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    My Story
    My Story
    My Story
    Ebook187 pages1 hour

    My Story

    By Don Nordine

    3.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    On March 15, 1937, Don Nordine was born the last of nine children in a poor Oklahoma family. He learned life lessons and skills through trial and error in uncertain times in America as he grew up on the farm. Amid the early loss of his father and World War II rationing, Nordines mother led him and his brothers in the Lords Prayer and the 23rd Psalm every night.

    Nordine matured into a teenager who took pride in his farming skills, presided over the 4-H club, and accepted Jesus as his Savior. The farm boy transformed into a man who began building the foundation that would one day support his dreams of creating a better life even as his faith was tested again and again. From achieving success in real estate to using chalkboards in order to share gospel messages with the world, Nordine describes how he never lost his faith in God or himself, even during the most challenging times.

    In My Story, Don shares his journey in hopes that it will be a teaching book that encourages others to grow mentally, spiritually, and financially as they weave their way through life.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherInspiring Voices
    Release dateAug 21, 2014
    ISBN9781462409716
    My Story
    Author

    Don Nordine

    Don Nordine has come from being a farm worker, soldier, factory worker, and real estate broker to his present roles in property management and chalkboard ministry. Now semi-retired, Don and his wife, Nancy, reside in Southern California near their two sons, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.

