Biography
Sandy began her singing debut at age 7 in the early 1970's. It began during a time when her home church, Glory Gospel Assembly of Paterson NJ, was planning a special event for all people to share their talent. It was then when Sandy met Godly men and women, all of Jamaican descent, whom with their prayers blessed her future. Sandy never knew what the future would hold, and the prayers of these saints would certainly come in handy many years later. A music teacher of Wayne, New Jersey desired to launch Sandy into the music world, but God protected her as He had better plans. She grew up in a home to which Christianity was later substituted for religion, and denial of the truth kept her past family from receiving God's best. Sandy suffered from physical and verbal abuse as a child, and the traumatic situation was kept a secret behind a wall of religion. The entrapment of her self image was shattered, and her musical abilities were laid to rest. At the age of 9, Sandy was developing signs of depression. At the age of 12 of 1981, she and her family moved to San Sebastian, Puerto Rico. After graduating high school in 1987, Sandy began her college education at the Inter-Americana University of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. During the first semester, she experienced a nervous break down contributed to a build up of negative emotions from her past. Unable to finish college, it was a time of great despair until she heard Nicky Cruz's testimony at the most opportune time. He was televised at a live show across the island, and what a blessing. Sandy received Christ as her Savior after hearing the powerful testimony of Mr. Cruz. Depression temporarily subsided from her life, but the challenge wasn't quite over.
Sandy dated her 1st and only boyfriend by the name of Douglas Florence, whom she met at Brookdale Baptist Church of Bloomfield, New Jersey on October 20th, 1991; and they married on April 24th, 1993. Sandy leaned on the encouragement and strength of her husband. It was the strength to which Douglas helped his wife move beyond her sorrow. Her devoted husband never gave up hope as he sheltered his wife with his unconditional love.
Depression was still a on going issue in Sandy's life and she questioned, "Why hasn't God healed me? Why me?" The answer to all her questions was simply,"A broken spirit or a broken heart still needs to mend and heal." A born again Christian will always have a pass to heaven, but God's wisdom brings to all believers power and unmerited favor. God's wisdom is love, and His love brings restoration, but we must apply God's love to learn and act according to Matthew 5:44, But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. The human race is born with confidence as God so designed it that way, and each individual must develop their confidence from childhood. If childhood abuse takes place, or other negative sources to injure a child's emotion, then the enemy has access to trespass and cause great disruption. The bible clearly says in Hebrews 10:35, Do not cast away your confidence which brings great reward. Confidence is our wall of protection which can only develop in unconditional love. If you lacked unconditional love growing up as a child, then you lacked the protection and the main source which helps the child to develop self-confidence.
Sandy's Challenge to heal began at age 32. God offered her the opportunity to grow in His wisdom. He challenged her to begin singing again, and to do it for His glory. In doing so, she would heal, and He would also promise her desire to conceive a family. Sandy accepted the challenge to trust and obey Him. God also requested of Sandy to contact her paternal grandma, the grandmother to which many family members despised, and superstitiously feared. Witch craft existed in Sandy's family line from her ancestral time, and it became a generational practice until certain relatives became believers in Christ Jesus. The reminder of such ancestral practice still left behind fear, and superstitious habits within certain family members. Sandy's Grandma needed a listening ear, and certainly not rejection. Her grandma was the unfortunate target of people's vicious tongue, as found in James 3:5, Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! Grandma portrayed hate as her wall of defense against people she knew not to trust. With Sandy she laid her guard down, and allowed her granddaughter the opportunity to examin her heart. All grandma needed was a listening ear, and it was worth the listen. Grandma filled in the missing pieces of the puzzle, pieces in which gossipers could not fill in. Grandma also stood by her granddaughter when no one else in the family would. When you seek for freedom, you must unload all truth whether people believe you or not. Grandma became a born again Christian a few years prior, but was unable to unload her past pain. The mutual communication between Sandy and her Grandmother was the start of a blessing. Both granddaughter and grandmother began sharing and growing together in their spirit for the Lord.
Sandy and her husband endured years of infertility. Finally, they received surprising news of her pregnancy when celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary at the State of Vermont. During the pregnancy, Sandy was diagnosed to have a Mitral Valve Regurgitation of the heart, but was not considered dangerous. Her beautiful healthy daughter was born on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, Sandy held God's promise gift of a child. The incredible story of her daughter's birth is still to be told. It began either the last few months of Sandy's pregnancy, or shortly before delivery, for her baby girl transferred blood to her Mom from the umbilical cord. Sandy was developing other health issues in which she was not aware of; and the miracle blood transfer from her daughter kept her safe, or from further complications during the delivery. Her daughter was born anemic, but the blessed infant child showed no sign of anemia to have fooled the nurses and doctors with her strength. Three blood examinations finally confirmed of her daughter's low blood count. Sandy's blood work also showed traces of blood transmitted to her by her own child sometime during the pregnancy. The new born baby seemed normal and healthy, and never needed a blood transfusion. Doctor's were mind boggled with the incredible recovery. Sandy too recovered quite soon due to the heroic miracle help of her daughter. This amazing circumstance was also a blessing for hospital staffs and doctors to witness God's sovereign power. Sandy's health was soon diagnosed, and corrected in perfect timing through chiropractic treatments. If she had waited any longer, her health would have depleted, and affected her ability to sing; and would have paralyzed her dream in ministry for the Lord. Genesis 50:20, What the enemy meant for evil, God intended for good. A few years later, on December19,2007, her lovely daughter received Jesus into her heart at a tender age of 3, shortly before her 4th birthday.
It was a step by step process of physical healing for Sandy. The more she sang, the more she healed to experience God's power, and develop more of her talent. This source of strength enabled Sandy to express her testimony in songwriting. She completed her first single release "Sacrifice", and her song was launched by a small organization in Nashville-Tennessee. On January/2007, Sandy's single release charted in a local Christian Country Chart, and did well on radio. The surprising news motivated Sandy and her husband to pursue an album. She never toured, never recorded a full album in her entire life; and was certainly not experienced within the music industry. In her physical condition, she still trusted God for His will; and He planned her steps to enable her professional recording come true in His grace. She completed her 1st album of 10 songs using the same title name "Sacrifice" from her 1st single release.
In the year 2010, Sandy incredibly recovered a memory which took place when she was probably between the ages of 2 thru 5. Chiropractic treatments helped enormously with her health, and opened a window to unlock deep memories of her past. It was a vague or blurred memory confirming her suspicion, for she indeed dealt with other issues such as the inappropiate advances from a very close relative. With this confirmation, Sandy has found closure; and she is able to continue forward with her life. Sandy Florence quotes, "In regards to my case, I forgive anyone who hurt me though they deny the truth in this matter."
Between the years 2009-2012, it was confirmed of Sandy to have been misdiagnosed twice. Her heart showed no abnormality of a Mitral Valve Regurgitation, and she did not suffer from Bronchial Asthma. Sandy's condition was due to traumatic muscle injuries and pinched nerves from years of past depression, and possible old injuries contributed from her past childhood abuse. It took a leap of faith to properly diagnose her condition, and prevent a misleading diagnosis which could have brought about unnecessary consequences to her health. With her diaphragm weak, as she also struggled with additional strange symptoms, she still plunged forward to do God's plan for her life. With God by her side, she was able to succeed. God's wisdom has become her greatest gem to bring forth peace, strength, restoration, and favor in her life.