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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: December 1, 2015
IN HER PURSUIT OF PLEASURE, Rachel lost her joy. Disillusioned with the church, she ran away from God and became disconnected from family. “In the back of my mind, I cared about family, but I had such a negative view on what being a Christian was, I...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: November 10, 2015
While 2015 Point-in-Time Count numbers for the nation showed an overall decrease in veteran homelessness, the statistic for homeless veterans in...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: October 7, 2015
By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer “When I meet a woman, she’s kind of my drug in a sense. If she’s clean, I’m clean…that doesn’t mean I’m ‘sober.’”...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: September 24, 2015
By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer Jeff LeBlanc believed he was stupid. “I just couldn’t get stuff and nobody could tell me why other than that I’m...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: July 17, 2015
“It’s kind of an oxymoron, the word freedom, because it comes with a high price.” –Chris, Marine veteran Freedom means many things to many people. We...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: June 19, 2015
By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer In Process On Tuesday, June 16th, 22 individuals graduated from UGM LIFE Recovery. However, as Executive Director Phil...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: June 17, 2015
“I thought it was me, all by myself. I’ve got to do everything, period. No help. And then, I walked through the east door.” Before coming to UGM,...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: June 12, 2015
Always Running “Running away…I did it in second grade, I did it in high school. Running away is just my coping mechanism.” After her husband’s death,...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: May 15, 2015
“If you did the good about which you do know, what you should do next would then become clear as if you were passing through a house from one room to...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: May 8, 2015
“When people on fire for Christ choose to invest their lives and their resources in broken families, change happens.” –Ron Hauenstein, Crisis Shelter...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: April 22, 2015
“I felt like she chose the alcohol over me.” Nicki Willis spent much of her life watching her mom, Darlene, sink into alcoholism. “I didn’t talk to...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: April 15, 2015
By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer Love—it’s what each of us desire and search for. Unwavering, faithful, unconditional love. Rachel Haynes sought it in...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: April 3, 2015
By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer Sewing gave Glenda Gray confidence. One year ago, Glenda was forming her own business sewing and selling tote bags. “I...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: March 20, 2015
By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer At the beginning of 2013, Shannon Duval was sitting in a jail cell. She had lost her children, her job, her home and...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: March 17, 2015
In "The Reason Why," the author gave a description, through her story, of why she believes many women get involved in unhealthy relationships or turn...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: March 13, 2015
In all honesty, it is easy to judge addicts. But there are stories behind each face. And once these stories are heard, it becomes harder to judge....
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: March 11, 2015
Recently, a friend shared this letter with us. She wrote it to her son, who is struggling with addiction, but has hesitated to give it to him. "It...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: February 27, 2015
In the first part of this interview with UGM LIFE Recovery Counselor Jan Vetter, she described depression and the role it can play in addiction and...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: February 25, 2015
Depression is common among those beginning recovery at UGM. In the first part of an interview with Jan Vetter, UGM LIFE Recovery Counselor, Jan sheds...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: February 20, 2015
By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer “My whole life, I was super angry, and I used to always think everybody would be better off without me.”
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: February 16, 2015
By Merrily Brast, former Staff Writer “You are worse than you think you are, but also far more loved than you feel you are.” –Timothy Keller
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: February 9, 2015
By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer "Each and every one of you have the ability to make a profound and beautiful difference in the lives of somebody that...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: February 4, 2015
By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer 1992 Jeep Cherokee. That was my first car. Can you remember yours? The feeling of pride and freedom that came along...
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: January 20, 2015
By Lynn Swanbom Yount, UGM Volunteer That's an odd title for a reflection commemorating my Dad's death five years ago today.
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Merrily Roe, former staff writer: January 8, 2015
By Merrily Brast, Former Staff Writer Making ambitious resolutions is a New Year’s tradition for many of us. And while the end of January marks the...