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    Reviews for My Story

    3.5/5

    13 ratings23 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      I remember when Elizabeth was taken. It was horrific at the time and horrific again to listen to Elizabeth read her book about what happened to her. What a strong individual Elizabeth has become and I'm so glad she is living her life with joy and happiness so she doesn't give anymore power to her captors. I know she says no one knows what she went through, that the fear can paralyze you but I still wonder why she didn't yell her name when the police officer confronted them at the library and was quiet when they were caught. I understand she didn't want to cause her family harm, but it's too bad she didn't have faith that the police would keep her safe. I do know because of listening to this book, I'm going to look a little closer at people as I walk by and see if they are sending signals with their eyes or body language. And I hope Elizabeth's story helps children who do happen to get taken to have strength to survive.
    • 4/5
      Writing is not great but book speaks volumes about owning your own story
    • 4/5
      This is the frightening story of the abduction and abuse of 14 year old Elizabeth told and narrated in her own words. Her courage and tenacity, faith and love for her God and family kept her sane and alive through 9 months of sexual and emotional abuse, starvation, isolation, as well as hard labor and horrible living conditions. Her rescue and return to her family is moving and joyous.
    • 1/5
      It was the content that caused me to stop reading, but the low rating is for writing quality. I have trouble attributing these words to Smart herself, and suspect the ghost writer was aiming at the assumed reading abilities of Nancy Grace's audience. I picked it up knowing I might not finish it, and I credit Smart for getting through and sharing such a terrible experience. But I didn't expect that use of the word "derelict" would make me wonder where she pulled the big word from, out of the blue like that. I'm sure this is her story, but I doubt they are her words. Her ghost writer has done her a disservice.
    • 3/5
      A survivor, courageous and faithful young woman. She is living proof that miracles happen.
    • 4/5
      Narrated by the author. Typically, when I see an audiobook is performed by the author, it doesn't bode well for my experience. Very few authors can get away with it. This is a pleasant surprise however. At first Smart starts out sounding too pert for this horrifying account. But as she gains her momentum her voice becomes a highly compelling part of the story. Her voice is strong and confident and the moments when she sarcastically refers to her captors or ironic situations are actually funny. She even changes her voice to portray her captors. When you hear her document abuses such as daily rapes and quote the awful words said to her, the miracle is not just that she survived the abuse, but that she had the inner fortitude to rise so very, very high above it. Astonishing and inspiring.
    • 3/5
      2 1/2 stars. I would've liked to read more detail on the aftermath and how Elizabeth coped with the memories of her ordeal. Seemed too neat and tidy.
    • 2/5
      Referring to the audiobook which was recorded by the author, I couldn't get past the second chapter. The book is less an autobiography or true crime drama and more Christian witnessing. Elizabeth underwent what can only be described as a child's worst nightmare but the events are presented in an almost dream-like sequence with very little emotion. If you're looking for an uplifting religious experience this book is for you.
    • 4/5
      This was really a great book. I feel bad knocking it down a star because I honestly couldn't put it down. But I did because she gets a little repetitive and at times seemingly very defensive, constantly assuring us that she did NOT have Stockholm, etc. I kinda wanted to hold up my hands a few times and say "ok ok, chill. " :-) She obviously wanted to make that point :-). But that being said, I was glad to see she was far stronger than I thought. As horrible as it is that this had to happen to anyone, I'm glad she wasn't broken by it. She has too much will to be broken by it. Love that.
    • 5/5
      This is not a well written book, but I still find myself wanting to give it five stars because it is a brave book to write. I will say also that she turned around some of my perceptions of the case. I read Under the Banner of Heaven and got the impression from that book that her captor was able to use Mormon scripture to sort of brainwash her and manipulate. After reading her own account, however, I don't think that was the case. Assuming she is being honest, and there is no real reason to assume otherwise, she was simply terrified out of her poor mind. She never bought into his being some sort of prophet at all, and didn't identify with either of the freaks who took her. As an Ex-Mormon who is not religious, I obviously didn't agree with everything she wrote. But her story is pretty amazing, and I am impressed by her resilience and efforts to help others.
    • 4/5
      Not the best written book but it was sure interesting - of course I remember the incident quite well and it's heartbreaking to hear the story. I hope Elisabeth has found a measure of piece; she does quite a good job narrating her own book.Elizabeth was, and still is (2015), quite young - too young to perhaps process all the things that happened to her f and how she acted. Perhaps she'll learn as she ages that it's completely OK for her to have acted in ways that might be less than superwoman-ish; she had to survive and she did what any young person does in surviving, and those behaviours are not always clean and clear. It's hard to read the harsh criticisms of her for possibly not owning up to some behaviors the seem less that perfect. No matter what she did, she hung in and survived, and hopefully got out early enough to be able to process it.
    • 2/5
      It almost feels cruel not to rate this book well. In fact, I'm sure some of the 5 star ratings here are more because of the terrible ordeal Elizabeth Smart went through rather than the quality of her book.The main problem with this book is it is unbelievably repetitive. Of course this was what her ordeal was, as terrible as it was. There are only so many ways you can say - I was scared, he was evil, I was raped, it was hot, I worried about my family - so this was said over and over.I also, like other reviewers, found it a little jarring for her to constantly refer to herself as "a little girl". She was very young, yes, but not many of us would think of a 14-year-old teenager as a little girl. I believe this was done to remind us how vulnerable she was but it had the opposite effect on me. It made me think of tall people crouching down to make themselves appear shorter.A couple of other things - I found the book to be emotionally distant. I really had no idea how Elizabeth felt through her ordeal. And one last thing - we know Elizabeth lied about what she said when the police officer asked her if she was Elizabeth Smart. What she really said was "If thou sayeth, I sayeth". In the book she says "I am Elizabeth". We'll never know why she changed her story for the book but it made me wonder what else she changed. I am glad Elizabeth survived her ordeal and seemed to have come out of it amazingly well but this is not a good book. It lacks detail and the repetitiveness makes it fairly boring.
    • 4/5
      I had the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth Smart a few years ago for a local newspaper when she visited the area to give a few talks. I was amazed by her poise and demeanor when faced with ridiculous questions that frequently begin with "Why didn't you..." She was was an abducted, brutalized, terrorized teenager who focused on surviving. Her recovery from all that she endured is remarkable. After hearing her speak, I decided to pick up "My Story."The book tells the story of Elizabeth's kidnapping, torture and eventual homecoming. I thought it did a good job of portraying the facts of the case and how Elizabeth managed to survive -- mainly through her belief in God, memories of her family and an internal reservoir of strength. I didn't necessarily like the way the book was written... it really attempted to put an emphasis on her being a little girl (and I get why the book is written in the way it is, but it's a bit jarring.) The book also lacked that spark that Elizabeth possesses when she speaks (I've covered lots of guest speakers over the years and few of their speeches have really stuck with me like Elizabeth's did.) Overall, this book is a fine read if you want to know more about what happened to Elizabeth during her nine months of captivity.
    • 5/5
      There are really no words to describe how I feel about this book. Elizabeth is so strong and brave to have lived through such a horrific time, and then to relive it by sharing her story with the world. It is well written, and I applaud her for sharing.

