Everything you need to know can probably be found within the pages of this blog. Oh, you want the bottom line? Okay.
Marriage:
Married at age 18. That lasted for about 3 years. Remarried 7 years later and we're going on 15 years.
Children:
I am mother to two kids from my first marriage: Lauren, 21 years old and Andrew, 20 years old. After I re-married, and almost ten years after my first, I decided to have one more – Jacob, 12 years old.
Family:
I'm the oldest of four girls, and raised by a single father from the time my parents divorced when I was 8 years old, until I was 15 years old. I lived in two foster homes after that. There's so much drama in those years and a lot of stories to be told someday.
Employment:
Currently unemployed and passively looking for another job. The last job title I held was Administrative Specialist III, a position with the state of Arkansas. I quit my job back in August of '09, when my husband got a chance to transfer. Now I'm at home just chillin'. I've worked in human resources, telecommunications, vocational rehabilitation, kidney disease, and in the legal field (wills, trusts, estates and probate, telecommunicaions, corporate).
Religion:
Yes. I do believe there is a God…or maybe Gods…or something – some higher power. Why? Well, because science just can't explain everything. I've seen, heard, and read about too many miraculous things happen in my lifetime that science can't explain. Why is it so unfathomable to think there is something out there greater than ourselves? It makes me sleep better at night, to think that there is some purpose, something I don't yet (and may never) understand, some reason for my existence, rather than happenstance.
I went to church every week and bibile study during the middle of the week, while I was growing up. My mother is Roman Catholic. In fact, I was baptized Roman Catholic. My father is…well, I'm still not sure what you'd call him. I think, if you asked him, he'd call himself a Christian. I'm pretty sure though, that the number one reason my parents split up was because of their different religious beliefs.
It's always kind of weird when religion comes up in a conversation. While we called ourselves Christians, the teachings were not that of traditional Christian values. We went to church on Saturdays. We didn't observe the traditional Christian holidays like Christmas or Easter. Instead, we observed Holy Days, much like Jews… except for Hannakuh. We didn't observe Hannakuh either. It wasn't too tough on us kids, because the good news was that each year, we got to take a week off from school to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. A full week, sometimes a little longer because the Feast lasts for eight days. And all of the days missed had to be an excused for religious reasons, according to school policy.
I stopped going to church after my first marriage, then started back up after we split up. Then stopped going again. While I was "church searching", I attended Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, and Seventh Day Adventist, but nothing really stuck with me. Plus, I was disgusted by all the hypocricy (no matter what church I went to) so I stopped going. Nowadays, I don't like the thought of any "organized religion". I haven't stepped inside a church since 1998, although I still hold many of the same (definitely not all) beliefs and teachings I was taught when I was a kid.
Politics:
Government – Protect me and my rights, period. Don't tell me what to do, say, how to spend my money, or how to live my life.
Abortion – Pro-choice. That is, unless you're talking about me personally. I almost had an abortion once. I couldn't go through with it. My daughter thanks me every time she thinks about it.
Gay Rights – I am for equal rights for all citizens, but I'm no activist. You won't ever see me at a protest. I couldn't care less if you're gay. With that said, don't ever expect me to give you any more attention I would give my family or friends.
Racism – Please refer to my last statement. I love diversity and you probably won't find a more diverse family than my own. Don't think, for a second, I don't know what racism tastes like. I've seen it from all sides and have really bad experiences from all sides. I know I can't change how people behave, I can only choose how to react to those idiots.
Gun Control – If I weren't so afraid of going completely ballistic one day and accidentally shooting myself in the foot, I would have a gun in my house. I firmly believe in the second amendment. However, if I want a gun, I have no problem with going through all the hoops and red tape to get one. Red tape is going to keep a criminal from obtaining a gun as much as it does now – It doesn't, so how's that workin' for us?
Healthcare – I don't believe anyone should be turned down because of a pre-existing condition and while I don't like it, I see the need for a policy that allows children to stay under a family insurance plan.
Immigration – Strengthen our borders! There are policies in place and procedures to take, in order for a person to become a United States citizen. I say use them. By the way, I believe if you are going to become an US citizen, learn how to speak English, just as you would be expected to learn the language from any other country. If my mother can do it (however, with a very strong, cute, funny accent), you can too.
Politics is a topic I try to avoid discussing online. I'll listen to you and what you've got to say, but I won't try to sway you one way or the other (not online anyway). I am thoroughly disgusted when I hear bashing from one side or the other, about the other side. I detest phrases like "That's what the so-and-so would have you believe". I hate to hear someone demean another for disagreeing with them. We may disagree, but I will always be respectful.
That pretty much sums up the basics on me. Anything else you want to know? You can always contact me.
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