not much in common. He was very much into his art, of which he was very successful selling his many beautiful sculptures.
Well there I was fully pregnant, at work in my uniform, packing life preservers when my supervisor at that time TSgt Frank Clark, was sitting next to me telling me about Jesus. And I in a very sarcastic voice I said "you know what, I am not even listening to you." And he said "okay, no problem." I was raised Catholic (kinda sorta) and all I knew about God or Jesus at that time was how Jesus looked in a picture and how to dip my finger in holy water and put it on my forehead; and kneel down at pew. I was playing poker with some friends when I went into labor. My neighbor friends Debbie Knudsen and her sister inlaw were pregnant also and they were the ones I asked to drive me to the hospital.
After I had my beautiful daughter Amanda, the doctor said before you can even take her home; you have to take her to see a cardiologist because she has a large hole in her heart. A VSD heart murmur. So I did and they told me what to look and watch for warning signs of heart trouble. Wow, I felt so all alone. Like no one knew how I was feeling. Scared, confused and alone. At three months old, Amanda went into congestive heart failure and had to be put on medicines to clear fluid out of her lungs. She then soon became underweight because she wouldn't suck very long before she got real tired. The cardiologist told me that if she doesn't gain weight soon, she has a 90 percent chance of having open heart surgery. Her dad was very kind and helped us with her medical bills.
I felt hopeless and started looking for God. I remembered my supervisor, Frank Clark telling me about Jesus. So I called him and said " I just want to go to church, and I was told Roman Catholic church was the only real church; is that true?" And he said Laurie its something you do in your heart, not in a building." And then he prayed with me on the phone and I asked Jesus in my heart and to be Lord of my life. I got saved in November of 1990. So awesome when I think about it now, how God used my daughter to save me and bring me into a relationship with him. And she NEVER needed the heart surgery. As I kept seeking God, she kept getting better and better! When Frank and I would get a 15 minute break at work, he would read the bible and a little book called My Daily Bread. He is a southern Baptist and he and his wife Linda brought me to church with them. They took me under their wings and mentored me in the Lord for about 3 years until Norton AFB closed and we both got transferred to different stations. It was pretty scarey leaving my friend and mentor. Felt like God let go of my hand. So thankful that they have always kept in touch with me, even till this day. They have been that steady rock in my life, always there and always the same. Love them so much. He has sent me countless books, CDs, literature and gifts. And has always been there to encourage me.
My new station was Luke AFB in Phoenix AZ, we got there in 1993. Amanda had seen her father several times before we left California and I took several pictures of him holding her. But I honestly thought that we would never see him again. I began attending a Weslyan Methodist Church down the street from me and my daughter had several friends in our neighborhood. All was well; I thought. Until one day sometime before Christmas, Amanda asks me for a dad for Christmas. Broke my heart. We had not seen or spoke to her dad since we left California and she was just an infant so I thought she wouldn't even notice him not around. So when I went to church the next time, I asked the women in my group to help me pray that somehow my daughter could have a relationship with her dad. So at this time, I believe she was about 4 1/2 years old. Not long after we prayed at church, a master sergeant at work asked me out to lunch. Not someone I was interested in but I thought it was a free meal anyway. So we were eating at the Sonic when he asked me about my daughters dad. I told him a little bit about him and then he said "I knew him, I grew up with him". So that man went home that evening and must have called her dads family, miles away even, and told them about Amanda. Shortly thereafter, her dad was flying out (in his own private plane) and visiting Amanda. And we made trips to California for her to meet her other grandparents and her half sister. They were all so welcoming and made Amanda feel so special! Her dad has been a part of her life ever since, and even came to Arizona to walk her down the isle when she got married. God is so awesome!
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