Family of God: Re: [FamilyofGod] Who are you?

Glad you have good parents, thats so important.

Im glad you have Ravi too... Life is a learning process.

Take care and keep the faith...

Judy R

God Rocks!

From: Amanda Webster-Sibal <oneoddduck3@yahoo.com>
To: FamilyofGod@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, December 1, 2010 5:31:27 PM
Subject: Re: [FamilyofGod] Who are you?

Okay - time to answer my OWN post. Who am I?

My life can be divided up into little sections --

1) Childhood

2) College (the good years)

3) College (The AWFUL years)

4) The most awful part of my life

5) The recovery period and awesome years

I am from Mississippi. I have a lived in multiple cities because my parents are United Methodist pastors. That means we move around about as much as an army brat. I love my parents dearly, and they are really two of my best friends. I have one older brother who is 2 years older than me. He is not married and has no children. I now also have a sister-in-law (Ravi's sister) and a brother-in-law (Indra's husband Jeff) and a niece that is beautiful Avani. Much of my high school career wasn't grand, but I had my family. I only speak to one of my friends from high school who is still one of my best friends. She was actually the maid of honor in my wedding.

I am 27 years old. I will be 28 in May of next year. I got married this past May to Ravi whom I have been with since 2007. The two of us met on eharmony. We have no children -- unless you count furchildren. We have a dog and a cat. (Yes it really does work!) I am a college graduate. I have a Bachelor's of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Mathematics. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with special designation in the field of psychology. Honestly, it is one of my proudest moments because of what I went through to GET to that degree. The truth is this -- I am a twice college dropout. I have an associates degree in Vocal Performance from a Junior college. I had a great time at that college. I loved being there. I loved the teachers. I loved my classes. I love learning! It was a great place. Then... I went on to a 4 year school and left a few months later after I literally had a nervous breakdown for lack of a better word. A few months after that I went to another school and yet again -- dropped out after I downed a bunch of pills with a bottle of vodka. I was hurting terribly from a bunch of stuff that was going on. I was with a guy since I was 19 years old, and he hurt me terribly by breaking my heart time and time again. But, that wasn't the worst of the problems. I was living with 3 other people in an apartment. As my depression got worse, the living conditions were getting worse as well. I had friends that would come by to hang out with me, and they were the ONLY people keeping me from going insane. A couple of those friends were guys. They were friends -- that's it. One of my roommates told an entire campus ministry that I was involved in that I was sleeping with all of them. That wasn't true at all. She claimed she had to move out because of my slutty ways. I was hurt not so much because of the rumor -- but because the people at the ministry believed her without EVER talking to me. It is still a sore spot with me. I moved out and back home shortly after. I was in a terrible place. I really was. I wanted to be numb -- I was in such pain that I cared only to feel NOTHING!

To make matters worse (yeah they got worse) -- I was abducted, beaten, drugged, raped in 2006 by 2 men and 1 woman (yes -- you did read that correctly) -- and she was more vicious than the men because she was the one into torture. The pain that I went through there was unbelievable The injuries that I had were the result of severe violence, but I survived it -- and I refuse to call myself a victim -- I am a survivor.

In December of 2006, I met Ravi on eharmony and after a great deal of prayer and talk between the two of us about some VERY serious subjects about relationships -- I moved to Alabama to be closer to him. Shortly after -- after some encouragement from Ravi -- I enrolled back in school. If it wasn't for him, I would have never graduated and I wouldn't have done HALF of the stuff I did in school. I owe him a great deal -- I really do. We were engaged in June of 2007, and married May of 2010. Ravi graduated college May of 2009 and I graduated December of 2009. I got a job in January of this year at an organization that works with adults with developmental disabilities. I was a house manager in a group home. I lived there for 2 weeks and at home for 1 week. It made it hard for newlyweds -- that's for sure. In July, Ravi interviewed in Mississippi for a band director position. He got the job so we moved -- QUICKLY. We are now pretty much settled and we are making it okay most of the time. We are struggling a bit financially, but we will make it I think. After all, I would know because I am the one that is the money manager in the family - not Ravi. I have no job right now, but I am looking for one. I really need a job.

I am a United Methodist as well. It isn't because my parents are of that denomination -- despite what some will think. That is the church that I feel home in. That is the place where I grow. That is the place that resonates with my heart and soul. I have visited other denominations and they just don't do anything for me. Ravi and I attend church together and we have since we started dating seriously in 2007. My faith is very important to me. I tend to look at things through a very intellectual approach but it doesn't diminish my faith at all -- I think it enhances it to be honest.

Any questions? Ask away!!

Amanda

There is an optimistic belief widespread among the generous-hearted that the average human being has only to become sufficiently acquainted with another's trouble or danger to transfer it to his own shoulders not merely unhesitatingly but gladly. --Margery Allingham

Bear one another's burdens. Galatians 6:2

From: Amanda Webster-Sibal <oneoddduck3@yahoo.com>
To: FOG <familyofgod@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, November 29, 2010 3:31:54 PM
Subject: [FamilyofGod] Who are you?

We talk to one another on this computer on a regular basis. We tell each other of things we go through -- sometimes. We talk about our faith. But really -- do we know one another? Where did you come from? What is YOUR story? I want to know. What is your faith story? What is your life story? Bluntly put -- who are you??? I want to have fun with this. I will respond to my own question once someone gets the ball rolling.