Friendships We Take For Granted...

I have a very close friend that I have known 35 years. I love her like a sister. Our friendship always sustained me. She was the Extrovert, I was the Introvert. But, we let our friendship fall apart 2 and 1/2 years ago due to personal reasons. I have thought of her often, missed her terribly, cried over her on many occasions. This morning I was worried because she lives in Horry County, S.C. where the wildfires are. My mind was thinking the worst. What if she lost her new home? What if something happened to her or her family? I couldn't stand to think that our last words were in anger and not respectful to each other. I had worried myself to death! So...this morning I called her mother there to see if they were alright. She's fine as well as my friend is. The fires were 30 miles away from them. I asked for her phone number and her mother gave it to me. I called her and as I was leaving a message, she beeped into me, then while trying to answer her calls, I started to hit the wrong buttons on the phone to talk. Finally, I stopped and it rang again and it was her. I was so overcome with emotion that I could hardly speak. Just hearing her voice made me cry with relief. We talked briefly and she is supposed to call me back. I have been trying to regain composure since. I can't turn the tears off. Even now as I write they are flowing down my face and my stomach is in knots. I want to see her, catch-up, laugh with her and most of all apologize for being such an ass!! I believe it's true that you don't know what you have in life until you lose it. We have a habit of taking what life gives us and just taking it for granted. This includes the people we meet in life and become friends with, not realizing that circumstances can bring about change that ends the friendship. I hope our friendship will mend, I want to work at it. But for now, I just hope she calls me back...

In Memory of Robert E. Farthing 12/06/1957 - 04/22/1991

Sweet is the voice of a sister in the season of sorrow.
~Benjamin Disraeli

Domestic Abuse and Stalking!

This is a subject that is very much a part of my life. Not many know that I still belong to some Stalking websites and try to help women get out of the cycle of it. I was an abused, stalked victim for 7 years. I fought my way out with every inch of my being. I did everything to get away from this man. Several times he tried to kill me in various ways and every time I would have him charged, go to hearings, get a peace/restraining order against him, but it's just a piece of paper that will not stop an obsessed person! The laws need to be changed and the punishment harsher!
For this reason, I keep all of my profiles picture-less or private. I even changed my name!
This happened to me after my first marriage. I met this man who was well-dressed, very charming and loving to me and my children for 3 months. Then, the other shoe dropped and he started running around on me, hitting me, following me. You name it he did it! I don't care where I was, he would show-up and beg me to take him back. The more I refused, the worse the stalking and abuse became. I can't go into graphic details for obvious reasons. I keep tabs thanks to the Internet as to his whereabouts but I have no guarantee that he doesn't know where I am. I worry he will find me, but so far I don't think he knows and I pray to God he never resurfaces.
My sons are grown now and my husband also would do what they had to in order to protect me.
My stalking case was the worst in the state where I lived when it was happening. I am getting ready to contact our local schools about public speaking to young girls and college women about this. There are ways to get out of the situation before you end up losing your life. I am always willing to talk to anyone in an abusive marriage or relationship and give them the references that will save them. If you are reading this and want help, feel free to email me or leave a comment here with a way for me to contact you. I will not publish your comment so nobody will know that I am helping you. Just remember these things: It's very true that if a man hits a woman once, HE WILL DO IT AGAIN & AGAIN!!!! Also, DO NOT TRUST YOUR FRIENDS! You would be amazed at how fast they will sell you out and tell him anything he wants to know. Your friends may not act like it but they are just as afraid of him as you are! The most important thing is don't depend on anyone but YOU! Only YOU can change the pattern!

Spring time is here...

Earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature. Gerard De Nerval

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into. Henry Ward Beecher

These are my favorite quotes about the beauty of flowers in the spring time. The time of year when most days are just the right temperature, flowers grow and blossom to give you a sense of accomplishment. But, all the hard work pays off by reminding us of something we often forget. God's way of showing the beauty of what He created was meant for us to look upon and enjoy.