September 23, 2025 • 33 mins
Ginger was born into a loving family and brought up in a good environment, but struggled with her self image from an early age. Ginger's story is one that will resonate with anyone who has a child with ADHD or has struggled with ADHD themselves personally. Her story is powerful, tragic, and beautiful in so many ways. The Devil is a part of her story, but he is the defeated part, and Jesus is the victor.
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Episode Transcript
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Phil Shuler (00:00):
HellO, and welcome to Renew, Restore, Rejoice, the
(00:03):
Safe House Ministries podcast,where we share stories of the
power of God to change livesthrough Safe House Ministries.
Safe House Ministries is basedout of Columbus, Georgia, and we
are a ministry that exists tolove and serve people who have
been affected by addiction,homelessness, and incarceration.
I'm your host, Phil Shuler, theDirector of Development for Safe
House Ministries here inColumbus, Georgia.
(00:24):
Safe House serves over 1, 100people each month as they
transition back into ourcommunity.
Safe House provides an abundanceof services including 213 beds
for homeless individuals andfamilies, case management for
obtaining job skills and longterm employment.
Over 300 hot meals every day,free clothing, and so much more.
One of the most incredibleservices that Safe House
(00:45):
provides is our free 9 12 monthintensive outpatient substance
abuse program, which is statelicensed, CARF accredited, and
has no wait list.
Almost 100 percent ofindividuals staying in our
shelters who follow our threephase program become fully
employed within a few months.
And 68 percent of individualswho stay at least one night with
us End up finding work andmoving into their own home.
(01:07):
Thank you for being with ustoday and listening to our
podcast.
We hope you enjoy this week'sepisode.
Phil (01:12):
good morning.
Thank you for being here on thepodcast today with us I have got
Ginger.
How here today?
her and I were working togetherwhen I first started at Safe
House, she is an amazing woman.
Uh, she was one of the leadersin the organization and she has
an amazing story all of her ownand Ginger is here with us to
share that story.
So, ginger, thank you for beinghere today.
Ginger (01:33):
Thank you so much for having me, Phil.
It's an honor.
both (01:36):
Yeah.
so Ginger, just kicking it off,I would love to ask you if there
was one word that might bestdescribe you, what would that
word be?
Ginger (01:44):
It
both (01:44):
would be joyful.
That's a good word.
Yes.
How do you mean?
Ginger (01:48):
I attribute it to the Jesus joy, um, in my addiction,
which we'll talk about, um, herein a little bit.
I, I just felt spiritually deadfor so many years and, um, just
no joy, completely hopeless.
And now I just have such a zestfor life and so joyful and
everything.
I love to laugh.
I love to smile.
(02:08):
I love to make people feel seenand, and, um, and loved on and
cared about.
And, uh, so yeah, it woulddefinitely be joyful.
That's
both (02:17):
awesome.
Yeah.
Uh, and it sounds like aspiritual gift that the Lord has
given you as well.
Just
Ginger (02:22):
definitely, yeah.
both (02:23):
Uh, I need to have more joy in my life.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think that's awesome.
So, um, ginger, will you tell usa little bit about just growing
up for you, where did you growup and what was home life like?
Sure.
Ginger (02:34):
Um, so I am the middle child of Bobby and Sharon
Goolsby, the most amazingparents ever.
Um, I grew up in Columbus,Georgia, lived here all my life.
So, um, I have an older brothernamed Robbie.
He's two years older than me.
And then I have a youngersister, Lori, that's four years
younger than me.
And, um, my childhood was, as Itell my parents, just magical,
(02:54):
um, very strong Christianvalues.
We grew up in church Wednesdaynight, suppers, vacation, Bible
school, Sunday school, you know,all the things.
Yeah.
Which of course, when I got alittle, little older kicking and
screaming, uh, didn't wanna go.
And, um, now just having onechild of my own, I realize how.
Difficult.
That was for my mom.
Like I'm admire her so much toget up because of course back
(03:16):
then we dressed in frillydresses and the socks and the
patent leather shoes differentthan it is today.
Yeah.
Different, no jeans ever in thechurch, you know?
My goodness.
Very different.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Very different.
So, um, but yet to get up andget three young kids ready and,
uh, you know, every, everySunday, but she, they just did
it because they knew howimportant it was.
And I'm just so thankful forthat because it really instilled
(03:36):
the foundation in me, and I knewexactly.
where to go to when I was introuble.
Yeah.
Who the only one that could saveme, so,
both (03:43):
okay.
Yeah.
Ginger (03:44):
I'm, I'm grateful for that.
both (03:45):
Awesome.
Um, I know your parents have apretty neat story.
Tell us a little bit about, uh,your parents and, and Yeah.
Their early days and marriageand Sure.
What was like
Ginger (03:55):
Yeah.
So, um.
My dad was going to ColumbusState University and he paid for
everything on his own.
My grandfather, of course, hadthe preacher Goolesby, we had
the money to do that, but he wasvery much work, work, work.
My dad was doing a paper route.
I mean, he would buy his ownschool supplies, you know, it
just, um, he instilled a strongwork ethic in my dad.
So, um, he was going to ColumbusState University and he didn't
(04:17):
have the money for one semester,so he had to take that one
semester off.
And he says he remembers the daycoming home and walking into the
kitchen.
And my grandmother was sittingat the table with a letter and
just bawling her eyes out.
So obviously he had no.
Desires to go into the military.
Um, but he was drafted in thearmy.
(04:37):
Wow.
For the Wow.
Because
both (04:38):
that he took, so he hadn't taken, taking that semester off.
Wasn't
Ginger (04:41):
if he had been in school.
Yeah.
They didn't.
Yeah.
Wow.
From what I understand.
So, um, he'll tell everybodyI'm, uh, I'm not real brave.
He was trying to do everythinghe could to
both (04:49):
get from going Yeah.
Over there.
But they didn't have the money,so he had to take that semester
off.
Yes,
Ginger (04:53):
yes.
And, uh, so he definitely, youknow, did, wasn't happy about
going over there, but, um,because of his schooling and
stuff, he went right intoofficer training school, um, and
became a helicopter pilot.
So, uh, my parents had beenmarried.
I may be getting this wrong.
I think it was like two years hegot, or a year or something.
Uh, nine, no, nine months.
(05:13):
I'm sorry.
He was, they were married likenine months and he got, uh, sent
over to Vietnam.
Wow.
And he, uh, was a helicopterpilot and really enjoyed that.
He loved, loved, loved flying.
Yeah.
Um, he actually has some oldreel to reel videos.
My dad's a big photo self-taughtphotographer.
Yeah.
And he has some amazing of likethe door gunners out of his Huey
(05:35):
shooting the jungle.
Wow.
And while he's flying reallycool stuff.
Yeah.
We need to get it digitized,but, um, that's really neat.
And sipping my water.
Excuse me.
And, um, so he was, uh, I forgetwhat year it was, um, that he
was shot down and his helicopterflew, uh, I mean, fell like 500
feet and exploded.
(05:56):
It killed, um, wow.
To his, his really good friend.
Montoya Gooch was his name andanother guy.
And when it hit, it kind ofexploded, obviously, because
there was like a little mini wargoing on that were taking enemy
fire.
And, um, and the, he wentthrough the front of the
cockpit, so a piece of thewindshield went all the way
(06:17):
through here and like flappedhis nose over and he broke his
back in, in a few differentplaces.
And of course that's, he saidthat's the worst pain he's ever
felt in his life.
Wow.
So he didn't know if his legswere gone, you know, what was
missing.
So he laid there and he was kindof feeling around to see, um,
and he picked up something andit was his whole bottom jaw.
So he had actually, um, wow.
(06:38):
Yeah.
Dislocated that.
So he held onto that.
But there was a, um, a, a, aneat, a neat hero in this story.
So he told me that the triplecanopy is so thick that you
can't get down.
I mean, he said it's just somuch, uh, canopy.
So they came to try to rescuethem, and of course there's.
You know, enemy fire going allaround.
(06:58):
And there was a, I think he was19 at the time.
My dad had never met the guy andthey couldn't get down into the
canopy.
And this kid, 19-year-old, Imean, my son's 20, but uh, he
said, I'll go.
And he jumped in the top of atree.
And when he did, when he landedin the tree, of course the, you
know, the helicopter's blowingit, uh, blowing the tree back
(07:20):
and forth.
He broke his arm.
Um, but he climbed down thattree and was able to get the
winch, dragged my dad, and gethim onto the winch to Wow.
To lift him up.
And, uh, so he, he absolutelysaved my dad's life.
His name was, we called him theGood Shepherd.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, um, his last name wasShepherd.
And, um, my dad got to meet himmany years ago.
(07:40):
He is been looking for him for,for years and years and years.
That's amazing.
Yeah.
And they all thought my dad hadpassed away and they said that,
um.
When, uh, shepherd would walkinto the mess hall that
everybody would go.
There's the Good Shepherd,there's the Good Shepherd.
both (07:53):
His last name was Shepherd.
Yeah,
Ginger (07:54):
shepherd.
Last name was Shepherd.
Wow.
Um, that's awesome.
Yeah.
It's really special.
But anyway, so, um, you know, itjust started off tough for my
parents to be so young.
Young.
Yeah.
That is a rough start.
Phil (08:03):
It
Ginger (08:04):
is to be so young.
And then, um, my dad had manysurgeries, was over there for a
long time.
Finally came, uh, here to FortBenning, uh, hospital.
And, um, there's a picture.
So he was told he had broken hisback so severely that he
wouldn't have kids.
He wouldn't walk.
All these things.
And of course parents arefreshly married and, um, mom's
like, we're, we're fine.
We're gonna do this.
God's God, us you know, wewe're, you know, this is gonna
(08:25):
work.