      I hate that this happened. I hate that this book was written. I am glad that her tormentors are in prison. I am glad that Elizabeth is strong and brave and happy.
    • 3/5
      Fascinating autobiography by Elizabeth Smart about her kidnapping and time with her captors. So amazing that she survived her ordeal and seems happy and content in her life after. Amazing story of resilience and faith.
    • 4/5
      This book gives much to think about. A narcissistic religious freak kidnapped Smart from her bed when she was 14. He kept her for 9 months, raping her daily, keeping her filthy and frequently hungry and thirsty. He Preached at her constantly and forced her to drink alcohol, which was against her Mormon upbringing, and to read pretty severe pornography and engage in sex acts that she didn't specify but found horrific. Well, not horrific. I think that's one of the points of the book. Smart is very matter of fact, even sarcastic, about everything that happened to her. She says the word rape with the same intensity she says the word hunger. It was a bad thing that happened to her but did not have a moral effect on her, and that's the basis for the questions. I wonder if Smart's extreme passivity while with her kidnapper stemmed from the fact that she was a good girl completely suffused with a patriarchal religion. The times she had the opportunity to cry for help, she remained silent because she was a good girl. She repeatedly emphasizes the fact that Mitchell said he would kill her and her whole family if she tried to escape, but I wonder if someone with a little less experience of being a good girl would have been so acquiescent.Which leads to the second point. Elizabeth Smart is a happy woman, and I think this is also because of her Mormon faith. She knows she's a good person, she knows what her kidnapper did to her does not reflect on her own morality and, as her mother told her, her best revenge against him is to lead a happy life. At the time of writing the book Smart said she'd been alive 309 months, Her kidnapper had made 9 of those months miserable, but for the rest she is completely grateful, and that's a pretty good percentage.
    • 4/5
      There is very little that is sensational about this memoir, but much that is amazing. Elizabeth Smart details the horror of her nine months of captivity in a very matter-of-fact way and puts into perspective the very real evil of the people who held her prisoner. Her experiences were terrible, but she has succeeded in following her mother's advice to not let her captors have even a single more moment of her life. One of the most interesting things is the contrast between Elizabeth's real faith and religious grounding and the fake "religion" of her captors. She could have turned away from God, but instead, she turned to Him and trusted that He was there for her in the midst of everything.
    • 5/5
      Very difficult but incredible book to read, but shows the depth of Elizabeth's spirit. From tragedy and torture, to wellness and redemption. Bravo, Elizabeth, for having the guts to write this.
    • 5/5
      Smart, Elizabeth. My Story. 7 CDs. unabridged. 9 hrs. MacMillan Audio. 2013. ISBN 9781427233424. $29.99. This haunting and inspiring memoir will have readers horrified at the atrocities that then fourteen year old, Elizabeth Smart had to endure. Having been kidnapped at knife-point from her safe Mormon home and then subjected to daily rapes and humiliation from her captors, Smart's story of despair turns amazingly into hope. Her nine months of capture just steeled her resolve in her faith and her commitment to doing the right thing and showing constant gratitude. Elizabeth's story captured the nation's hearts in 2002 and will continue to do so in this heartfelt memoir. Her intimate story sheds light on her captivity and how she was able to rebuild her life after such an altering and scarring event. The audio book has an extra dimension of truth and emotion since it is beautifully narrated by the author, Elizabeth Smart. For fans of inspirational and Christian memoirs. - Erin Cataldi, Franklin College, Franklin, IN.
    • 4/5
      Very detailed account of kidnapping and recovery. I read her story in the papers and saw things on TV but this gets into her feelings. Very good.
    • 3/5
      Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her bedroom and held captive in rural camps around Utah for 9 months. Her kidnapper was a self-proclaimed itinerant prophet who chose Elizabeth as his second wife. Short on details and long on frustrating passificism (e.g., I prayed for a miracle) the book does not succeed as a thriller. Rather, It is a tribute to her faith and perseverance.
    • 4/5
      I made the mistake of reading other reviews before I did my own.
      They make me angry. Nosey people expecting too much. There is no reason to pick the book apart because she didn't share in the exact details of her torture and rape. Good job humans.

