A little about me: I married my H.S. sweetheart and gave birth to our first child at nineteen. Shortly after Richard (late husband) joined the Army and I became the cliche SAHM/Army wife, & at 21 we had a son.

The plan was for me to return to school once our children were of school age, but we all know what God does when we tell him our plans, right? The day after our seventh year wedding anniversary Richard was killed by roadside bomb in Mosul, Iraq, and I was force to tell our children that their father was never coming home.

Although our son was finally old enough to go school, I felt it best to hold off myself so I can devote all of me to my children. Sometime after I was invited to join a (then) little known website and I met some wonderful, supportive group of friends, whose friendships I cherish dearly. (You know who you are! )

I thank God that he gave me the courage and strength to love again. I married one of t hose great/supportive friends in May of '06 and we have a beautiful son together. I am constantly being judged rather harshly by others for moving forward w/ my life. At times it gets to me but unless they have gone through what I have, who are they to judge? I can honestly say I have no regrets and I know my late husband would be proud. There is no handbook to raising a family but the smiles and pride my children have keeps me moving and lets me know I'm doing right by them.

Well, I guess that's it.