And um, and so there's a pictureof my dad where he's in a full
back brace, my brother's two andhe's, it's the first time my dad
was kind of able to run a littlebit and it's my chasing my
brother in the backyard.
So God has just blessed himimmensely.
So they ended up having threekids and.
And, uh, my mom is the mostamazing caretaker.
Uh, she's been the best nurse tomy dad.
(08:47):
Wow.
Yeah.
And, and all of us, so they takeThat's fantastic.
Good care of each other.
both (08:51):
Yeah.
Yeah.
So three kids and, uh, olderbrother and a younger sister.
Yes.
So you're right in the middle.
Ginger (08:55):
I'm right in the middle.
Yep.
My mom's favorite middle child.
Don't forget that she tells meall the time.
Yeah.
both (09:01):
And I think you were telling me before that, um, your
grandpa invited your dad topartner with him Yes.
In kind of running a foodbusiness.
Ginger (09:09):
Yes.
Yes.
So, um, uh, back, back in theday, um, there wasn't all these
big chain grocery stores, sothere was only, um, a store
called, uh, family ownedbusiness called Louis Jones, and
then there was Piggly Wiggly.
And then, um, my dad, mygrandfather had, uh, um, some
grocery stores called SuperValue for a little while.
And then when my dad got out andwas able to work, it was a long
recovery obviously.
(09:30):
Um, he just asked my dad, do youwanna go into business with me?
And.
Dad had been in college and noplans to, you know, that wasn't
really what he wanted to go to.
The military wasn't reallywanting to go in the grocery
business, but it was a blessing.
And he said, absolutely.
So they went into businesstogether and they ended up at
one time, I think it was 13grocery stores with one in La
Grange and one in Franklin,Georgia, and the rest were here.
(09:50):
Wow.
Yeah.
Gouldsby Foods.
Gouldsby Foods.
Yep.
Everybody that lives in, uh, haslived here all their lives.
Remember that?
both (09:56):
Yeah.
Wow.
Yeah.
Your parents sounds like theyhave an amazing story.
They do.
And just the way that God andtheir faith just shown through.
Yes.
Ginger (10:05):
And my dad has had, um, since then, I mean, God, their
faith and just what the, I mean,it's a miracle what God's done
in my life, but the, um, whathe's done in my dad's life and
continues to do is.
Absolutely a miracle.
I mean, my dad has one kidney.
He had, uh, a tumor in hiskidney removed many years ago.
He's had his first heart attackat 42 years old.
(10:26):
Um, he's got a stent.
Uh, I mean a yeah, he's gotmultiple stents.
He's had aortic aneurysms.
Wow.
He's had bladder cancer.
He's, uh, prostate cancer.
You name it, he's Wow.
Yeah.
And he just, and a lot of, um,health issues from Agent Orange.
He's had a lot of issues fromthat.
both (10:44):
Yeah.
Wow.
What's his first name again?
Ginger (10:46):
Uh, Bobby.
Bobby.
Okay.
Bobby.
Yeah, Robert.
But everybody calls him Bobby.
All right.
AKA big dude is what is what thekids did in the family.
Yeah.
The all, they have fourgrandsons, um, between my
brother and my sister and I, andthey all call him big dudes, so
That's awesome.
Yeah.
Yeah, he's great.
I
both (11:00):
love that.
Um, man, wow.
So it sounds like it was, therewas a lot of challenges.
Mm-hmm.
But it sounds like the way yourparents raised you was strong in
the faith and just with love inthe home.
Um, I think you were talkingabout family dinners every
night.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
So, uh, where did things startgoing wrong?
Ginger (11:19):
So, um, at a young age, again, my older brother,
everybody in my family'sextremely calm.
Me and my dad are kinda on thesame wavelength.
We're we're goofballs and cutup.
My mom's a lot of fun too, don'tget me wrong.
But everybody else is prettycalm, especially my brother and
sister.
They're, I call them IOR becauseI'm extremely hyper, but so, um,
they knew that, around secondgrade that I was really
(11:40):
struggling, in school.
And, it was like someone shot meout of a cannon every day.
I mean, I went, didn't sleepmuch, just really just climbing
the walls, you know, 90 miles anhour.
Yeah.
And I always tell my parents,I'm like, you had another child
after me, God bless you.
Like, I would've been like, thisis it, you know?
But, um, anyway, so they knew Iwas struggling.
Uh, elementary school was verytough for me.
(12:01):
Um.
I had a lot of self-esteemissues, of course.
'cause back then teachers didn'treally know what a DHD was.
Um, and so, uh, they would justkind of send, you're being
disruptive.
You, you can't stop talking, youknow, you're interrupting,
you're, stay in your seat, stayin your seat.
You know, I'm just all over theplace.
I just literally couldn't helpit.
And, um, so they would sit meout in the hallway or move me
(12:22):
away from my friends and stuff.
So it made me feel, um, I usedto just tell my parents, I'm
just stupid.
What's wrong with me?
I'm, I'm, I'm stupid.
Um, because I just struggledwith learning and retaining and
things.
So thank goodness for them.
They took me to a psychiatristhere in Columbus that suggested
going to somewhere in Atlanta.
And they had me tested and lotsof different testing and, um,
(12:42):
and so, uh, I started, uh, theyprayed about this a lot because
of course you never really wannamedicate your kids.
But, um, I started on Ritalinwhen I was in third grade, and
it was a huge help to me.
I was able to maintain mybehavior, you know, focus
better, things like that.
psychiatrist would give, uh, myparents a workbook.
(13:03):
I can, I mean, I can visiblyremember what it looked like.
We would color in it and stuff,and I would lay in the bed, um,
with my dad and it was called Iliked myself because, and, you
know, trying to figure out, Iused to not be able to name two,
three things that I liked aboutmyself, even as a young, at a
young age.
So, um, that kind of started thechallenges for me.
I think, um, always feelingdifferent.
(13:24):
I always felt like I loved myfriends and, uh, boyfriends
later in life.
Like, I loved everybody morethan they love me, you know?
If that makes sense.
I always felt kind of rejected,like I didn't mean as much to
everyone as they meant to me.
Was that
both (13:38):
probably a false perception though?
Yeah, I think looking
Ginger (13:41):
back, that was a false perception.
Um, and that's just kind of howI felt.
I definitely wear, you know, allmy feelings on the outside, so,
and then, just kind of having aDHD or being neurodivergent, you
know, I always kind ofapologizing for everything or
feeling like I was, too much.
I'm too loud, I'm too hyper, youknow, just, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I still struggle with that.
I'm, I'm better with that now.
I, I call it neuros spicy, soit's part of my charm.
(14:03):
Yeah.
But, uh, yeah, just that, thatkind of started it.
And then when I was 16, um, highschool was very, uh, my junior
year was extremely, extremelytough.
Um, I lost a very, uh, well, shewas my best friend, um, Ashley
Towns in high school.
It was just a sudden unexpectedloss.
Oh, she was at UGA, and wasactually pledging the same,
(14:25):
sorority that her sister Ashley,um, was in, in.
And, she was killed.
And it was devastating to me,obviously, um, my high school.
Boyfriend and I broke up.
Um, it was just a lot of loss.
And so I went into a, a reallydeep depression, like painful
depression where I wasnon-functional, not able to
bathe, not, I mean, justnothing.
(14:46):
Um, I had tried marijuana atthat time a few times, and, uh,
my mom and dad knew I was insome big trouble again,
wonderful parents, greatadvocates, and always seek help,
um, for me.
And so I went to the BradleyCenter and was actually admitted
my junior year.
Um, it's not really a, atechnical term, but I guess you
(15:06):
would call it a nervousbreakdown.
I was like completely, uh, outtatouch with reality.
It wasn't making sense andthings like that.
And that was before the drugs.
and so I was there for two weeksand then I did outpatient for
like three weeks.
And then coming back after thatwas so difficult, you know,
coming back to school and it'slike, ah, just
both (15:23):
the embarrassment.
Yeah, just the embarrassment
Ginger (15:25):
and like fir that further made me feel there's
something wrong with me.
Yeah.
Like, but.
In elementary school, I learned,a coping skill for me was my
humor.
Like, I can make fun of myselfand make myself the joke of
everything so that no one elsecan laugh at me.
But what I didn't realize doingthat, of course I was easily
(15:46):
made friends with everyonebecause I'm very social and, you
know, outgoing and stuff, but Ididn't realize that programming
I was doing to myself, it wasjust making things worse.
You know, I was ugly to myself.
and that's been hard to changethat.
So that carried on through,through high school and then,
ended up quitting.
I skipped a lot of school mysenior year, so, two weeks
before I was supposed tograduate, I wasn't gonna walk.
(16:07):
So I was like, I'll just get myGEDs, which I did.
and then at.
I met my son's father, uh,Robbie when I was right before I
turned 19.
He was six years older than me.
Of course, lemme backtrack.
My parents were extremely strictbecause they were good parents.
You know, it wasn't just theywere on us, they knew where we
were going, what we were doing.
(16:27):
It was kind of hard to leave thehouse mom and dad.
Um, yeah.
so that, that made it difficultas a, a rebellious teenager.
And boy was I rebellious, a lotof running away, just putting my
parents through just terror.
I can't imagine.
So you did, it was just a
both (16:42):
downward
Ginger (16:42):
spiral.
It was a downward SPI spiral.
I don't feel like I ever reallypulled out of that.
If that makes sense.
Um, and then I met my son'sfather, Robbie, who was six
years older than me.
So he was 24 when we met.
And my parents were like, no,you know, because he was, you
were still
both (16:57):
living at the house?
I was still
Ginger (16:58):
living at the house when I would stay there.
I mean, when they would comefind me From where you were 18
both (17:02):
when you met him?
Mm-hmm.
Ginger (17:03):
Yeah, right, right before I turned 19.
