My Personal Stuff

I was born on September 14, 1963 in Long Beach, California. I am the oldest of 5 kids, and the only girl. My childhood life was spent moving alot. We moved 18 times before I was in high school.

I have lived in places such as Tulsa, Coweta, Catoosa, Vian, Gore, Gum Springs, Gans, and Sallisaw, Oklahoma. I have also lived in West Plains, Missouri.

I call Sallisaw, Oklahoma my hometown because that is where I spent most of my teenage and early adulthood. I have lived in Fort Smith, Arkansas since 1991.

I married my 1st husband, Wesley, on December 4, 1982. My first child, Brian, was born 9 months previously, April 25, 1982.

My first husband adopted him several years later. I had two other children during my marriage. Trisha was born on June 27, 1983 and Shawn was born September 22, 1985.

MY FAMILY TODAY:

My first marriage ended in a ugly divorce in 1989. Shortly before the marriage ended my oldest brother, Robert, died of Luekemia. He died 4 days after he was diagnosed with the deadly illness.

I had always used drugs and drank alcohol excessively. But after my brother passed this became more apparent.

In March 1990 I met my second husband, Glen. Glen had an extreme problem with drugs and went to treatment in October 1990. This would play a major role in my life several years later.

Glen stayed clean for 9 months and the returned to active use of drugs and alcohol. He introduced me to I.V. drug use.

My life quickly spun out of control. Glen and I did whatever was necessary to find, use and get more drugs, greatly affecting my children.

In April 1993, I realized, with the help of some outside sources, that I had a problem. I sought help from a wonderful program called Narcotics Anonymous.

Life has not been a bed of roses since that time. But I have 12 Steps that have taught me how to deal with life on life's term's. However, Narcotics Anonymous and the 12 steps have improved the quality of my life immensely. I believe in lots of written step work. My sponsor taught me that through the mighty pen we see the light. I am very active in my home group - the Straight Forward group of Narcotics Anonymous in Fort Smith, Arkansas. I believe I have the best home group and sponsor in the world!!! My sponsor tells me "if you don't have the best home group and sponsor in the world you better change home group and sponsor!" Narcotics Anonymous has not only saved my life, it gave me a better life than I could have ever imagined! Thank God for N.A.

My oldest son, now 17, was diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder after 3 trips to a psychiatric unit. We have learned to deal with his illness as well as with my, and Glen's illness(addiction).

I have 4 step children today and 2 step grand children.

I work full time with adolescents who have abused drugs/alcohol. And enjoy my job immensely.

I also am a full time college student in my 3rd year. I have thusfar managed a 4.0 GPA.

I have addressed another issue which plagued my life for many years: childhood sexual abuse. I am a miracle and believe than anyone can recover from addiction and sexual abuse.

My hobbies and interests are just spending time with Glen, and my kids, hanging out with my friends in recovery, and going to all the N.A. happenings in my area. I love to dance, swim, camp (in fair weather) and play on my computer.

Glen and I also raise AKC registered Boxers. We currently have 8 Boxers. We have 6 fawn and white Boxers, and 2 brindled Boxers. Pixie and Pookie were our first dogs and have become permanent members of our recovering family.

When I am online I love talking to my online friends: Vanessa, Toni, Louie, Beth, and my coworker/friend, Phyllis. I collect wavs, backgrounds, and fonts. I love inspirational sites on the web.

My favorite saying: "If nothing changes, nothing changes".

My favorite book, The Basic Text of Narcotics Anonymous, states "Worry is a lack of faith".

A wonderful lady I work with tells a story about purple. She says when people come into recovery they are either very angry (red) or very sad and remorseful (blue). As time goes by we find a balance with our emotions and feelings. The color that is halfway between red and blue is purple signifying balance.