Against All Odds: Life Is Like a Puzzle. You Put the Pieces Together to Get the Whole Picture.

By Sheila Hodges

Against All Odds is about Wandas struggles to break the abuse and poverty cycle in her life. Also, how she dealt with each issue and how she learned to depend on God early in life for hope, comfort, and results. First, Wandas mother was physically abused by her father. Second, Wanda was abused by her older siblings and her parents until she was 13 years old. Third, she was 16 years old and a junior in high school when she became pregnant and married to an abusive spouse. Later, she divorced him after six years of abuse. Finally, she remarried and have been married for 36 years.
Next, Wanda grew up in a very poor environment and she continued to be poor as an adult. Even though she was a young parent and married in teen she decided to return to school to complete her education. After a long struggle, she overcame poverty through her faith in God, by completing her education and later pursuing a career, finally she was successful. Wanda persevered and was determined to complete the task.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491899144

Sheila Hodges

Sheila Hodges is a University School graduate. She has a Master’s Degree in Education and an Educational Specialist/Masters plus 36. Mrs. Hodges has nine job related licenses and certificates. She is a retired Elementary School teacher with twenty-one years of service. Also, she has an Associate Degree from an International School of Ministry and Christian University. Mrs. Hodges was ordained in 2003 as a non-denominational Charismatic assembly (Minister) and has been ministering for 13 years. Mrs. Hodges has served the Lord Jesus as a Pastor/Teacher and Founder of God is Greater Homeless Outreach Ministry Incorporation (2008). She has been married for 37 years. Also, she has five male children, 17 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. However, her life was not always this stable. It took plenty of faith in the one and only true God, (Jesus Christ), hard work, and determination to reach this point.

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© 2014 Sheila Hodges. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Published by AuthorHouse 04/10/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-6931-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-9914-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014905656

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Introduction

1951 - 1964 Wanda’s Childhood

Chapter 1: Abuse Cycle, Poverty Cycle, And Family Value

1965 -1974 Turning Failures Into Success

Chapter 2: Teen Years To Young Adult, Abusive Spouse (Abuse Cycle), And Educational Struggles

1974 – 1988 New Opportunities In The Face Of Tragedies

Chapter 3: Poverty Cycle: Financial Struggles, Educational Struggles, And The Big Move!!!

1989-Present Milestones Lead To Your Goal!

Chapter 4: Christianity, New Career, Christian Service

Conclusion

Bibliography

About The Author

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to:

My husband: Mr. Hodges, dear mother, wonderful sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A special thanks to: First, oldest son who would not let me forget that I needed to write this book to inspire others that are facing similar obstacles. Last but not the least, my cousin and my granddaughter, I thank you both for your feedback, computer help, and editorial help.

AGAINST ALL ODDS

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Not every teenager is willing to admit to failures and is willing to try to make amends. But, Wanda was such a person. As a result, of failures she was faced with educational struggles, teen pregnancy problems, and financial struggles. That is the opening line of Against All Odds. From the first line to the final paragraph, she created the obstacles by telling just enough to make readers ask questions that need good answers.

In the first chapters, she created obstacles by setting up an unstable childhood situation. Wanda grew up in a single parent home. Because her mother had to work all the time, she was unprotected and encountered abuse from her older siblings and other abuse at different times from her parents. They lived in a very, very poor environment, moved around a lot, and she went to different schools as a result.

Matthew 25:31 – 40.

The Sheep and the Goats

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,