Um, and then he was in college.
He was, uh, you know, big schoolguy and all this stuff and I was
like, oh, he's got it, you know,he's got it, got it together
here we're going, we're gonnaget outta here.
And, you know, that kind ofthing.
So, um, anyway, so, and we endedup, I think I was in 19, which
just blows my mind to thinkabout that now because my son's
(17:23):
20 and he's like such a baby tome.
Um, my poor parents, but I was19 and, uh, tried meth for the
first time.
Yeah.
Wow.
And what really did it, anotherthing with him
both (17:33):
like was he was kind of, yeah, it was at a
Ginger (17:34):
party.
It was at some friend's houseand, yeah.
And, um, I didn't think he wouldever do that'cause he was going
for criminal justice and itlike, never smoked pot, like
nothing.
And I don't know what changed.
I thought he was kidding.
He was, you know.
We'll, we'll do this.
I was like, there's no wayyou're gonna do this.
You know, I'll do it if you doit, you know, kind of a thing.
And that was it.
But what really, um, I've alwaysbeen really tall.
(17:54):
My sixth grade picture, I was, Ideveloped very early, very tall,
sixth grade picture.
I'm taller than all theteachers.
And, and, um, of course now Idon't know what they put in
food.
You know, the boys in highschool are, you know, big and
tall.
I'm like, they all came up tomy, you know, my, my rib cage.
And so I just always felt bigand fat.
Like, you're so big, you're sobig.
So again, self-esteem.
(18:15):
Self-esteem issues.
And so someone had told me aboutthe meth.
They were like, oh, you won'teat.
You'll be so skinny.
So I was hooked on it.
That was, that was honestly mydriving force.
Like, wow.
Yeah, I just, oh, skinny sayless.
Yeah.
both (18:28):
You just, was that a self-perception or, yeah, no.
It, you just, you just felt likeyou were too big and then Oh,
yeah.
Ginger (18:33):
Yeah.
I just felt big.
I mean, I'm, you know, big bonedagain, I was just so much bigger
than everyone else, and peoplewouldn't say, wow, you're really
tall.
I hated being tall back then.
I didn't wanna be, it was justlike, you're so big.
So, and I just felt.
Uh, gawky and awkward and youknow, I, it's still weird the
things that you tell yourselfor, uh, that happen as a kid.
Like I, you'll seldom ever seeme wear tennis shoes.
(18:55):
I feel like a big old, likeManish ki type of, and, and
which is not true.
That's not logical, but it'sjust from that, you
both (19:03):
know.
But that self-image, that selfimage led you to want to
continue the meth.
Ginger (19:06):
Yes, absolutely.
And then, you know, um, and thenit was just kind of off and on,
off and on for, for many years.
We were weekend warriors for along time.
I was still
both (19:16):
at your hou at your parents' house?
No, I, I
Ginger (19:17):
left after that.
Yeah.
Did you move in with,
both (19:20):
uh, Robbie?
I did.
Ginger (19:21):
I did.
Um, and then I had, um, let'ssee, I stole a lot.
I started stealing a lot ofstuff.
Um, did he
both (19:28):
actually, actually finish college or did he end up He did.
He
Ginger (19:30):
has a master's
both (19:30):
degree.
Okay.
Ginger (19:31):
Yeah, he would've kept going.
I mean, he was like a, I totalopposite of me.
He loves to learn and stuff.
Yeah.
But he, uh, ended up getting hismaster's degree.
Super smart guy.
But, uh, anyway, so I ended upjust, I mean, it's sad to say,
but just stealing from thepeople that have always taken
care of me and loved me themost.
I mean, I stole jewelry from mymom did.
(19:51):
Wow.
All different.
Wow.
So you'd go
both (19:52):
home and visit and then just end up taking things?
Yeah, I was just kind of
Ginger (19:54):
in and out, in and out.
I would go home and then I wouldleave, run away when they would
leave and I would, you know,that kind of thing.
Um, and then they overheard on aphone call.
My mom had picked it up and Iwas talking to somebody about
doing cocaine and so my mom ofcourse freaked out, gets my dad.
They come home.
My dad's like, but they didn't
both (20:10):
know at that point.
Until that point.
My
Ginger (20:12):
dad, my dad was, mom told me just recently that my
dad.
Was the one that was suspicious.
You know, he was like, somesomething, something's going on
here.
He just didn't
both (20:21):
know exactly what it was.
Yeah.
He didn't
Ginger (20:22):
know, but he was afraid it was drugs.
And so mom was like, well, youknow, I, I, I don't know.
I, you know, may, maybe it's herdepression again.
Something's going on.
My dad was like, no, something'sgoing on.
So he comes home and like, callsme.
They had a intercom in theirhouse to house I grew up in, and
he was like, get downstairs, getin the car.
We get in the car, we're notspeaking.
I'm like, where are we going?
Where are we going?
You, I could tell he was not,not happy and he was like, we're
gonna take a drug test.
both (20:43):
Oh, brother.
Wow.
So, yeah.
So, um, how old were you at thatpoint?
Ginger (20:46):
I wanna say maybe, I don't even know if I was between
19 and 21.
I, I was young.
Okay.
May I think around 19 or 20.
So still early
both (20:54):
in the addiction?
Early in,
Ginger (20:56):
yes.
So they, they tried, theyintervened this this whole time.
I mean, they've always, youknow, tried to help me and, and,
and catch things before they gotreally bad.
But, um, obviously I, I failedthe drug test and, uh, so there
used to be a re uh, a treatmentcenter in Columbus called, um,
the turning point.
So I was, um, they put me intothe turning point.
Um, and I don't even remember,it's weird.
(21:19):
I just like blocked a lot ofstuff out, but I don't remember
how long I was there.
Um,
both (21:22):
Robbie's still in the picture at this point or?
Yes.
Ginger (21:24):
We, we were not allowed to see each other, but you know,
we saw each other, we ended upbeing together for 25 years, so.
Phil (21:30):
Wow.
Ginger (21:31):
Yeah, so, um, yeah, there, there's just been a lot,
uh, lots that, that's happenedwith that.
But, um, yeah, so we, uh, justkind of in and out, sneaking
around and would leave to, youknow, see him and things like
that.
But, yeah, so I got outta theturning point and then Robbie
and I would end up, you know,getting, you know, being
together again and, uh, ended upliving together.
And then, we would, you know,party just on the weekends.
(21:53):
It wasn't a big deal.
We were able to do that for along time.
Some, some weekends we didn't,and then it just progressively
got worse.
Um, so when
both (21:59):
you got out of the turning point, did you just go right
back into drugs?
Ginger (22:03):
Kind of I, after that I had like a dry spell because at
that time, uh, meth wasn'treally my thing.
Um, it ex ecstasy had come onthe scene, so we were doing a
lot of ecstasy, you know, hereand there.
And, uh, and you know, there wasdry spells.
It wasn't anything that, it waslike, I have to have this, but
it was, I, I didn't like myselfat all.
(22:24):
Um, I, I just, I, I hatedlooking back.
I mean, I just hated myself.
I didn't, I just felt less than,I felt different, all those
things.
So I wanted anything I could doto change my reality, how I
felt, yeah.
You know, to just kind ofescape.
But, you know, I was, uh, thelies I would tell myself and the
enemy would tell me is that, um.
I would never do anything like,uh, you know, opioids or
(22:46):
something that would bedangerous, you know?
I mean, how crazy is that?
You know?
Um, I had so many friends thathave died from opioid addiction,
so I was like, I'll, you know,that's, I won't do that.
I'll, I'll just do meth, youknow, just some ecstasy.
Oh my gosh.
The insanity.
But, um, so yeah, that went onand then we ended up kind of
patching things.
(23:06):
Um, my parents just kind ofrealized down the road that we
were gonna be together and, andRobbie and I ended up getting
married when I was right beforeI turned 28.
And then two weeks after, um,our honeymoon, I got pregnant
with my son Jackson.
and right before our wedding,I'd say maybe eight months
before we got married at 28, wejust quit everything.
(23:29):
We just Wow.
Yeah.
Yeah, we had like a drive.
Yeah, totally.
Just like we're over this.
Robbie was working on hismaster's degree and, um.
We were just, just kind of hadsettled down and, uh, yeah.
And then, I found out I waspregnant two weeks after that.
And, uh, after our, uh, uh, gotmarried, I was 28.
And, um, and I was completelysober till I was, I mean, till
(23:52):
my son was almost five.
Yeah.
Not a thing.
I mean, I wouldn't even, even,so things were going
both (23:57):
pretty well.
They
Ginger (23:57):
were going well, we had bought a home, um, and had I had
a minivan and I was like, mom ofthe year.
I was just like my mother.
I mean, I was just such a greatmom.
I can honestly say that.
Uh, were
both (24:09):
you guys plugged into church?
You know, oh yeah,
Ginger (24:11):
we were, we still going to Edgewood Methodist.
Same one.
Yeah.
Uh, well, uh, yeah, same Living.
Grace you grew up in living.
Yeah, same one.
Grew up in and, uh, Jacksonwould a alike and stuff just
like I used to with my sister.
And, um.
Uh, we did all the mother'smornings out.
I was, I was blessed that Ididn't, uh, work.
Robbie worked, um, he worked forRob Doll Nissan as a service
(24:31):
advisor, um, at that time.
So, uh, I was able to stay homeand it was just me and Jack and
we just did everything together.
And, it was amazing.
And then I was at, took him to aplay date at a friend's house,
and her husband was outside inthe shed and, um, they were, he,
they, he was like, you wanna hitthis joint?
And I was like, sure.
Maybe.
(24:51):
Uh, yeah.
I had done that a long time.
I might hit it one time.
Well, that was it, you know.
Wow.
Yeah.