      She doesn't owe anyone anything. The fact that she even wrote a book for the public to read is a great leap and very brave. She doesn't need to tell us anything. Were all reading this book because were nosey, some are just more nosey then others I guess.

      I see nothing wrong in her writing style. She's not a "professional" author. Never claimed to be, she can write however she wants. She was a kid when this happened, she's going to remember it like a kid.

      I think the book was fine. It was written just fine. It's easy to read and understand. What she went through was horrible and I'm glad to know she lives a happy life now. And that's all people should be concerned about. Is that she's happy.
    • 4/5
      In 2002, Elizabeth Smart was only 14-years old when she was kidnapped from her own bedroom(!!!) in Salt Lake City, Utah. A homeless man who considered himself a prophet kidnapped her and he and his wife held her for nine months before they were caught and she was reunited with her family. Elizabeth tells the story of what happened.In addition to her own story of what happened over those nine months, Elizabeth tells some of how things were going back home with the search. In fact, for a good chunk of the time, she was kept very close to home, until it got too cold to live in their tent and all three moved to California. The way the story was told seemed very “simple” to me, maybe to reflect (on purpose or otherwise!) how young she was at the time? There is also a bit or repetition. I certainly remember the story in the news, even here in Canada and always wondered about her. She seems to have come through very well adjusted (despite the daily rape!). She doesn’t go into detail on that. The 4-star rating may also have to do with my interest in the case, generally.

    Book preview

    My Story - Don Nordine

    Copyright © 2014 Don Nordine.

    Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

    All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

    Inspiring Voices

    1663 Liberty Drive

    Bloomington, IN 47403

    www.inspiringvoices.com

    1 (866) 697-5313

    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.

    ISBN: 978-1-4624-0970-9 (sc)

    ISBN: 978-1-4624-0971-6 (e)

    Library of Congress Control Number: 2014909235

    Inspiring Voices rev. date: 06/30/2014

    Table of Contents

    Foreword

    Chapter 1 The Years Of My Childhood

    My Early Years

    Accepting Christ As Lord And Savior

    On My Own, Making My Total Living And Helping Others

    Mules And Horses

    Girls

    The Wheat Harvest

    The Fort Sill Job, Working For Mr. Hughey

    Chapter 2 The Years After Leaving Home

    My Trip From Mangum To Los Angeles

    Temple Baptist Church

    The Rooming House

    Chapter 3 The Years After Marrying Nancy

    Married And Working

    U.s. Army

    Returning To Southern California

    Buying Our First Home And Developing New Goals

    Starting To Work In Real Estate

    Buying Rental Houses

    Working At Pondoff-Sopp Realty

    Church And Our Holy Land Cruise

    Chapter 4 The Years In My Own Business

    Opening My Own Real Estate Office

    Building A Business Center And Office

    My Chalkboard Ministry

    Family And Church

    Moving And Rebuilding Houses

    Building Into Lives

    The Holdup

    Financing And Banking

    Foreclosure Gone Bad—Sla Lockout

    Another Tough One

    Chapter 5 Recent Years

    Meeting A President

    And Here I Am Today (December 2013)

    Forty Years Of Chalkboard Messages

    This book is

    dedicated to all the people who came from Oklahoma and back east to California to find work and a better life. My hope is that it will give them some tools to achieve that better life financially and spiritually.

