Siesta Spotlight - Connie H.

Dave & I at Jessica's wedding, he was the one who walked her down the aisle!

Back Row: My husband Dave, Les (our daughter Laura's fiance), our son-in law Corey & other son-in-law Steven.Front Row:Me, our daughter Laura, our son Charles, our daughter Jennifer & our daughter Jessica. Our 4 grand-daughters, Gabriella (age 8), Jacey-Beth (6), Alyson (4) & Ashley (2).

My name is Connie Hopkins and I live in Denton, Texas. I brought my best friend Brenda Moore (no relation to the Head Siesta) to the San Antonio Alamodome where we had a blast! She is my twin siesta from a different miesta, we're like 2 peas in a pod only she is the kinder, gentler, nicer one! My blog is titled
"SLIM PICKIN'S FROM MY BRAIN"

Go here to visit my blog

I am 48 years old but have lived 2 or 3 lifetimes in that span of time! I am married to an incredible man, so Godly and loving that I am still amazed after 22 years that he took me on! I come from a lively but dysfunctional background. My mother Helga is from Germany and grew up in the midst of World War 2. Growing up I was always fascinated from the stories of her childhood; her uncle had been exterminated by the Nazi's, she watched bombers level her grandparents town, she lived under Russian occupation and was on the last train of refugees to settle in what would become West Germany, all the other relatives wound up behind the Iron Curtain (her story is totally a "God thing").

My father's family history was equally interesting, his stepfather was an alcoholic who beat him and my grandmother, he married his first wife at 16 and had 4 children before divorcing her, joined the Army and was sent to Germany where he met my mother and they both knew Elvis Presley! I was their only child but they divorced when I was just 5 years old. My claim to fame is that I have been to Graceland when Elvis was still alive! I was only 3 so I don't remember much, other than my father knocking on his door!

Growing up in the 1960's, the daughter of a single Mom, a foreigner, as well as being Catholic was interesting to say the least. My Mom struggled to make ends meet and sadly my father was not very involved in my life. When I did see him, I ached for what was missing in my life, a whole, healthy, intact family. I was jealous of my older half-siblings as well as my 5 younger half-siblings all of whom lived with my father and stepmother. Since I was the only child my mother and he ever had, I joke that I am an only child from a large family!

The ache grew stronger as my self-esteem grew weaker. I always felt that somehow their divorce was my fault. If I was prettier, smarter, better, blah, blah, blah, they would still be together and I wouldn't be so lonely! My mother managed to put me through Catholic grade school, Catholic High school, ballet lessons and we even visited my grandparents back in Germany! As an adult now, I am in awe of her quiet strength and resolve, she is a strong woman!

Sadly, I didn't appreciate those things as a teenager. I had my own selfish agenda and was looking for something to fill the void in my heart! I got pregnant with my daughter Jennifer when I was 16 years old. Her father and I got married but it was one of those all too common teenage statistics of marriage and divorce. I remarried when I was 20 and had my daughter Jessica when I was 21. Not long after she was born, God miraculously saved me.

My father had been saved when I was 17 but I had been incredibly angry with him and wasn't interested in anything he had to say! I had been to a Billy Graham Crusade when I was only 9 years old and I remember going forward when they gave the invitation. My mother bless her heart, told them it was "okay that we were already going to a church"! I didn't realize that God had laid a claim on my heart way back then and He had never given up on me!

When Jessica was only 2 years old, her father walked out on us. Once again I was divorced, but this time I was 23 and had 2 daughters to raise! Even though I had been saved I hit rock bottom and even entertained thoughts of suicide. God revealed Himself to me though in an Incarnate experience and I have never been the same! Hebrews 13:5, in the flesh! From that day on I resolved I was done looking for love. God was going to have to fill the void or send someone my way. I determined my girls would be better off being raised in a Christian home with God filling the role of their father rather than my promiscuous lifestyle of shooting darts out there, hoping that one would land in the right place.

When I surrendered, something wonderful happened, or should I say some ONE wonderful happened. God brought my husband Dave into my life. He had never been married but took on me and the baggage of TWO ex-husbands. He took my daughters and made them his very own. He is an incredible man and I love him with every ounce of my being! He's my best friend and confidant. He has stood by me through a Prodigal child, my chronic illness, raising Jennifer & Jessica as well as 2 flesh and blood children of our own. He hasn't been able to relate to the ache that had been in my heart but he has loved me fiercely through it!

I am SO incredibly blessed! MY life has come full circle. My mother remarried a wonderful man when I was in high school. Even when I was at my most un-lovely, he made me his own child. Pop is 78 now and has been the daddy to me that I needed. My kids forget that he is my stepfather. My mother turned 70 this year and I have grown closer to her as the years have gone by. She is a beautiful woman, inside and out, the best part is that they are both Believers!

When I turned 40 God decided it was time to deal with my hardened heart in relation to my father. God used a Bible Study called "In My Father's House" to help me come to terms with that relationship. God was able to not only restore that relationship to where we are close but for the first time in my life, I am whole, healthy and happy! My father is a wonderful, Godly man who is the fiercest Prayer Warrior I have ever met! God has enabled me to not only extend forgiveness to him but to also feel compassion for him, he had no positive father role-model; in his life either!

God is SO incredibly good, all the time. HE has indeed restored what the locusts have eaten! I will sing and shout His praises until the day I go to be with Him because NO ONE, could ever do in my life what he has done!



Keep up with our family at:
My blog is here

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One & Only, who came from the Father, full of grace & truth."
John 1:14