It just kind of opened the doorfor, you know, doing, doing
other things here and there.
Um, again, it would
both (25:02):
just be, so you, you, you, that one Yeah.
Starting it back again mm-hmm.
With marijuana.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Then kind of open the door andyou're like, oh, this isn't that
bad.
I like it.
Ginger (25:11):
People say that.
you guys out there can agree,disagree with me if you want to,
but, um, marijuana is a gatewaydrug, uh, to, for, for me
anyway, in my personalexperience.
Um, uh, it, it, it just openedthings back up because the, the,
the true sobriety and abstinencewas, and recovery I was living
with my son.
that it, it, it, that waseverything to me, you know?
(25:32):
So just kind of cracking thatdoor open and I was like, oh,
well that wasn't so bad.
You know?
And then, I mean, it wasn't likeimmediately I start doing meth,
but it, it, it just,
both (25:39):
yeah.
You know, we'd
Ginger (25:40):
start, you know, partying when my son wasn't
there.
We would, you know, have peopleover.
You'd go back
both (25:44):
to this same friend's house?
Ginger (25:45):
No, at, at our house.
Like when my son wasn't there,we had a couple of friends that
would come over and Oh, so likeparents started, started
both (25:51):
to join with you and Yep.
Ginger (25:53):
Mm-hmm.
Yep.
And then pushing the
both (25:54):
door open further.
Yeah,
Ginger (25:55):
yeah, yeah.
Yep.
Just pushing the door openfurther.
And, and we were able to do thatfor many years.
And then it just got to, um,what really ch.
Turned, um, the page to where itgot really bad was when, um,
ice, that's a, that's anotherform of methamphetamine.
Like super pure.
That's what Okay.
Took us all the way down.
Yeah.
both (26:13):
Over the cliff.
Ginger (26:14):
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Um, and when we started smokingit too, that's, I had never
smoked, um, drugs.
So what were you doing beforethat?
I was, uh, just snorting.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Just as, you know, as if that'sbetter.
both (26:25):
But smoking, it was a higher concentration like that.
Yeah.
It
Ginger (26:28):
just, I don't even, I, I can't describe it, but that's
just got us super hooked andthen Robbie and I ended up just,
um, through the years, it justgot worse and worse and worse.
And
both (26:40):
was he able to keep his job through that time or, um,
Ginger (26:42):
he, he did for, yeah, for almost the whole time.
And then, and then it, and thenit wasn't, and then I found out
that, um, he, like our house wasclose to going in foreclosure
because I, of course he had.
He controlled all the money andeverything.
So I never knew what was goingon with that.
I just did my best to not spendany and, you know, do with what
we had, make do with what wehad.
And, um, things just got really,really terrible for both of us.
(27:04):
It turned us into like horrible,horrible people.
And, um, about how old were youguys and how old was?
Um, uh, Jackson?
Uh, in early thirties.
Okay.
Yeah.
Early thirties.
Yeah.
So, and
both (27:14):
Jackson, that's your son's name?
Mm-hmm.
He was roughly how old aboutthat time?
Oh,
Ginger (27:18):
I don't, I wanna say maybe when things got really
bad, he, uh, around six, sevenyears old.
Okay.
Yeah.
I mean, it went and it, it got,so it kinda went downhill fast.
It went downhill very fast.
Very, very, very fast.
Wow.
Yeah.
I mean, ice hit, hit, hit thescene for us, and that was it.
Wow.
Yeah.
And um, yeah, it got really bad.
and whew, real bad.
(27:39):
Stay away orders.
Police were called.
Um, what does that mean, stayaway?
Orders like, um, temporary, uh.
What is it called?
Uh, restraining orders.
Restraining orders.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Uh, pt.
Yeah.
Um, so
both (27:50):
people, other people started putting those out on you
guys?
No, me
Ginger (27:52):
and me and Robbie had those on each other.
Yeah.
So you guys
both (27:55):
had separated and were It got, yeah.
Not living together.
Yeah, we
Ginger (27:58):
were at the time, and then I ended up leaving.
Um, and the house was basicallyjust, I mean, the home that, the
beautiful home and it was a nicehome.
it just got taken over.
There was no power, no water.
Um, yeah.
Robbie, yeah, he just, it, itjust became a, a drug house.
And so my parents, obviouslyJackson wasn't there for that.
Um, my parents stepped in andwere, and was like, we were,
(28:21):
were taking Jack and we totallyagreed.
I was like, I can't, I'm in noplace to.
Wow.
Yeah.
To, um, so we signed, Robbie andI both signed over temporary,
um, custody.
Yeah.
Um, and Jackson was with myparents for.
Almost seven years.
Wow.
And now I would live there fourtimes with your
both (28:41):
parents, sometimes kinda on and off.
Yeah.
With my parents
Ginger (28:43):
for, yeah.
With, um, you know, but to behonest, you know, it's hard to
say as good of a mom as I was,drugs took that from me,
completely took that from me.
So, um, you know, I thought, oh,Jackson's okay because I did the
right thing.
He's with my wonderful parentsand stuff.
But no, he, he loves my parents,but he, he needed his mom and
dad, you know?
and you know, that was when Iwas able to really admit that,
(29:07):
give that to God.
'cause that was many years inrecovery of trying to, you know,
get over that guilt.
and worked through that.
But when I was able finally tosay that, like, I picked men, I
picked drugs, I picked.
The lifestyle I picked, whatevermy needs were over my son.
It was like when I could finallyadmit that and say that as
painful as it is, that's when Iwas able to get into solutions.
(29:28):
It was very freeing for me.
Phil (29:30):
Wow.
Ginger (29:30):
Um, it's like it took some of the shame off, you know
what I mean?
Yeah.
I'm owning this.
Phil (29:34):
Yeah.
Um,
Ginger (29:35):
God has forgiven me and um, you know, my parents have,
have forgiven me and there wassome jail, uh, three different
jail stays mixed in there aswell.
I was stealing from my parents.
Um, wow.
And thank goodness, I thank themall the time.
If it was not for them giving metough love, I would not be
sitting right here today.
Phil (29:54):
Wow.
Ginger (29:54):
That is a fact.
They never enabled me the threetimes I've been to jail.
It was, well, once they didn'tpush the issue, um, I had taken
my dad's credit card and thestate picked that up, but, uh.
They, um,
both (30:07):
sorry.
So your, your interactions withthe law were related to your
stealing and criminal behavioragainst your parents?
Ginger (30:12):
Yes.
Yep.
Sad to say.
Mm-hmm.
And,
both (30:15):
uh, so you and Robbie were kind of on and off and just both
of you in the darkness ofaddiction at the time?
Ginger (30:20):
Yes.
Very bad.
And then we got completely awayfrom each other.
I had this boyfriend that wasmuch older than me and it, it
was like the first person thatwas nice to me.
Really.
I mean, that's really what itwas.
He was nice to me.
Another It did, yeah.
He taught me, he taught me howto, to, to, to make shake and
bake another form of like justcrank dope.
So, you know, he was just real.
Is
both (30:39):
that meth or is that something different?
Ginger (30:40):
It's, it's like meth.
Yeah.
It's kind of, yeah.
It's pretty much the same thing.
Yeah.
But, um, and I lived in a shedwith him in Crawford, Alabama,
uh, for three months with No,the dead of summer.
No, uh, running water.
No power.
No.
Yeah.
both (30:55):
Like an actual shed.
An shed.
Kind of a actual, yeah, like antiny actual
Ginger (30:59):
shed.
An outdoor shed.
Yep.
Phil (31:02):
Wow.
Ginger (31:02):
Yeah.
And I used to, um, at nighttimeI would run through a field to
the house, um, that the peoplethat let us, let him stay in the
shed or whatever, let us staythere, they were great.
Um, uh, sometimes I would beable to go in and take showers
and stuff.
They were, they were, they weregood to me.
Wow.
And, uh, but a lot of times Iwould just run through the field
at nighttime and go get in theirhose and ba Yeah.
(31:24):
Yep.
Wow.
Yeah.
And then, um,
both (31:27):
did they let you go in for the restroom too, or was that
Yeah.
Ginger (31:29):
Yeah, we could do that sometimes, but most, most of the
time it was in a bucket.
And that is the end of part oneof Ginger's story.
We will leave her there in theshed and if you can even imagine
it, things will get worse.
And next week Ginger will sharethe depth of the darkness that
she faced, uh, when the enemyhad dragged her down so far.
(31:52):
Don't miss it.
Next week, I will give you alittle spoiler Obviously since
Ginger's on the podcast, thingsdid get so much better.
The next week, uh, she's gonnadive deeper and share about the
darkness.
She will even share some thingsabout demonic sightings and
presences and things that justgive you chills.
(32:16):
you'll want to come back nextweek and hopefully Ginger's
story will be an encouragementto you.
To stay away from even the firststep in the path of darkness
with whether it's marijuana ormeth or whatever it might be,
just don't even take that firststep, because if you don't take
(32:37):
that first step, then you'llnever.
Drop off the cliff.
So be encouraged.
Ginger has an amazing testimonyand, and, uh, the Lord does some
amazing things in her life.
Come back next week.
We look forward to having youback, and we will be here and
talk with you then.
Phil Shuler (32:53):
We look forward to being with you again next week
as we share another testimonyabout the power and the goodness
of God to change lives throughSafe House Ministries.
if you are someone listening tothis podcast that loves to hear
these stories of the greatthings that God is doing in
changing people's lives for thebetter, and if you would like to
be a part of that work, pleasereach out to us You can reach us
(33:16):
at 2101 Hamilton Road, Columbus,Georgia, 31,904.
You can call us at seven oh sixthree two two.
3 7, 7 3, or you can email us atinfo@safehouse-ministries.com.