    Foreword

    "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

    In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

    The work of a man’s hand comes back to him Proverbs 12:14

    Two words describe Don Nordine, those two words are directed and worker. He is a living illustration of what King Solomon wrote about three thousand years ago.

    In this book, Don’s story, you will read of a life that was truly directed by God. Time after time you will read of people and opportunities that God brought into Don’s life as He built this man into the person he was created to be.

    Buildings were made available for them to live in. Jobs were there, even at low pay, to help them get through. People helped him right when he needed them most. He was taught what he needed to know. Reading this story is like watching a puzzle being put together. It is a story of a life directed by God, and the final picture, when all the pieces have been identified and put in place, is a picture of a beautiful life blessed by God.

    And, what was Don’s response all along the way?

    (1) He worked hard at everything he did so he could provide for his family and take advantage of those opportunities that God gave to him.

    (2) He trusted God even in the most difficult times, never quitting, but always moving ahead in faith

    (3) He acknowledged God with his life and efforts and became involved in the church and sharing what he had learned with others.

    This book has three stories: the first is of a family, a large family and their journey. It’s a story that modern day families will marvel at. It’s about lots of kids, no money, living wherever they can… making it.

    The second story is Don’s faith journey and how God used and blessed him. It is a strong testimony of God’s direction and faithfulness.

    The third story is a fun walk through years of public signs that share truths about God and His relationship with man. Those signs that Don put up have some powerful reminders and every one of them is worth thinking about.

    I have known Don for over 40 years and am happy to share this book, his secret for success. His secret is wrapped up in those two words… he’s a worker who is directed by God!

    Dr. Ron Cline

    Reach Beyond Global Ambassador

    Chapter 1

    The Years of My Childhood

    MY EARLY YEARS

    I was born in the charity ward of the University Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on March 15, 1937.

    My family had fallen on hard times. I was the last of nine children. The family lived in the back of a store building that had been the dry goods store that my mother, Pearl Sussie Brown Nordine, and father, Jeff Ollie Nordine, had run for years.

    Sometime when I was a year or so old, my dad was taken to the hospital with an illness and never returned home. I recall a kind older man called Uncle Mike Moses staying at our place. I remember sitting on his lap, drinking coffee with him. As I recall, Uncle Mike passed away while we lived at 501 North Eastern Avenue. While living on Eastern, I had a doll. I know boys are not supposed to have dolls, but someone gave me this doll, Patsy. I don’t recall her after we moved to our next home on a ten-acre farm. I tried to get my granddaughters to name their dolls Patsy, but they never did.

    My mother worked for the Bushey family, who operated a chicken house on our street. They lived around the corner and Mrs. Tennison, who was Mrs. Bushey’s mother, took a liking to me and taught me to write my name and do some simple reading. I believe they were Catholic because when my older brother, Elbert, was very sick, Mrs. Bushey had their priest come and pray for him. As the story goes, when the baby woke up he was saying, Jesus. This is a hand-me-down story, as it was before my time.

    World War II was going on and things were rationed. We saved the vegetable cans and they were picked up for the war effort. Those early days of salvaging cans and other things from the trash made an impression on me, as I still salvage a good deal. During that time, I also remember getting the measles. I was very sick and when I got up, my legs seemed to be so weak I could barely walk.

    There was a fairground down the street, and we kids would watch the fair come in and unload. One of my older brothers, Burl, joined up with them at age 14 and never came back home for long after that. He was a concessionaire all his life except for a short time when he was a jockey. Many years later my sister Harmeda and her husband, Fred, joined my wife

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