From Surviving to Living Blog & Podcast with Holly Bot

Am I Enough? An Odyssey of Addiction, Forgiveness, and Grace

May 2, 2024

In this episode of the From Surviving to Living Spotlight Series, the conversation with guest Al Reff centers on the common issue of not feeling good enough, struggling with societal expectations, and the deep-seated desire for acceptance. The discussion aims to...

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Journey Through Betrayal: Faith Tested in the Prison of Family Dysfunction

Apr 26, 2024 | 2016, Life During

Filing into the prison visiting room with the rest of the ABE students, I found a seat and dropped into it. It was September 2016, and the quarterly education meeting was about to begin. The visiting room furniture had been re-arranged. Now blue plastic chairs faced a...

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I was up until 2am reading your blog! Thank you for sharing, it is so meaningful!

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www.Hollybot.me From Surviving to Living Podcast

God is interested in you! My story is not fiction. I am a woman, a felon, a sex-offender; I did hard time. It was a living hell. I am so awed by Jesus I will risk reputation, everything, to tell you about my personal transformation for His glory. God changed me. He will do that for you, your family. I trust Him. I hope you do too!!

“What were you thinking? Why did you do that?”

My family asked me often after my arrest. They were mystified. Me too! At that time I had no answers.

Prison doesn’t change lives. People’s lives can be changed while incarcerated.My life didn’t end when I went to prison, it began while I was there.

Are you struggling to survive today? Are you sick of just moving from one day to the next?

How does one go from surviving to really, truly living?

When I entered prison I was unaware I needed to change. Change is possible.
Let me tell you how it happens…

WELCOME!

by Holly | June 1, 2023 | Life During | 0 Comments

A brief note or two for first time visitors. First, welcome! I'm so glad to see you! Are you in need of rescue? Here is my rescue story. I share it because I know it can be your story too! It is my prayer that every post lead you one step closer in your walk with...

Journey Through Betrayal: Faith Tested in the Prison of Family Dysfunction

by Holly | April 26, 2024 | 2016, Life During | 0 Comments

Born Bad: Transforming Darkness into Light

by Holly | April 9, 2024 | 2016, Life During | 1 Comment

“I was kicked out of Anthony.” I turned in my chair to see who was speaking. Vikki, one of the ABE students, was talking with the teacher, Ms. Shaibley. It was a Monday afternoon in August 2016 and the school day was nearly over. I’d been reviewing a kite to me from...

“Passing” Summer: Surrendering To Obedience And Experiencing God

by Holly | March 31, 2024 | 2016, Letters, Life During | 0 Comments

“Noel, do you have Tim’s newest phone number?” I asked my oldest son. I was concerned about Tim and felt certain additional support from family and friends would help. “I do,” Noel replied. “I have not called him lately though,” he added. I imagined Noel busy with his...

Meeting Mr. Bot: A Journey of Unexpected Connections and Spiritual Growth

by Holly | March 13, 2024 | 2016, Life During | 0 Comments

At my desk, I finished another letter to my children. Suddenly, movement was called over the P.A. system. I looked over at my clock radio to check the time. It was noon, time to pick up my canteen in the Core building. I did a quick scan of my room, which was clean...

Projecting (Hope): The Journey Through Adversity and Faith

by Holly | March 3, 2024 | 2016, Life During | 0 Comments

“Hi, It’s Holly! How are you?” I was reaching out to every family member, friend and organization I could remember, trying to find a place for Tim to live. It was May 2016 and 13-year-old Tim had been in foster care for a miserable 2 and half years. So far,...

LOVE & HATE

by Holly | February 26, 2024 | 2016, Life During | 0 Comments

It was April 2016, and I'd spent the past three months trying to find a home in Minnesota for my son Tim. It was not going well. Tim, now age 13, seemed despondent. He'd spent the past 2 and a half years in a slew of foster and group homes in Washington, so many we'd...

TASTE AND SEE

by Holly | February 11, 2024 | 2016, Life During | 0 Comments

A battle was on the horizon, one I hoped to avoid. In January 2016 I'd received news about my youngest son, Tim, who had been in foster care for 3 years. Social Services was seeking to terminate our parental rights to make Tim more desirable as a potential adoptee, or...

BREAKING BIAS

by Holly | February 4, 2024 | 2016, Life During | 0 Comments

February 2016 and another birthday in prison. When I first arrived to prison it had been March. I'd had an entire year before my first birthday there and I had watched all year, interested as other women celebrated birthdays and tried to make them special. Holidays,...

SURPRISED BY JOY

by Holly | January 24, 2024 | 2015, 2016, Life During | 0 Comments

I think of this as the beginning. I was asleep, maybe dead all my life, before 2016. I was 40 years old. "Mom, I'm not sure I believe in God anymore," my oldest son Noel explained on the phone. It was October 2015, and Noel had just turned 21. Trying to remain calm I...

WHERE’S MY SON!

by Holly | January 9, 2024 | 2015, Life During | 0 Comments

"Come work with me!" Jae urged. "We need another tutor." I shuddered at the thought. "Not a chance," I threw back. Jae was a tutor in Adult Basic Education (A.B.E). It could be argued prison has neighborhoods - UI (the unemployed) its roughest and Education - UI's...

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