Microphone (Samson Q2U Mi (33:32):
Thank you so much for being with us
this week for the renew restoreand rejoice podcast of safe
house ministries, we pray thatGod will bless you this week.
And we look forward to havingyou back with us again next week
for a new episode.
HellO, and welcome to Renew, Restore, Rejoice, the
(00:03):
Safe House Ministries podcast,where we share stories of the
power of God to change livesthrough Safe House Ministries.
Safe House Ministries is basedout of Columbus, Georgia, and we
are a ministry that exists tolove and serve people who have
been affected by addiction,homelessness, and incarceration.
I'm your host, Phil Shuler, theDirector of Development for Safe
House Ministries here inColumbus, Georgia.
(00:24):
Safe House serves over 1, 100people each month as they
transition back into ourcommunity.
Safe House provides an abundanceof services including 213 beds
for homeless individuals andfamilies, case management for
obtaining job skills and longterm employment.
Over 300 hot meals every day,free clothing, and so much more.
One of the most incredibleservices that Safe House
(00:45):
provides is our free 9 12 monthintensive outpatient substance
abuse program, which is statelicensed, CARF accredited, and
has no wait list.
Almost 100 percent ofindividuals staying in our
shelters who follow our threephase program become fully
employed within a few months.
And 68 percent of individualswho stay at least one night with
us End up finding work andmoving into their own home.
(01:07):
Thank you for being with ustoday and listening to our
podcast.
We hope you enjoy this week'sepisode.
Phil (01:12):
good morning.
Thank you for being here on thepodcast today with us I have got
Ginger.
How here today?
her and I were working togetherwhen I first started at Safe
House, she is an amazing woman.
Uh, she was one of the leadersin the organization and she has
an amazing story all of her ownand Ginger is here with us to
share that story.
So, ginger, thank you for beinghere today.
Ginger (01:33):
Thank you so much for having me, Phil.
It's an honor.
both (01:36):
Yeah.
so Ginger, just kicking it off,I would love to ask you if there
was one word that might bestdescribe you, what would that
word be?
Ginger (01:44):
It
both (01:44):
would be joyful.
That's a good word.
Yes.
How do you mean?
Ginger (01:48):
I attribute it to the Jesus joy, um, in my addiction,
which we'll talk about, um, herein a little bit.
I, I just felt spiritually deadfor so many years and, um, just
no joy, completely hopeless.
And now I just have such a zestfor life and so joyful and
everything.
I love to laugh.
I love to smile.
(02:08):
I love to make people feel seenand, and, um, and loved on and
cared about.
And, uh, so yeah, it woulddefinitely be joyful.
That's
both (02:17):
awesome.
Yeah.
Uh, and it sounds like aspiritual gift that the Lord has
given you as well.
Just
Ginger (02:22):
definitely, yeah.
both (02:23):
Uh, I need to have more joy in my life.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think that's awesome.
So, um, ginger, will you tell usa little bit about just growing
up for you, where did you growup and what was home life like?
Sure.
Ginger (02:34):
Um, so I am the middle child of Bobby and Sharon
Goolsby, the most amazingparents ever.
Um, I grew up in Columbus,Georgia, lived here all my life.
So, um, I have an older brothernamed Robbie.
He's two years older than me.
And then I have a youngersister, Lori, that's four years
younger than me.
And, um, my childhood was, as Itell my parents, just magical,
(02:54):
um, very strong Christianvalues.
We grew up in church Wednesdaynight, suppers, vacation, Bible
school, Sunday school, you know,all the things.
Yeah.
Which of course, when I got alittle, little older kicking and
screaming, uh, didn't wanna go.
And, um, now just having onechild of my own, I realize how.
Difficult.
That was for my mom.
Like I'm admire her so much toget up because of course back
(03:16):
then we dressed in frillydresses and the socks and the
patent leather shoes differentthan it is today.
Yeah.
Different, no jeans ever in thechurch, you know?
My goodness.
Very different.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Very different.
So, um, but yet to get up andget three young kids ready and,
uh, you know, every, everySunday, but she, they just did
it because they knew howimportant it was.
And I'm just so thankful forthat because it really instilled
(03:36):
the foundation in me, and I knewexactly.
where to go to when I was introuble.
Yeah.
Who the only one that could saveme, so,
both (03:43):
okay.
Yeah.
Ginger (03:44):
I'm, I'm grateful for that.
both (03:45):
Awesome.
Um, I know your parents have apretty neat story.
Tell us a little bit about, uh,your parents and, and Yeah.
Their early days and marriageand Sure.
What was like
Ginger (03:55):
Yeah.
So, um.
My dad was going to ColumbusState University and he paid for
everything on his own.
My grandfather, of course, hadthe preacher Goolesby, we had
the money to do that, but he wasvery much work, work, work.
My dad was doing a paper route.
I mean, he would buy his ownschool supplies, you know, it
just, um, he instilled a strongwork ethic in my dad.
So, um, he was going to ColumbusState University and he didn't
(04:17):
have the money for one semester,so he had to take that one
semester off.
And he says he remembers the daycoming home and walking into the
kitchen.
And my grandmother was sittingat the table with a letter and
just bawling her eyes out.
So obviously he had no.
Desires to go into the military.
Um, but he was drafted in thearmy.
(04:37):
Wow.
For the Wow.
Because
both (04:38):
that he took, so he hadn't taken, taking that semester off.
Wasn't
Ginger (04:41):
if he had been in school.
Yeah.
They didn't.
Yeah.
Wow.
From what I understand.
So, um, he'll tell everybodyI'm, uh, I'm not real brave.
He was trying to do everythinghe could to
both (04:49):
get from going Yeah.
Over there.
But they didn't have the money,so he had to take that semester
off.
Yes,
Ginger (04:53):
yes.
And, uh, so he definitely, youknow, did, wasn't happy about
going over there, but, um,because of his schooling and
stuff, he went right intoofficer training school, um, and
became a helicopter pilot.
So, uh, my parents had beenmarried.
I may be getting this wrong.
I think it was like two years hegot, or a year or something.
Uh, nine, no, nine months.
(05:13):
I'm sorry.
He was, they were married likenine months and he got, uh, sent
over to Vietnam.
Wow.
And he, uh, was a helicopterpilot and really enjoyed that.
He loved, loved, loved flying.
Yeah.
Um, he actually has some oldreel to reel videos.
My dad's a big photo self-taughtphotographer.
Yeah.
And he has some amazing of likethe door gunners out of his Huey
(05:35):
shooting the jungle.
Wow.
And while he's flying reallycool stuff.
Yeah.
We need to get it digitized,but, um, that's really neat.
And sipping my water.
Excuse me.
And, um, so he was, uh, I forgetwhat year it was, um, that he
was shot down and his helicopterflew, uh, I mean, fell like 500
feet and exploded.
(05:56):
It killed, um, wow.
To his, his really good friend.
Montoya Gooch was his name andanother guy.
And when it hit, it kind ofexploded, obviously, because
there was like a little mini wargoing on that were taking enemy
fire.
And, um, and the, he wentthrough the front of the
cockpit, so a piece of thewindshield went all the way
(06:17):
through here and like flappedhis nose over and he broke his
back in, in a few differentplaces.
And of course that's, he saidthat's the worst pain he's ever
felt in his life.
Wow.
So he didn't know if his legswere gone, you know, what was
missing.
So he laid there and he was kindof feeling around to see, um,
and he picked up something andit was his whole bottom jaw.
So he had actually, um, wow.
(06:38):
Yeah.
Dislocated that.
So he held onto that.
But there was a, um, a, a, aneat, a neat hero in this story.
So he told me that the triplecanopy is so thick that you
can't get down.
I mean, he said it's just somuch, uh, canopy.
So they came to try to rescuethem, and of course there's.
You know, enemy fire going allaround.
(06:58):
And there was a, I think he was19 at the time.
My dad had never met the guy andthey couldn't get down into the
canopy.
And this kid, 19-year-old, Imean, my son's 20, but uh, he
said, I'll go.
And he jumped in the top of atree.
And when he did, when he landedin the tree, of course the, you
know, the helicopter's blowingit, uh, blowing the tree back
(07:20):
and forth.
He broke his arm.
Um, but he climbed down thattree and was able to get the
winch, dragged my dad, and gethim onto the winch to Wow.
To lift him up.
And, uh, so he, he absolutelysaved my dad's life.
His name was, we called him theGood Shepherd.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, um, his last name wasShepherd.
And, um, my dad got to meet himmany years ago.
(07:40):
He is been looking for him for,for years and years and years.
That's amazing.
Yeah.
And they all thought my dad hadpassed away and they said that,
um.
When, uh, shepherd would walkinto the mess hall that
everybody would go.
There's the Good Shepherd,there's the Good Shepherd.
both (07:53):
His last name was Shepherd.
Yeah,
Ginger (07:54):
shepherd.
Last name was Shepherd.
Wow.
Um, that's awesome.
Yeah.
It's really special.
But anyway, so, um, you know, itjust started off tough for my
parents to be so young.
Young.
Yeah.
That is a rough start.
Phil (08:03):
It
Ginger (08:04):
is to be so young.
And then, um, my dad had manysurgeries, was over there for a
long time.
Finally came, uh, here to FortBenning, uh, hospital.
And, um, there's a picture.
So he was told he had broken hisback so severely that he
wouldn't have kids.
He wouldn't walk.
All these things.
And of course parents arefreshly married and, um, mom's
like, we're, we're fine.
We're gonna do this.
God's God, us you know, wewe're, you know, this is gonna
(08:25):
work.
And um, and so there's a pictureof my dad where he's in a full
back brace, my brother's two andhe's, it's the first time my dad
was kind of able to run a littlebit and it's my chasing my
brother in the backyard.
So God has just blessed himimmensely.
