Dallas, your story has miracle written all over it. From your signature, I take it you had two children with Mike? How old are your children?

Dotise,

Actually, we have three children total.

I consider my 18 yr. old stepdaughter to be my daughter also. We both claim each other as our own. =)

Kayleigh, 6, is my daughter from a previous marriage, and Mike, my husband, is the only Dad she has ever really known.

Andrew, 23 months, is the first, and last, only child Mike and I have together.

Smile,
What a neat story! I loved it. Blessings and luck 4 the future.

Thank you all for your nice words.

Now I have to tell you the rest of the story. It's kind of long so I'm serializing it.
It all began with a Christmas play in 2002. I don't ever do theater at Christmas, but I had been seeking God's purpose for my life and when I was asked to direct one of my musicals as the church Christmas program, I prayed for a fabulous production, committed myself to God, and began rehearsal.
As Christmas approached, cast quit, sets broke, rehearsals were canceled. Everything went wrong. The Production became more and more difficult. I was in tears half the time and I really wanted to quit. But I had made that commitment to God so I just kept praying and making new plans half hoping God would make it impossible to continue.
As I became immersed in the play it occurred to me that the birth of Jesus was really a miracle of love and for no real reason, my prayer changed. I began to pray for a miracle love.
The two principals who were from the church music program had an out of town death in the family two weeks before opening. I had no one to fill their roles so I thought it was a sign to abandon the production and stay home.
But from nowhere two more singers showed up. They were not from the church and their past was a little checkered, but they were very talented and very committed so I gave them a chance. Through a couple of terrible snowstorms and a lot of chaos, we rehearsed. At last it was a perfect night and we were ready for opening.
I was on my way to opening night when my daughter called to say that the two new singers had called her saying they weren't going to be at the opening. She said the guy sounded stoned.
My son in law with whom I had a rather cool relationship at that time got on the phone. He said, "That blankety blank can't do this to you. I'm going over there and beat the SOB up." I hoped he wouldn't really do that, but somehow it was nice just to know he cared.
Though I couldn't understand why God was not rewarding me for all my hard work with a great production, I was resigned. The only thing I could do was break the news to the cast and put up signs for the audience.
A couple of blocks from the church, the cell phone rang again and it was my son in law. He said, "Don't cancel the show! Becky and will play Mary and Joseph."
I said, "But you don't know the lines."
He said, "We know the songs and we're learning the lines now."
I told him I would have to leave it up the cast.
He said, "We're on the way! We'll know the lines when we get there!"
I broke the news to the cast and they were distraught. But when I told them about my kids wanting to play Mary and Joseph, they insisted we go ahead with the production. A daughter of the singer playng Mary was to play the shepherd so we were still short one character when one of the actors out of town company showed up early. The man insisted he would play the shepherd so we quickly improvised a costume. My daughter and her husband arrived with my grandson who was playing a lamb. They knew the songs and the lines well enough to improvise. And though everyone's nerves were absolutely shot, the audience applauded like crazy and no one knew what chaos was going on backstage. It was the most wonderful Christmas production I have ever seen.

Afterward, the pastor called me on stage to take a bow with the cast. As I stood there in the spotlight with my family, I knew I was surrounded by a true miracle of love.

But that's only the beginning of the miracle. More later.
smile
P.S. This does lead back to the subject of Internet Relationships, I promise.

[ May 06, 2005, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: smilinize ]

Dallasgal,
I agree with most of what you've said. I think even Eharmony is a hoax, however. The other thing...It's a big stretch from meeting people onlne in the personal sites to the issue of cyber sex. I wouldn't even think of such a thing, nor would I know what it was about if it were initiated. I suppose two people who are located far, far apart could indulge in something like that...Is that what you were referring to? It seems sad and foolhardy, doesn't it.
ARI

There's an article in Guideposts magazine about Eharmony. I thought it was a hoax too because my kid kept subscribing but after reading the article it doesn't seem like a hoax.
Maggie

Hi inquiring minds....

My book titled: INSTANT MESSAGE (IM) is about people who meet people online.

Based on true events, “ INSTANT MESSAGE” (IM) A love story made on-line, filled with Sex, Lies and Hatred. It's an eye opener that captures real life experiences among millions of faceless names who chat on the internet.

People with different backgrounds and various personalities exchange their false and true-selves with others. “INSTANT MESSAGE” (IM) will text YOU into the lives of those who chit-chat their way through cyberspace looking to text into the hearts of souls who search for love.

I always ask people who come to my book signings
is it easy to fall out of love as it is to fall into love with an internet lover?

Then I ask them....

So why marry your high school sweetheart when you can marry a complete stranger?

How safe is it?

My book is listed in AuthorHouse website Book store, amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million.

I interviewed hundreds of people from the chat rooms to do this book.

You just might know a few people who shared their story with me. Alot of them used their real names and screen handle.

One of you maybe in this book too!

I have to run. I hope to see some of you at my book signing when I come to your state.

Let me know what state you're from so I can let you know if and when I will visit.

Take care!

Hi Dotsie,

Good to hear from you! I've been running around like crazy. I'm glad I receive a notification to my email letting me know you sent me a message. I would have never known.

Email me at: instant_message_2005@yahoo.com just in case you want to contact me.

I will stop-by as often as I can. Maybe we can setup a night when we all can get together online and chat!

Please keep in touch !