About a year or so later, the guy who abused me told me to take down the journal or he'd have it taken down (hacked). Even though I did not use his real name, he said it was humiliating. Poor baby ! I had fought pretty hard to find my voice, so instead of taking it down, I reproduced it on AOL, MSN, Yahoo and BEST OF ALL, Blogstream.
LOL ... Hack that, Mean Man !
Although I didn't think it through, multiplying my story times four increased the number of readers. I started to hear from more people who were hurting.
I learned that all people are hurting from something, whether it's divorce, the loss of a job, death of a loved one, a natural disaster or accident, cancer ...
The same healing that worked for me can work for other people too so I keep writing, just in case there's someone out there, feeling hurt and alone ...
I'm amazed by the way you deal with the dark issues of life. Your blog "Love and Light from Healing Creek" deals with some of the dark issues of life in a very positive way. You offer a unique forum for healing the hurts of life.
Are you professionally trained or does your wisdom come through the school of hard knocks?
I am not professionally trained in healing. I wish I was! I would love to have a degree that would help me bring healing to others.
I am just someone that found my way out of the dark and decided to stand here at the edge and holler back encouragement to the ones still in there.
The compassion and love that comes through your writing makes me, ask do you have a personal philosophy or credo that guides you through life?
No matter what has ever happened in my life, I really believe that it happens for a reason and that there is a lesson in it. Sometimes, it takes a little work to find the lesson though !
I accept other's right to believe in whatever they choose, but at the very core of my faith is Jesus.
I believe He loves me (and you and everyone else).
I have felt His presence in my darkest moments, my most joyous ones and all the moments in between.
You do a great job sharing your love and faith with those on the Stream who are hurting. I like the way you can be so grounded and confident in your own faith that you don't have to shout.
Let's move away from your blog for awhile. Let's talk about some hypotheticals so that we get a better idea of what you're like outside the cyberworld of Blogstream.
Who are the five people (living or deceased) you would like to spend the day with? Why?
1. The Unsinkable Molly Brown - famous for surviving the Titanic but she had Hutzpah!
2. Amelia Earhardt - to have been one of her passengers!
3. Annie Oakley - to target shoot with her !
(pause)
You know, if I am suddenly gifted with the ability to raise the dead for a day, there are two people that I'd give anything to see again.
4. My friend Emilie - She passed away last year of cancer. She was the kindest woman with the most amazing faith. She chose not to take treatment or even pain medication. When she was hurting, she would pray and God would give her rest. The last time she prayed, she died peacefully in her sleep. She died with the same dignity she lived. We used to have the most wonderful conversations. I miss Emilie.
5. My Grandma - She worked hard her whole life. She had a two acre vegetable garden, a half dozen flower gardens and a green thumb to match. She canned, baked and cooked ALL the time ! She made room-size braided rugs and the prettiest quilts ! She crocheted, knitted, tatted, did needlepoint and embroidery too. She could sew men's tailored suits and ladies dresses just from a picture ! She used to sew me clothes with little Barbie outfits to match !
When I was a kid, she already had over 50 grandchildren and she sewed for all of us, knitted scarves, mittens, sweaters and baby blankets for all of us ! She was Martha Stewart without a staff of 80 !
Anytime I do anything crafty, I smile and think of something she taught me when she taught me how to embroider. She said it wasn't the embroidery that everyone see that tells you the quality of the work. It's when you turn it over and look at the back that you see the real work.
That could apply to a lot of things in life. It's what happens on the inside, behind the scenes, that shows the real quality of the work.
What three movies made you laugh? Cry?
Steel Magnolias - Pay It Forward - Crash
There were scenes that made me laugh and scenes that made me cry, but I'm at that phase in life where I cry at Hallmark Card commercials !
If you could spend a week anyplace in the world (all expenses paid), where would it be?
Scandinavia - in the summer...
Are you a cat or a dog person ?
Both, but I only have one old dog now and old dogs CAN learn new tricks! She's constantly training us to wait on her hand and foot more and more each day. She even does a fake limp when she wants attention.
Didn't your dog adopt a cat for awhile?
I seem to remember sending you that picture of a dog and cat hugging each other.
That's right ! She has a major crush on the neighbors cat. She runs over there every chance she gets just to cuddle with the cat.
She has even picked up cat habits like cleaning herself and coughing up fur balls ... in fact, they might not be entirely dog fur but cat fur too !
The shame of it !
What was the best concert you ever attended?
Bette Midler - WHAT A SHOW !
She told jokes and acted out little skits in between songs and the costume changes were amazing.
She had back-up dancers that really added to her show. It was fun.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I like to get up before the sun and go for a walk so I guess I'm a morning person.
Are you a Pepsi or Coke person?
Neither ! Both puff me up like a frog !
I drink LOTS of water though and this latte is pretty yummo !
If you could change one thing about your personal appearance, what would it be?
Nothing. I am what I am.
I'm not perfect and I'll never be on the cover of a magazine but I'll keep what I've got.
My luck, I'd trade in something for something else and it would fall off like Michael Jackson's nose !
That would scare the grandkids !
Who do you consider to be a hero?
My husband, my partner, my love and my very own personal hero, Joey.
Now for the mandatory questions:
Name 5 CD's you have in your player right now.
Bette Midler - Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook
Sheryl Crow - Very Best Of
Carly Simon - Best Of
Touched By An Angel Soundtrack - I loved that show and the songs are uplifting
Enya - Shepherd Moons
But my favorite song is ADDAGGIO performed by almost anybody
I know you don't have snowstorms in the Carolinas.
However, if you were caught at a truck stop by a freak blizzard for a night, what five Bloggers would you like to keep you company?
Not fair !!! Only five?
In no particular order ... I wouldn't dream of being stuck without:
1. MamaB, PolarB, Colo, Daisy & Lucy
2. Whispered Promises, Chey, June, River Rat & Kelly
3. Sherry, Secret, MaryElizabeth, Belle & Jonnie
4. Heide, Pyewacket, Six, Pretty Rubble & Sherrena
5. Nutty Mom, Kwick, Gina, Looking For Lucy & Slick ...
In fact we'd be having so much fun we might end up staying even after the snow melts !
I didn't mean to leave the guys out but sometimes,
GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN !
I only counted five, Taylor(wink)
Good, we're counting the same way then !
Favorite alcohol beverage?
An occasional glass of wine with a nice meal.
What is your nationality?
AMERICAN ... lol ...
But my heritage is German and Scandinavian
(Swedish and Norwegian)
Last book you read?
I am currently reading several books that I may share later on my blog.
But, how about if I recommend some GOOD ones?
Power Vs Force by Dr. David R. Hawkins, M.D., PhD.
The Four Agreements - A Toltec Wisdom Book by Don Miguel Ruiz
When God Winks by Squire Rushnell
Dark Nights Of The Soul by Thomas Moore
The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck, M.D.
Color of your underwear?
Black and Lacy
Lucy, do I get workers comp for that last question?
We're in the south and I just got belted by someone who looked like Mountain Man Dean's brother....It seems it's not a polite question to ask a lady...
Uh-oh ...
Can we have some ice for my friend?
INTERVIEWS 
