A Brief Biography
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This brief biography only begins to touch the surface of Cindy Lee’s life. There were many years of deep anguish, depression, and dysfunction to overcome. She did it all through the power of prayer and the strength of God.
Born in a small town in northern Ohio near Lake Erie, Cindy Lee (Cindy) moved with her family to the Susquehanna Valley when she was only a few years old. Living in rural East York through her school years and the York/Hanover areas as an adult.
At the vulnerable age of 12, Cindy’s parents separated and divorced. She lived back and forth between her mother and father for the first few years; eventually to live with her single mother until her first marriage. Those years in themselves were destabilizing and contributed to many unstable events later in life.
Attending Central York School District and graduating from York County Vo-Tech (class of 1973) she was somewhat of a shy person. Getting married shortly after high school, she soon found herself expecting her first child. Her son Samuel was born in July the following year. A year later, the marriage failed and thus began a series of bad relationships, 2 more children; daughters Angela and Melanie and another marriage that eventually fell apart. All before she was 26.
To cope with stress and turmoil, Cindy turned to alcohol and drugs. Although still able to function at some level, with her mental state deteriorating, she was admitted into several psychiatric facilities starting in 1985. In that same year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer which resulted in a mastectomy. Her mental state disintegrated to near total dysfunction. After several years of counselling, in 1987 a diagnosis of Bi-Polar Disorder led to proper medication and treatment. Although Cindy continued to drink, her drug abuse had stopped a few years prior. In December of 1989, after a complete alcoholic “meltdown” and a suicide attempt, hospitalization was again the only option to treat this relapse. This time, something was different. In complete and total surrender, she asked God for help. He immediately embraced her, pulled her out of the miry clay, and turned her around.
Next up, a move to Allentown. After the marriage to Buck ended, Cindy remained single and began becoming her own person. But in 2000, the man who was part of her “new” life for the previous 5 years died unexpectedly. There is a saying in AA, “If nothing changes, then nothing changes”. In 2001 an opportunity arose for a big change. Her children all grown and on their own, she packed up and moved to Allentown. There she truly became her own person. She met and married her fourth husband, Rick, in 2005 after meeting in 2002. She found a church where she became involved in everything from the children’s and women’s ministries to being editor and chief of their newsletter which started the writing career the blossomed into Connecting the Light. Rick was also involved in several ministries.
Why the move back to Hanover? The home they were in was becoming a money pit and they both were wearing out trying to keep up with expenses. (Cindy at one point working 3 part-time jobs.) Early in 2015 they began looking into options, moving seemed to be the best scenario. Hanover seemed a good choice. Cindy’s children, grandchildren, and most of her extended family all lived in the York/Hanover area. After what seemed like an eternity of cleaning out and packing, in June of 2015, Cindy and Rick became apartment dwellers.
In August of 2016, after 30 years being cancer free, Cindy was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Following 7 months of grueling chemotherapy, she is in remission and remains so now. You can find her free downloadable “You CAN get Through IT!” on her website’s “Free Stuff” page. It is a guide she wrote, and used, to get through those long months.
Through the years, children and grandchildren have lived with Cindy and Rick at different times. In June of 2019, Cindy became guardian of her 15-year-old troubled granddaughter. Since then, her granddaughter has graduated and has become a much better person through Cindy’s tutelage. In the spring of 2022, after 17 years, husband number four decided he wanted to “move on” to “greener pastures” and they separated. (Read “What Season are you in?” on the “Message Archive” page that tells you about her Spring of 2022 changes.)
Also, in spring 2022, Cindy retired from the church secretary position she had taken near Hanover (Working helped fill her time and still serve the Lord.) She also found a new church “home” and is active there. She has been able to spend more time with her children and grandchildren. (She is Memaw to 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grands!) She often recounts her life experiences to them to illustrate how even the worst situation can be overcome with the help of God who is always with us.
Born in a small town in northern Ohio near Lake Erie, Cindy Lee (Cindy) moved with her family to the Susquehanna Valley when she was only a few years old. Living in rural East York through her school years and the York/Hanover areas as an adult.
At the vulnerable age of 12, Cindy’s parents separated and divorced. She lived back and forth between her mother and father for the first few years; eventually to live with her single mother until her first marriage. Those years in themselves were destabilizing and contributed to many unstable events later in life.
Attending Central York School District and graduating from York County Vo-Tech (class of 1973) she was somewhat of a shy person. Getting married shortly after high school, she soon found herself expecting her first child. Her son Samuel was born in July the following year. A year later, the marriage failed and thus began a series of bad relationships, 2 more children; daughters Angela and Melanie and another marriage that eventually fell apart. All before she was 26.
To cope with stress and turmoil, Cindy turned to alcohol and drugs. Although still able to function at some level, with her mental state deteriorating, she was admitted into several psychiatric facilities starting in 1985. In that same year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer which resulted in a mastectomy. Her mental state disintegrated to near total dysfunction. After several years of counselling, in 1987 a diagnosis of Bi-Polar Disorder led to proper medication and treatment. Although Cindy continued to drink, her drug abuse had stopped a few years prior. In December of 1989, after a complete alcoholic “meltdown” and a suicide attempt, hospitalization was again the only option to treat this relapse. This time, something was different. In complete and total surrender, she asked God for help. He immediately embraced her, pulled her out of the miry clay, and turned her around.
- He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Psalm 40:2
Next up, a move to Allentown. After the marriage to Buck ended, Cindy remained single and began becoming her own person. But in 2000, the man who was part of her “new” life for the previous 5 years died unexpectedly. There is a saying in AA, “If nothing changes, then nothing changes”. In 2001 an opportunity arose for a big change. Her children all grown and on their own, she packed up and moved to Allentown. There she truly became her own person. She met and married her fourth husband, Rick, in 2005 after meeting in 2002. She found a church where she became involved in everything from the children’s and women’s ministries to being editor and chief of their newsletter which started the writing career the blossomed into Connecting the Light. Rick was also involved in several ministries.
Why the move back to Hanover? The home they were in was becoming a money pit and they both were wearing out trying to keep up with expenses. (Cindy at one point working 3 part-time jobs.) Early in 2015 they began looking into options, moving seemed to be the best scenario. Hanover seemed a good choice. Cindy’s children, grandchildren, and most of her extended family all lived in the York/Hanover area. After what seemed like an eternity of cleaning out and packing, in June of 2015, Cindy and Rick became apartment dwellers.
In August of 2016, after 30 years being cancer free, Cindy was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Following 7 months of grueling chemotherapy, she is in remission and remains so now. You can find her free downloadable “You CAN get Through IT!” on her website’s “Free Stuff” page. It is a guide she wrote, and used, to get through those long months.
Through the years, children and grandchildren have lived with Cindy and Rick at different times. In June of 2019, Cindy became guardian of her 15-year-old troubled granddaughter. Since then, her granddaughter has graduated and has become a much better person through Cindy’s tutelage. In the spring of 2022, after 17 years, husband number four decided he wanted to “move on” to “greener pastures” and they separated. (Read “What Season are you in?” on the “Message Archive” page that tells you about her Spring of 2022 changes.)
Also, in spring 2022, Cindy retired from the church secretary position she had taken near Hanover (Working helped fill her time and still serve the Lord.) She also found a new church “home” and is active there. She has been able to spend more time with her children and grandchildren. (She is Memaw to 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grands!) She often recounts her life experiences to them to illustrate how even the worst situation can be overcome with the help of God who is always with us.
- “and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20b
- Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12