Our Story

It all really starts when we come to the end of ourselves; each an independent personal journey, unique and designed for each of us. RSQ is the culmination of my story, one that will resonate with so many no matter the stage in which you are in. This world is designed to test, hurt, trial and destroy us….this is my story.

I knew at the earliest memories that there was something bigger, greater and more meaningful. Growing up with a very difficult childhood, a mother with serious mental illness, a father who was an enabler and extremely smart, in fact he is the smartest man I knew. My father was not only book smart as an aeronautical engineer graduate from Ohio State (a time before computers, where the calculations had to be done in your head), his dream was to fly fighter jets. Flying fighter jets is exactly what my father did in Vietnam.

My mother’s story is one of middle class privilege and pampering. This has always brought forth the question of “is a narcissist/ sociopath or psychopath born or made or a combination? I do not have the answer but my best estimation is a combination. The one person in this world that was meant to love you and display this love is our mothers, but this was not my case, her actions and words demonstrated distain and a desire to destroy me.

I can tell you about familial and generational curses and “sins of the father” (mankind) upon the generations. This is not just about my immediate parents but goes back to generations prior – at least the ones I know of.

Our story, my story is one of breaking free of this. A life spent in victimhood and blame, not understanding that no matter how hard I worked or tried I could not succeed. I did this work and effort even to the point of death. For some surrender does not come at a young age but later in life and requires a process over years. I didn’t get it even with a major cancer scare 10 years ago, only hours from death.

Going into surgery I prepared to die. I welcomed death, for life had become way to hard .My very very best was never going to be good enough, no matter the sacrifice, effort and pushing through. I was never going to be worth enough to find success, happiness and joy. Those gifts from God were for others …or so I thought. I was actually angry at God when I came out of a surgery that I was not supposed to survive. I was angry that He did not take me and end my pain.

This recount ( I don’t want to call it a story as that word makes it seem untrue) is my break from those generational curses or providing insight to those that just seek to find enlightenment and purpose in life.

It is important to know that this journey is real and does change everything. We all have heard the stories of those that had an immediate Godly experience and their lives changed instantly but that was NOT how it was for me, I’m too stubborn for that lol. What I can tell you is life did a complete turn around when I finally totally surrendered. I even got to the point where the person that caused me the most pain heart ache and turmoil I was able to say “she may not know it now but I know she loves me”

My name is Erika Escue-Cadieux and I am the founder of RSQ Design , Hooligans Grill (an American Grill in Adrian MI), AEM Holdings (a property development company) & a US Patent holder of GoDotz (a wearable device that combines biometric security with sensor chip technology). Additionally I sit on the board of Directors for Midwest Energy, a power and internet provider, a company poised to reach a billion in the next five years. I accomplished all of this in the last 10 years of my life and prior to that I created and ran an antiques business and interior design firm. But with those businesses I realized the premise of work and hour get paid an hour and I knew I had to do something just in case I ever got sick, how would I take care of my kids and myself.

I am your classic overcomer who derives self worth from accomplishment and how much I have achieved not just generally but on a daily basis. This is a theme among those “achievers” those that accomplish beyond their predetermined station in life. I was driven to find self worth in a world that told me I was worthless. A drive to find truth and meaning.

RSQ Design is artwork I created that inspires others to find their true self through Truth, God, and Country. Growing up with this difficult childhood, I hit rock bottom and realized that victimhood is not the way. After taking authentic ownership of everything in my own life, I saw the fingerprints of God on everything. Every situation, good and bad was Gods opportunity to show His Glory, His Love and His meaning.

RSQ is a rescue….an artistic expression of the rescue Christ has done to rescue me, us from ourselves, rescues us from hard facts of life, just as in Christ rescues us from death, he is our rescue; from death, from ourselves, and from the world.

Through this artwork which has taken me years, I found the courage to put it all out there to hope that you too find meaning and a seed of encouragement to find your own peace and joy. Each image listed below is the meanings and descriptions:

Fall from Grace, was the first painting completed in 2017 during my surrender process. A time where I buried myself in a search for the truth, I changed everything I did. And this was part of the process. We surround ourselves with lies pulling us down from that which is good. It is not lies about others but lies we tell ourselves about ourselves. But even as we fall there is no place too deep where God will not reach for us to pull us back to save us. He is always right there with us, never left nor forsaken. It is the act of reaching, that act of participation that is required. We were given the gift of Grace, that is our free gift but we must reach for the help. God desires our participation for in that relationship he is always as close as we want him to be, bringing us new life from the depths of despair.

The second painting also completed in 2017 focuses on the authentic true love of our real father The one who has us in His arms. The acceptance of LOVE is to be saved in every way a person can be saved allowing them to be fully human and fully alive; outside the boundaries of expectations setting us free to experience life fully. It is through the thorns, brambles and thistle of our brokenness and pain transforming it into beauty and wonder as you were always meant to be. There is no act or sacrifice needed whether you accept it or not; whether you want it or not; God’s love is greater than His sacrifice and was made for all. The goal was never to become Christian but to become fully human and fully alive for God is only Love.

This is where so many get stuck. They are stuck in their pain and agony, the familiarity with the world in which they were raised. It is a very hard thing that unfortunately most cannot break free from. A rejection of truth and real Love. It takes pressure and perseverance, pressing in and onward seeking the truth. It is not the truth about others but the truth about ourselves that sets us free and that freedom is only found in Christ and the Loving arms of our father. Do not forget that pressure is what creates diamonds and each of us has the potential to be a diamond. It is all about free choice. Each and every day is a gift and a choice to live it, a choice to choose love or more of the same.