So they ended up having threekids and.
And, uh, my mom is the mostamazing caretaker.
Uh, she's been the best nurse tomy dad.
(08:47):
Wow.
Yeah.
And, and all of us, so they takeThat's fantastic.
Good care of each other.
both (08:51):
Yeah.
Yeah.
So three kids and, uh, olderbrother and a younger sister.
Yes.
So you're right in the middle.
Ginger (08:55):
I'm right in the middle.
Yep.
My mom's favorite middle child.
Don't forget that she tells meall the time.
Yeah.
both (09:01):
And I think you were telling me before that, um, your
grandpa invited your dad topartner with him Yes.
In kind of running a foodbusiness.
Ginger (09:09):
Yes.
Yes.
So, um, uh, back, back in theday, um, there wasn't all these
big chain grocery stores, sothere was only, um, a store
called, uh, family ownedbusiness called Louis Jones, and
then there was Piggly Wiggly.
And then, um, my dad, mygrandfather had, uh, um, some
grocery stores called SuperValue for a little while.
And then when my dad got out andwas able to work, it was a long
recovery obviously.
(09:30):
Um, he just asked my dad, do youwanna go into business with me?
And.
Dad had been in college and noplans to, you know, that wasn't
really what he wanted to go to.
The military wasn't reallywanting to go in the grocery
business, but it was a blessing.
And he said, absolutely.
So they went into businesstogether and they ended up at
one time, I think it was 13grocery stores with one in La
Grange and one in Franklin,Georgia, and the rest were here.
(09:50):
Wow.
Yeah.
Gouldsby Foods.
Gouldsby Foods.
Yep.
Everybody that lives in, uh, haslived here all their lives.
Remember that?
both (09:56):
Yeah.
Wow.
Yeah.
Your parents sounds like theyhave an amazing story.
They do.
And just the way that God andtheir faith just shown through.
Yes.
Ginger (10:05):
And my dad has had, um, since then, I mean, God, their
faith and just what the, I mean,it's a miracle what God's done
in my life, but the, um, whathe's done in my dad's life and
continues to do is.
Absolutely a miracle.
I mean, my dad has one kidney.
He had, uh, a tumor in hiskidney removed many years ago.
He's had his first heart attackat 42 years old.
(10:26):
Um, he's got a stent.
Uh, I mean a yeah, he's gotmultiple stents.
He's had aortic aneurysms.
Wow.
He's had bladder cancer.
He's, uh, prostate cancer.
You name it, he's Wow.
Yeah.
And he just, and a lot of, um,health issues from Agent Orange.
He's had a lot of issues fromthat.
both (10:44):
Yeah.
Wow.
What's his first name again?
Ginger (10:46):
Uh, Bobby.
Bobby.
Okay.
Bobby.
Yeah, Robert.
But everybody calls him Bobby.
All right.
AKA big dude is what is what thekids did in the family.
Yeah.
The all, they have fourgrandsons, um, between my
brother and my sister and I, andthey all call him big dudes, so
That's awesome.
Yeah.
Yeah, he's great.
I
both (11:00):
love that.
Um, man, wow.
So it sounds like it was, therewas a lot of challenges.
Mm-hmm.
But it sounds like the way yourparents raised you was strong in
the faith and just with love inthe home.
Um, I think you were talkingabout family dinners every
night.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
So, uh, where did things startgoing wrong?
Ginger (11:19):
So, um, at a young age, again, my older brother,
everybody in my family'sextremely calm.
Me and my dad are kinda on thesame wavelength.
We're we're goofballs and cutup.
My mom's a lot of fun too, don'tget me wrong.
But everybody else is prettycalm, especially my brother and
sister.
They're, I call them IOR becauseI'm extremely hyper, but so, um,
they knew that, around secondgrade that I was really
(11:40):
struggling, in school.
And, it was like someone shot meout of a cannon every day.
I mean, I went, didn't sleepmuch, just really just climbing
the walls, you know, 90 miles anhour.
Yeah.
And I always tell my parents,I'm like, you had another child
after me, God bless you.
Like, I would've been like, thisis it, you know?
But, um, anyway, so they knew Iwas struggling.
Uh, elementary school was verytough for me.
(12:01):
Um.
I had a lot of self-esteemissues, of course.
'cause back then teachers didn'treally know what a DHD was.
Um, and so, uh, they would justkind of send, you're being
disruptive.
You, you can't stop talking, youknow, you're interrupting,
you're, stay in your seat, stayin your seat.
You know, I'm just all over theplace.
I just literally couldn't helpit.
And, um, so they would sit meout in the hallway or move me
(12:22):
away from my friends and stuff.
So it made me feel, um, I usedto just tell my parents, I'm
just stupid.
What's wrong with me?
I'm, I'm, I'm stupid.
Um, because I just struggledwith learning and retaining and
things.
So thank goodness for them.
They took me to a psychiatristhere in Columbus that suggested
going to somewhere in Atlanta.
And they had me tested and lotsof different testing and, um,
(12:42):
and so, uh, I started, uh, theyprayed about this a lot because
of course you never really wannamedicate your kids.
But, um, I started on Ritalinwhen I was in third grade, and
it was a huge help to me.
I was able to maintain mybehavior, you know, focus
better, things like that.
psychiatrist would give, uh, myparents a workbook.
(13:03):
I can, I mean, I can visiblyremember what it looked like.
We would color in it and stuff,and I would lay in the bed, um,
with my dad and it was called Iliked myself because, and, you
know, trying to figure out, Iused to not be able to name two,
three things that I liked aboutmyself, even as a young, at a
young age.
So, um, that kind of started thechallenges for me.
I think, um, always feelingdifferent.
(13:24):
I always felt like I loved myfriends and, uh, boyfriends
later in life.
Like, I loved everybody morethan they love me, you know?
If that makes sense.
I always felt kind of rejected,like I didn't mean as much to
everyone as they meant to me.
Was that
both (13:38):
probably a false perception though?
Yeah, I think looking
Ginger (13:41):
back, that was a false perception.
Um, and that's just kind of howI felt.
I definitely wear, you know, allmy feelings on the outside, so,
and then, just kind of having aDHD or being neurodivergent, you
know, I always kind ofapologizing for everything or
feeling like I was, too much.
I'm too loud, I'm too hyper, youknow, just, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I still struggle with that.
I'm, I'm better with that now.
I, I call it neuros spicy, soit's part of my charm.
(14:03):
Yeah.
But, uh, yeah, just that, thatkind of started it.
And then when I was 16, um, highschool was very, uh, my junior
year was extremely, extremelytough.
Um, I lost a very, uh, well, shewas my best friend, um, Ashley
Towns in high school.
It was just a sudden unexpectedloss.
Oh, she was at UGA, and wasactually pledging the same,
(14:25):
sorority that her sister Ashley,um, was in, in.
And, she was killed.
And it was devastating to me,obviously, um, my high school.
Boyfriend and I broke up.
Um, it was just a lot of loss.
And so I went into a, a reallydeep depression, like painful
depression where I wasnon-functional, not able to
bathe, not, I mean, justnothing.
(14:46):
Um, I had tried marijuana atthat time a few times, and, uh,
my mom and dad knew I was insome big trouble again,
wonderful parents, greatadvocates, and always seek help,
um, for me.
And so I went to the BradleyCenter and was actually admitted
my junior year.
Um, it's not really a, atechnical term, but I guess you
(15:06):
would call it a nervousbreakdown.
I was like completely, uh, outtatouch with reality.
It wasn't making sense andthings like that.
And that was before the drugs.
and so I was there for two weeksand then I did outpatient for
like three weeks.
And then coming back after thatwas so difficult, you know,
coming back to school and it'slike, ah, just
both (15:23):
the embarrassment.
Yeah, just the embarrassment
Ginger (15:25):
and like fir that further made me feel there's
something wrong with me.
Yeah.
Like, but.
In elementary school, I learned,a coping skill for me was my
humor.
Like, I can make fun of myselfand make myself the joke of
everything so that no one elsecan laugh at me.
But what I didn't realize doingthat, of course I was easily
(15:46):
made friends with everyonebecause I'm very social and, you
know, outgoing and stuff, but Ididn't realize that programming
I was doing to myself, it wasjust making things worse.
You know, I was ugly to myself.
and that's been hard to changethat.
So that carried on through,through high school and then,
ended up quitting.
I skipped a lot of school mysenior year, so, two weeks
before I was supposed tograduate, I wasn't gonna walk.
(16:07):
So I was like, I'll just get myGEDs, which I did.
and then at.
I met my son's father, uh,Robbie when I was right before I
turned 19.
He was six years older than me.
Of course, lemme backtrack.
My parents were extremely strictbecause they were good parents.
You know, it wasn't just theywere on us, they knew where we
were going, what we were doing.
(16:27):
It was kind of hard to leave thehouse mom and dad.
Um, yeah.
so that, that made it difficultas a, a rebellious teenager.
And boy was I rebellious, a lotof running away, just putting my
parents through just terror.
I can't imagine.
So you did, it was just a
both (16:42):
downward
Ginger (16:42):
spiral.
It was a downward SPI spiral.
I don't feel like I ever reallypulled out of that.
If that makes sense.
Um, and then I met my son'sfather, Robbie, who was six
years older than me.
So he was 24 when we met.
And my parents were like, no,you know, because he was, you
were still
both (16:57):
living at the house?
I was still
Ginger (16:58):
living at the house when I would stay there.
I mean, when they would comefind me From where you were 18
both (17:02):
when you met him?
Mm-hmm.
Ginger (17:03):
Yeah, right, right before I turned 19.
Um, and then he was in college.
He was, uh, you know, big schoolguy and all this stuff and I was
like, oh, he's got it, you know,he's got it, got it together
here we're going, we're gonnaget outta here.
