My Life is so Blessed!

My name is Jerrica. I grew up on the Blackfeet Indian reservation. I have 3 beautiful children ages 10, 6 &  7 months. I am a single mother to my beautiful children. I struggled with addiction on and off for years. I always hoped for a good sober life but just could not grasp recovery long term. I was baptized catholic as an infant, went to church as a child but lost all connection with My God.

I battled drug addiction for years. I found myself in the cycle of rock bottom, recovery & long term relapse. I completed treatment, thought I had it that time but found myself once again hopeless. I relapsed again, this was about to be the worst bout of addiction, I would ever face. It took months of wanting better for my children and myself. I secured a bed in inpatient treatment at Crystal Creek Lodge in Browning. I was assigned the one counselor that was a devoted Christian pastor. He used teachings of the bible along with the general recovery material to treat addiction. I did not want a Christian based counselor; I had no belief of God in my life at that time. I asked for a different counselor but was denied. I made it through those groups but didn’t really listen too much. I attended a Christian church and it sparked an interest but at the time it was a one-time thing.

I heard of Peggy’s house in my first treatment. I heard it would be good place for a fresh start for my family. I applied and was accepted, I did not show up. I applied again and was hesitant if I would be accepted because I was basically being a no show the year before. I was blessed with a bed date. I packed up dirty clothes & my life was a total mess.

I walked through the doors of Peggy’s House in February 2024. I had no idea, I just entered the doors of my life being blessed. My infant daughter was 20 days old and my 6-year-old also moved in with me. I was able to bond with my brand new baby & get my daughter in to school. My son stayed with my mom in Browning until I got on my feet. He moved in with me a few months later. I had to learn to be a functional mom again. Peggy’s house is structured very well. It really helped me get back into the swing of being a functional mother. My infant daughter is on the perfect schedule. Nikkia has really helped me mentally in the whole aspect of communal living with school age kids. I’ve always felt supported, she has reminded me that kids belong here! I got to slowly transition from nurturing my newborn to now working fulltime. I am beyond grateful to have a stable, safe but beautiful house to live in while I get back on my feet.

I knew I was an entering a Christian based sober living/family shelter. I was still hesitant about wanting to start a relationship with God. I willingly sat in bible study every morning. It only took a few days of listening and observing that I was ready and wanted to surrender my life to Christ. Dave Mclean helped me pray to be born again and give my life to the Lord. Since that day, I’ve attended almost every bible study that is offered, Monday through Saturday. I allow God to be the guiding force in my life. I look forward to weekly church service at Canvas every week.  It seems like if I am struggling with something it appears in the Word, whether that be bible study or church. I was baptized as a reborn Christian this past July, that was amazing experience. A Ray of Hope-Peggy’s house is like a dream come true for my children and me. My life is so blessed, God is Good! Praise God!