My parents came to Medjugorje in 1990, and they totally fell in love with Medjugorje. They came back, they were on fire, and we were all kind of looking at them like, “Really?” you know, kind of questioning.

We were all faithful, but this was a completely new concept to us. My parents rosaries turned gold. They saw the dancing of the sun. They came back and encouraged us to go if we were able. 

In 1992, my sister and her husband had booked a trip. I had just had my second child so I wasn’t able to come, unfortunately. Then her husband ended up getting in a hockey accident and had to have surgery so she had an extra ticket, and she asked my mom to go.

They came in ’92, and at that time they could hear the bombs going off in the distance. It was far away. They always felt very protected. Back then there were none of these hotels. Everything was very, very simple. They stayed in homes, very simple homes. They had many graces. They saw the visionary Vicka a lot. 

Actually, my sister was pregnant, and when Vicka was doing a healing thing, she threw up on her. My sister threw up on Vicka, and she goes, “Oh, that’s good, that’s good. Get all the evil out.”

She wanted to say, “No, I’m pregnant, and I’m so sick right now!” She had morning sickness. It’s kind of a funny little story. Through the years, we have laughed about her throwing up on one of the visionaries. Classic, right?

Anyway, she had a moving experience. We’ve, on and off, followed the messages since then. Then my conversion started again. I prayed the Rosary, went to Sunday Mass. 

In 2009, I had an experience in the church where I walked in and never wanted to leave. It pushed me to read more of the more recent messages, and I just fell in love with it all over again.

I was in the Holy Land in October when the war started. I kept talking with Father Damian Wee because he’s my spiritual director as well as on that trip. I said, “It’s so amazing here! I just have this tug on my heart to go to Medjugorje.” 

He said, “Well, just keep praying on it. Blessed Mother provides when it’s your time.”

And I go, “Okay, I’m just going to keep praying.” 

So war breaks out. Towards the end of December when we had gotten back, we all had to file claims. Then I didn’t think anything of it. If I get money back, I do. It’s whatever. 

Well, I ended up getting the exact amount of what it would cost to go on this Medjugorje pilgrimage, just like this free check, money that was right there. I got it within a week. For most people, it had been months and they hadn’t heard anything. I had an automatic deposit. I applied on Friday, and the following Friday it was in my bank, and I’m like, “What?”

I just knew instantly I’m supposed to go. That’s it. And I told my husband. He goes, “You have to go.”

I called my friend Denise, and she goes, “One minute. There is an apparition going on right now.” She watches MaryTV all the time. She goes, “Let’s just say a prayer, and offer up our intentions.” We did, and then she goes, “Okay, how can I help you?” 

I said, “Wow, it’s kind of interesting because I was going to ask you about Medjugorje.” 

And she’s like, “What?! Oh, my goodness.” 

And then before I hung up the phone, I said, “Well, who knows, maybe the Blessed Mother is calling you again.”

I went to Mass. I come back out 45 minutes, and she goes, “I talked to Larry, and I can go,”  and I’m like, “What?” All these little things were coming into place. For me, a miracle.

Medjugorje is just so peaceful. That’s it. I mean, it’s peace. 

I was trying not to have expectations because I didn’t want to be disappointed. I did that in the Holy Land because it was my second time and things were so different. It was so much more than I would have ever thought anyway.

We were desiring just to be around Mirjana. Her talk was so moving, so real and humbling. I loved it. I loved being around her.

After the apparition, we prayed for her because everyone’s told us how much she suffers.

During the apparition, I noticed that it was silent, it seemed like nothing moved. I was up on the balcony. We prayed. It was peaceful and silent. It was beautiful. 

The faith of the locals is unbelievable. My husband had called a few days ago, and I said, “I don’t care how much it costs. We’ve got to figure this out to bring all of our kids here. They have to experience it.” You can’t explain it. Even I’ve heard so many testimonies from people, and I don’t think I got it. And I want that for them.

I know a lot of people that are skeptical of Medjugorje. Please come and experience it, make your own judgment. It’s a big commitment to come here if you’re skeptical, but maybe seeing the people that have experienced it in the way that they live, maybe that would be drawing them even more. It’s real.

Hopefully I will take home peace in my heart. Trying harder to forgive, letting go, surrendering.

I go to Daily Mass. I pray one or two Rosaries a day. I think all that will change. I definitely want to get up earlier in the morning and pray. My goal will be to be able to pray four Rosaries to make it complete. Maybe fast more, little by little, see more sacrifices that I can give to Our Lady to bring to Jesus.