And, you know, that kind ofthing.
So, um, anyway, so, and we endedup, I think I was in 19, which
just blows my mind to thinkabout that now because my son's
(17:23):
20 and he's like such a baby tome.
Um, my poor parents, but I was19 and, uh, tried meth for the
first time.
Yeah.
Wow.
And what really did it, anotherthing with him
both (17:33):
like was he was kind of, yeah, it was at a
Ginger (17:34):
party.
It was at some friend's houseand, yeah.
And, um, I didn't think he wouldever do that'cause he was going
for criminal justice and itlike, never smoked pot, like
nothing.
And I don't know what changed.
I thought he was kidding.
He was, you know.
We'll, we'll do this.
I was like, there's no wayyou're gonna do this.
You know, I'll do it if you doit, you know, kind of a thing.
And that was it.
But what really, um, I've alwaysbeen really tall.
(17:54):
My sixth grade picture, I was, Ideveloped very early, very tall,
sixth grade picture.
I'm taller than all theteachers.
And, and, um, of course now Idon't know what they put in
food.
You know, the boys in highschool are, you know, big and
tall.
I'm like, they all came up tomy, you know, my, my rib cage.
And so I just always felt bigand fat.
Like, you're so big, you're sobig.
So again, self-esteem.
(18:15):
Self-esteem issues.
And so someone had told me aboutthe meth.
They were like, oh, you won'teat.
You'll be so skinny.
So I was hooked on it.
That was, that was honestly mydriving force.
Like, wow.
Yeah, I just, oh, skinny sayless.
Yeah.
both (18:28):
You just, was that a self-perception or, yeah, no.
It, you just, you just felt likeyou were too big and then Oh,
yeah.
Ginger (18:33):
Yeah.
I just felt big.
I mean, I'm, you know, big bonedagain, I was just so much bigger
than everyone else, and peoplewouldn't say, wow, you're really
tall.
I hated being tall back then.
I didn't wanna be, it was justlike, you're so big.
So, and I just felt.
Uh, gawky and awkward and youknow, I, it's still weird the
things that you tell yourselfor, uh, that happen as a kid.
Like I, you'll seldom ever seeme wear tennis shoes.
(18:55):
I feel like a big old, likeManish ki type of, and, and
which is not true.
That's not logical, but it'sjust from that, you
both (19:03):
know.
But that self-image, that selfimage led you to want to
continue the meth.
Ginger (19:06):
Yes, absolutely.
And then, you know, um, and thenit was just kind of off and on,
off and on for, for many years.
We were weekend warriors for along time.
I was still
both (19:16):
at your hou at your parents' house?
No, I, I
Ginger (19:17):
left after that.
Yeah.
Did you move in with,
both (19:20):
uh, Robbie?
I did.
Ginger (19:21):
I did.
Um, and then I had, um, let'ssee, I stole a lot.
I started stealing a lot ofstuff.
Um, did he
both (19:28):
actually, actually finish college or did he end up He did.
He
Ginger (19:30):
has a master's
both (19:30):
degree.
Okay.
Ginger (19:31):
Yeah, he would've kept going.
I mean, he was like a, I totalopposite of me.
He loves to learn and stuff.
Yeah.
But he, uh, ended up getting hismaster's degree.
Super smart guy.
But, uh, anyway, so I ended upjust, I mean, it's sad to say,
but just stealing from thepeople that have always taken
care of me and loved me themost.
I mean, I stole jewelry from mymom did.
(19:51):
Wow.
All different.
Wow.
So you'd go
both (19:52):
home and visit and then just end up taking things?
Yeah, I was just kind of
Ginger (19:54):
in and out, in and out.
I would go home and then I wouldleave, run away when they would
leave and I would, you know,that kind of thing.
Um, and then they overheard on aphone call.
My mom had picked it up and Iwas talking to somebody about
doing cocaine and so my mom ofcourse freaked out, gets my dad.
They come home.
My dad's like, but they didn't
both (20:10):
know at that point.
Until that point.
My
Ginger (20:12):
dad, my dad was, mom told me just recently that my
dad.
Was the one that was suspicious.
You know, he was like, somesomething, something's going on
here.
He just didn't
both (20:21):
know exactly what it was.
Yeah.
He didn't
Ginger (20:22):
know, but he was afraid it was drugs.
And so mom was like, well, youknow, I, I, I don't know.
I, you know, may, maybe it's herdepression again.
Something's going on.
My dad was like, no, something'sgoing on.
So he comes home and like, callsme.
They had a intercom in theirhouse to house I grew up in, and
he was like, get downstairs, getin the car.
We get in the car, we're notspeaking.
I'm like, where are we going?
Where are we going?
You, I could tell he was not,not happy and he was like, we're
gonna take a drug test.
both (20:43):
Oh, brother.
Wow.
So, yeah.
So, um, how old were you at thatpoint?
Ginger (20:46):
I wanna say maybe, I don't even know if I was between
19 and 21.
I, I was young.
Okay.
May I think around 19 or 20.
So still early
both (20:54):
in the addiction?
Early in,
Ginger (20:56):
yes.
So they, they tried, theyintervened this this whole time.
I mean, they've always, youknow, tried to help me and, and,
and catch things before they gotreally bad.
But, um, obviously I, I failedthe drug test and, uh, so there
used to be a re uh, a treatmentcenter in Columbus called, um,
the turning point.
So I was, um, they put me intothe turning point.
Um, and I don't even remember,it's weird.
(21:19):
I just like blocked a lot ofstuff out, but I don't remember
how long I was there.
Um,
both (21:22):
Robbie's still in the picture at this point or?
Yes.
Ginger (21:24):
We, we were not allowed to see each other, but you know,
we saw each other, we ended upbeing together for 25 years, so.
Phil (21:30):
Wow.
Ginger (21:31):
Yeah, so, um, yeah, there, there's just been a lot,
uh, lots that, that's happenedwith that.
But, um, yeah, so we, uh, justkind of in and out, sneaking
around and would leave to, youknow, see him and things like
that.
But, yeah, so I got outta theturning point and then Robbie
and I would end up, you know,getting, you know, being
together again and, uh, ended upliving together.
And then, we would, you know,party just on the weekends.
(21:53):
It wasn't a big deal.
We were able to do that for along time.
Some, some weekends we didn't,and then it just progressively
got worse.
Um, so when
both (21:59):
you got out of the turning point, did you just go right
back into drugs?
Ginger (22:03):
Kind of I, after that I had like a dry spell because at
that time, uh, meth wasn'treally my thing.
Um, it ex ecstasy had come onthe scene, so we were doing a
lot of ecstasy, you know, hereand there.
And, uh, and you know, there wasdry spells.
It wasn't anything that, it waslike, I have to have this, but
it was, I, I didn't like myselfat all.
(22:24):
Um, I, I just, I, I hatedlooking back.
I mean, I just hated myself.
I didn't, I just felt less than,I felt different, all those
things.
So I wanted anything I could doto change my reality, how I
felt, yeah.
You know, to just kind ofescape.
But, you know, I was, uh, thelies I would tell myself and the
enemy would tell me is that, um.
I would never do anything like,uh, you know, opioids or
(22:46):
something that would bedangerous, you know?
I mean, how crazy is that?
You know?
Um, I had so many friends thathave died from opioid addiction,
so I was like, I'll, you know,that's, I won't do that.
I'll, I'll just do meth, youknow, just some ecstasy.
Oh my gosh.
The insanity.
But, um, so yeah, that went onand then we ended up kind of
patching things.
(23:06):
Um, my parents just kind ofrealized down the road that we
were gonna be together and, andRobbie and I ended up getting
married when I was right beforeI turned 28.
And then two weeks after, um,our honeymoon, I got pregnant
with my son Jackson.
and right before our wedding,I'd say maybe eight months
before we got married at 28, wejust quit everything.
(23:29):
We just Wow.
Yeah.
Yeah, we had like a drive.
Yeah, totally.
Just like we're over this.
Robbie was working on hismaster's degree and, um.
We were just, just kind of hadsettled down and, uh, yeah.
And then, I found out I waspregnant two weeks after that.
And, uh, after our, uh, uh, gotmarried, I was 28.
And, um, and I was completelysober till I was, I mean, till
(23:52):
my son was almost five.
Yeah.
Not a thing.
I mean, I wouldn't even, even,so things were going
both (23:57):
pretty well.
They
Ginger (23:57):
were going well, we had bought a home, um, and had I had
a minivan and I was like, mom ofthe year.
I was just like my mother.
I mean, I was just such a greatmom.
I can honestly say that.
Uh, were
both (24:09):
you guys plugged into church?
You know, oh yeah,
Ginger (24:11):
we were, we still going to Edgewood Methodist.
Same one.
Yeah.
Uh, well, uh, yeah, same Living.
Grace you grew up in living.
Yeah, same one.
Grew up in and, uh, Jacksonwould a alike and stuff just
like I used to with my sister.
And, um.
Uh, we did all the mother'smornings out.
I was, I was blessed that Ididn't, uh, work.
Robbie worked, um, he worked forRob Doll Nissan as a service
(24:31):
advisor, um, at that time.
So, uh, I was able to stay homeand it was just me and Jack and
we just did everything together.
And, it was amazing.
And then I was at, took him to aplay date at a friend's house,
and her husband was outside inthe shed and, um, they were, he,
they, he was like, you wanna hitthis joint?
And I was like, sure.
Maybe.
(24:51):
Uh, yeah.
I had done that a long time.
I might hit it one time.
Well, that was it, you know.
Wow.
Yeah.
It just kind of opened the doorfor, you know, doing, doing
other things here and there.
Um, again, it would
both (25:02):
just be, so you, you, you, that one Yeah.
Starting it back again mm-hmm.
