Age - How old are you now?
A young 52.
When did you start your site?
1999-2000
Marital Status
I am very happily married to Jim, my husband of eleven years.
How old are your kids?
I have two sons. One is 32, and the other is 27.
What kind do you have and what are their names?
I have three dogs named: Dog, Sasha, and Cricket. Cricket lives inside with us. She's a Pomeranian. I also have four cockatiels, named: Sim, Samantha, Tweety, and Coco. Sim and Coco are males and talk a lot!
What kind of work do you and your spouse do?
I work for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I am a Purchasing Associate. I process purchase orders for eleven schools, soon to be fourteen schools in our region.
Hobbies - What do you like to do, besides keep this site?
I love to read. Dean Koontz is my favorite author of fiction. I also love to read Christian literature and love stories. Besides reading, I love to Crochet. I also love to write true short stories and poems about myself and my family.
Location - Where are you from? Where are you now?
Well, I was born in Kentucky. My mom passed away when I was fifteen and we relocated to Michigan shortly thereafter. While living in Michigan (about 20 years), I met and married my ex-husband who was from Tennessee. So we moved and lived in Tennessee for quite a few years. I now live
in Kentucky and work for the state.
Why do you write a site about your family?
Because my family and I have been through so much pain and suffering and yet, we have stayed close through it all. We have gained strengh from each other through our love and bonding. I want others to see that this is possible for them also.
Do you discuss your children on your site? Why or why not?
I do discuss them in a poem I wrote about them. Other than that, I don't feel comfortable posting their pictures and names. I have heard so much about danger on the web.
Do you and/or others in your family communicate with readers of your site?
Oh, yes! I have made some really good friends through my site. I regularly communicate with people who have contacted me or whom I have contacted.
How much email feedback do you recieve from your site? Is it mainly positive or negative?
I do receive feedback from my sites, three (3) of them. I definitely receive positive feedback. This positive feedback encourages me to keep helping others.
Have you met any new friends because of the site?
Yes, definitely. Wonderful friends.
Has your motivation changed over time?
Yes, my motivation grows stronger..
Do your friends and family know you keep this site/read it? If so have you had any really negative experiences as a result? If not why?
Yes, my friends and family are aware of my site. They give very positive support...They look forward to new pages..and even contribute some short-stories that they write about our family.
How has your Web site benefited you? Your friends? Or total strangers?
It helps me to feel good about myself, by allowing me to help others. I get feedback from people who tell me that they opened up a page and read just what they needed to hear at hard moments in their lives. My friends and family say almost the same thing.
If you had to do it over again from the beginning, what would you change?
Absolutely nothing.
What do you look for in an personal Web site, as a viewer?
Warmth, caring, inspiration. I want to see of reflection of the heart of the web master.
What is "one word" that would describe your site?
inspirational
Because of your site do you consider yourself a Web celebrity, an exhibitionist, a public figure, a writer, an innovator, or something different?
I see myself as a common, everyday person who is a dear friend to her readers. I see myself as a face that isn't seen, but a heart which is felt.
How do you tackle the mechanics of Web design and how do you deal with your frustrations when you can't do what you envision.
I have patience with my work. I love what I do, and it relaxes me. I don't get frustrated with it. If I don't do what I envision, I just start over and love every minute of it.
Why do you think people are interested in your family, what they do, and/or what they have to say?
I think they are interested in my family because we have successfully stayed close through the pains and losses of family members. I think people are interested because they have been through this, also, or they are hurting and grieving now.
What compels you to design beautiful pages and to write from the heart (beyond just the usual question of "why do you write a Web site?")
I love to write from my heart..Also, I love designing beautiful pages to put my stories and poems on. Not all my poems were written by me, and I still love sending their loving meaning out to others.
