Viewing the Past in the Present

In my desire to make improvements to my life for the future, I realized that in order to move forward I not only had to lay out the plans for where I wanted to go but I also needed to assess where I had been.  Where I am in my life is an accumulation of [...]

“That’s Why I’m Here” – The Chris & Stefanie Spielman Story

For anyone who is diagnosed with cancer, the most important person in your fight is the person who has been by your side in the past and who will be there for you no matter what may happen. For me, it was my husband, Kirk. He was my angel. He took care of me and [...]

Inside the Mind of A Domestic Abuse Survivor

I am not who you think I am.  If you know that I am a domestic abuse survivor, you most likely think that I am weak and stupid for getting myself into such a situation in the first place and for staying as long as I did.  Most likely, you view me as a victim, [...]

Facing The Barrels Of A Shotgun

I have long tried to explain to others what it is like to be in a domestic violence situation and why it is so hard to get out.  I have tried to figure out how we get ourselves into such situations in the first place.  And I have always emphasized how important it is to [...]

My Perspective on Valentine’s Day

According to Wikipedia, Saint Valentine’s Day, commonly shortened to Valentine’s Day is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs, Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It was deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope [...]

A Special Birthday Tribute

This week is my husband Kirk’s birthday.  For those who are regular visitors here, you know that he is responsible for this website but in addition, he is the light of my life.  I don’t know how I could have gotten through so many tough times, not the least of which has been my cancer [...]

Marriage

We were missing in action from the radio show this week as Kirk and I were attending the marriage of his nephew (and Godson) to what appears to be the perfect mate for him.  Of course no one will ever know what goes on behind closed doors but these two really do seem to balance [...]

The Father / Daughter Relationship

The most important relationship that any girl has with a parent is the one with her father.   As today is Father’s Day, I felt that it was only fitting to discuss the relationship that I had with my own father that formulated the person that I am today. First of all, I would like to [...]

Happy Anniversary

Today Kirk and I celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary.  It would have also been my parents’ 68th anniversary if they were still alive.  As I told Kirk at the time, I wanted to get married on that date because if our marriage was half as successful as theirs was, I would really be very happy.  [...]

A Special Day

Today is April 8th and this is a very special day in my life.  It was my father’s birthday.  My father passed away on January 2, 1989.  On April 8, 1989, I met Kirk and another special friend.  I remember that as I returned home after meeting these two people that I realized that it [...]