With marijuana.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Then kind of open the door andyou're like, oh, this isn't that
bad.
I like it.
Ginger (25:11):
People say that.
you guys out there can agree,disagree with me if you want to,
but, um, marijuana is a gatewaydrug, uh, to, for, for me
anyway, in my personalexperience.
Um, uh, it, it, it just openedthings back up because the, the,
the true sobriety and abstinencewas, and recovery I was living
with my son.
that it, it, it, that waseverything to me, you know?
(25:32):
So just kind of cracking thatdoor open and I was like, oh,
well that wasn't so bad.
You know?
And then, I mean, it wasn't likeimmediately I start doing meth,
but it, it, it just,
both (25:39):
yeah.
You know, we'd
Ginger (25:40):
start, you know, partying when my son wasn't
there.
We would, you know, have peopleover.
You'd go back
both (25:44):
to this same friend's house?
Ginger (25:45):
No, at, at our house.
Like when my son wasn't there,we had a couple of friends that
would come over and Oh, so likeparents started, started
both (25:51):
to join with you and Yep.
Ginger (25:53):
Mm-hmm.
Yep.
And then pushing the
both (25:54):
door open further.
Yeah,
Ginger (25:55):
yeah, yeah.
Yep.
Just pushing the door openfurther.
And, and we were able to do thatfor many years.
And then it just got to, um,what really ch.
Turned, um, the page to where itgot really bad was when, um,
ice, that's a, that's anotherform of methamphetamine.
Like super pure.
That's what Okay.
Took us all the way down.
Yeah.
both (26:13):
Over the cliff.
Ginger (26:14):
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Um, and when we started smokingit too, that's, I had never
smoked, um, drugs.
So what were you doing beforethat?
I was, uh, just snorting.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Just as, you know, as if that'sbetter.
both (26:25):
But smoking, it was a higher concentration like that.
Yeah.
It
Ginger (26:28):
just, I don't even, I, I can't describe it, but that's
just got us super hooked andthen Robbie and I ended up just,
um, through the years, it justgot worse and worse and worse.
And
both (26:40):
was he able to keep his job through that time or, um,
Ginger (26:42):
he, he did for, yeah, for almost the whole time.
And then, and then it, and thenit wasn't, and then I found out
that, um, he, like our house wasclose to going in foreclosure
because I, of course he had.
He controlled all the money andeverything.
So I never knew what was goingon with that.
I just did my best to not spendany and, you know, do with what
we had, make do with what wehad.
And, um, things just got really,really terrible for both of us.
(27:04):
It turned us into like horrible,horrible people.
And, um, about how old were youguys and how old was?
Um, uh, Jackson?
Uh, in early thirties.
Okay.
Yeah.
Early thirties.
Yeah.
So, and
both (27:14):
Jackson, that's your son's name?
Mm-hmm.
He was roughly how old aboutthat time?
Oh,
Ginger (27:18):
I don't, I wanna say maybe when things got really
bad, he, uh, around six, sevenyears old.
Okay.
Yeah.
I mean, it went and it, it got,so it kinda went downhill fast.
It went downhill very fast.
Very, very, very fast.
Wow.
Yeah.
I mean, ice hit, hit, hit thescene for us, and that was it.
Wow.
Yeah.
And um, yeah, it got really bad.
and whew, real bad.
(27:39):
Stay away orders.
Police were called.
Um, what does that mean, stayaway?
Orders like, um, temporary, uh.
What is it called?
Uh, restraining orders.
Restraining orders.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Uh, pt.
Yeah.
Um, so
both (27:50):
people, other people started putting those out on you
guys?
No, me
Ginger (27:52):
and me and Robbie had those on each other.
Yeah.
So you guys
both (27:55):
had separated and were It got, yeah.
Not living together.
Yeah, we
Ginger (27:58):
were at the time, and then I ended up leaving.
Um, and the house was basicallyjust, I mean, the home that, the
beautiful home and it was a nicehome.
it just got taken over.
There was no power, no water.
Um, yeah.
Robbie, yeah, he just, it, itjust became a, a drug house.
And so my parents, obviouslyJackson wasn't there for that.
Um, my parents stepped in andwere, and was like, we were,
(28:21):
were taking Jack and we totallyagreed.
I was like, I can't, I'm in noplace to.
Wow.
Yeah.
To, um, so we signed, Robbie andI both signed over temporary,
um, custody.
Yeah.
Um, and Jackson was with myparents for.
Almost seven years.
Wow.
And now I would live there fourtimes with your
both (28:41):
parents, sometimes kinda on and off.
Yeah.
With my parents
Ginger (28:43):
for, yeah.
With, um, you know, but to behonest, you know, it's hard to
say as good of a mom as I was,drugs took that from me,
completely took that from me.
So, um, you know, I thought, oh,Jackson's okay because I did the
right thing.
He's with my wonderful parentsand stuff.
But no, he, he loves my parents,but he, he needed his mom and
dad, you know?
and you know, that was when Iwas able to really admit that,
(29:07):
give that to God.
'cause that was many years inrecovery of trying to, you know,
get over that guilt.
and worked through that.
But when I was able finally tosay that, like, I picked men, I
picked drugs, I picked.
The lifestyle I picked, whatevermy needs were over my son.
It was like when I could finallyadmit that and say that as
painful as it is, that's when Iwas able to get into solutions.
(29:28):
It was very freeing for me.
Phil (29:30):
Wow.
Ginger (29:30):
Um, it's like it took some of the shame off, you know
what I mean?
Yeah.
I'm owning this.
Phil (29:34):
Yeah.
Um,
Ginger (29:35):
God has forgiven me and um, you know, my parents have,
have forgiven me and there wassome jail, uh, three different
jail stays mixed in there aswell.
I was stealing from my parents.
Um, wow.
And thank goodness, I thank themall the time.
If it was not for them giving metough love, I would not be
sitting right here today.
Phil (29:54):
Wow.
Ginger (29:54):
That is a fact.
They never enabled me the threetimes I've been to jail.
It was, well, once they didn'tpush the issue, um, I had taken
my dad's credit card and thestate picked that up, but, uh.
They, um,
both (30:07):
sorry.
So your, your interactions withthe law were related to your
stealing and criminal behavioragainst your parents?
Ginger (30:12):
Yes.
Yep.
Sad to say.
Mm-hmm.
And,
both (30:15):
uh, so you and Robbie were kind of on and off and just both
of you in the darkness ofaddiction at the time?
Ginger (30:20):
Yes.
Very bad.
And then we got completely awayfrom each other.
I had this boyfriend that wasmuch older than me and it, it
was like the first person thatwas nice to me.
Really.
I mean, that's really what itwas.
He was nice to me.
Another It did, yeah.
He taught me, he taught me howto, to, to, to make shake and
bake another form of like justcrank dope.
So, you know, he was just real.
Is
both (30:39):
that meth or is that something different?
Ginger (30:40):
It's, it's like meth.
Yeah.
It's kind of, yeah.
It's pretty much the same thing.
Yeah.
But, um, and I lived in a shedwith him in Crawford, Alabama,
uh, for three months with No,the dead of summer.
No, uh, running water.
No power.
No.
Yeah.
both (30:55):
Like an actual shed.
An shed.
Kind of a actual, yeah, like antiny actual
Ginger (30:59):
shed.
An outdoor shed.
Yep.
Phil (31:02):
Wow.
Ginger (31:02):
Yeah.
And I used to, um, at nighttimeI would run through a field to
the house, um, that the peoplethat let us, let him stay in the
shed or whatever, let us staythere, they were great.
Um, uh, sometimes I would beable to go in and take showers
and stuff.
They were, they were, they weregood to me.
Wow.
And, uh, but a lot of times Iwould just run through the field
at nighttime and go get in theirhose and ba Yeah.
(31:24):
Yep.
Wow.
Yeah.
And then, um,
both (31:27):
did they let you go in for the restroom too, or was that
Yeah.
Ginger (31:29):
Yeah, we could do that sometimes, but most, most of the
time it was in a bucket.
And that is the end of part oneof Ginger's story.
We will leave her there in theshed and if you can even imagine
it, things will get worse.
And next week Ginger will sharethe depth of the darkness that
she faced, uh, when the enemyhad dragged her down so far.
(31:52):
Don't miss it.
Next week, I will give you alittle spoiler Obviously since
Ginger's on the podcast, thingsdid get so much better.
The next week, uh, she's gonnadive deeper and share about the
darkness.
She will even share some thingsabout demonic sightings and
presences and things that justgive you chills.
(32:16):
you'll want to come back nextweek and hopefully Ginger's
story will be an encouragementto you.
To stay away from even the firststep in the path of darkness
with whether it's marijuana ormeth or whatever it might be,
just don't even take that firststep, because if you don't take
(32:37):
that first step, then you'llnever.
Drop off the cliff.
So be encouraged.
Ginger has an amazing testimonyand, and, uh, the Lord does some
amazing things in her life.
Come back next week.
We look forward to having youback, and we will be here and
talk with you then.
Phil Shuler (32:53):
We look forward to being with you again next week
as we share another testimonyabout the power and the goodness
of God to change lives throughSafe House Ministries.
if you are someone listening tothis podcast that loves to hear
these stories of the greatthings that God is doing in
changing people's lives for thebetter, and if you would like to
be a part of that work, pleasereach out to us You can reach us
(33:16):
at 2101 Hamilton Road, Columbus,Georgia, 31,904.
You can call us at seven oh sixthree two two.
3 7, 7 3, or you can email us atinfo@safehouse-ministries.com.
Microphone (Samson Q2U Mi (33:32):
Thank you so much for being with us
this week for the renew restoreand rejoice podcast of safe
house ministries, we pray thatGod will bless you this week.
And we look forward to havingyou back with us again next week
for a new episode.
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