Be Ye Separate

Friends

Blessings!

   I pray this finds each of you well and blessed by our Heavenly Father:)

   We have been "online" since 1997. The home computer wasn't exactly new but the internet was. All the glitches and such that they had to work out over time. Our fastest computer was a 400 and we thought this was a speed demon. Now they go round about over DSL vs. Dial-Up and anything in between.

   Since being online, I've discovered many things about it. The most important thing is not the ability to find just about anything you want to know on it, but finding that there are living and breathing people to meet on it. I don't know about anyone else but we got caught up in the MSN Chat for some time where we met literally thousands of people. It was interesting to see how many folks there were from all walks of life. We even met a few of them in person. Sadly, we began to see that most folks weren't who they said they were. It became obvious that it was simply a den of lies. Most folks would make themselves into whatever they wanted to be. From very wealthy, to abused and neglected, from famous to dying. And the gossip was amazing. With the ability to whisper to each other in  privacy so a "room" couldn't see what you were saying, it was tempting to talk about folks in the room. It was staggering the things that could be done. Then one day, we decided that all this interaction with these folks was dragging us down. We were getting wrapped up in the "drama" and not in reality. After all, these were pretend rooms with pretend doors. It wasn't real!

   One day, we stumble upon Yahoo groups. We joined a few at a time and then left them only to join others. Over time we became careful of what and who we were sharing our time with online. We discovered that these forums were sometimes a place to get to know like minded folks and sometimes just a place to argue. It was difficult to discern who was real and who wasn't. I suppose it's part of taking some chances in life that you might meet someone who is good and kind and even real:)

   Then come the blogs. (I'm still not sure what it stands for:P) We had looked at literaly thousands of them in so many different places. I won't name names but some were and are simply awful yet hundreds of thousands of folks are part of it. Some of those places have become just shameful and hateful.

   Over the past year we've had folks try to talk us into "blogging" to share our lifestyle and journey with others. We resisted for a long time. After looking into all the different places to do it we thought about starting our own website instead. Well, we simply aren't that computer literate and weren't able to set it up the way we envisioned it. It became obvious that we needed to learn html and such. Well, neither of us had the ambition to do so at the time so we let that go. Then one day, a sweet friend tells me about Homestead Blogger. We check it out and find that there is actually a place that isn't filled with smut, hatefulness and rudeness. We talk it over and decide to give it a whirl.

   So, here we are. Bloggers! Sharing our ways with others in hopes of encouraging others and learning about ways of doing things that we desire to do in our journey to a simple lifestyle. We've come to know several very wonderful people and feel truly blessed by Gods hand:) To know that one is not alone in their struggles, thoughts and spiritual growth, has been such an uplifting thing for us.

   Just remember that there are friends in our own backyard that need the encouragment too. It's easy to get lost on the computer because it's handy. You don't have to drive anywhere, or commit to talking on the phone (not that I don't enjoy speaking to dear friends on the phone mind you:P). You can come and go as you please. But don't overlook that neighbor that you can see, smell, hear and touch. They need encouraging too:)

   My thanks to those that encouraged us to do this. I am blessed by those that have taught us new things and encouraged us in our daily walk.

   God be with thee!

Sister Lori

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{ 10:50, Saturday, October 13, 2007 } { Posted by haflinger }

Well Sister Lori I've never been to those chat rooms and don't even know how to get there lol ..We have dial up and it takes for ever sometimes to read folks blogs I think it depends how many pictures and color?? Don't really know but I enjoy HSB very much. Have a blessed day..haflinger

Edited by haflinger on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at 12:51

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{ 11:06, Saturday, October 13, 2007 } { Posted by Kitty }

I went look it up and blog stands for web log - a place to write things down, a journal. LOL And I guess that is what we do here on our blog, "we-blog".
And I have to say that my marriage almost came to an end in 1999 because of chat rooms and such. My dh got so involved in the lies and goings on with those people that it made me see a side of him that I didn't too much care for. But with Gods help and many days of talking, and arguing, we came through that valley.
And I for one would like to say that I am sooo glad that you found HSB. I am very encouraged by every single one of your post. You are an inspiration for sure.
Blessings.................Kitty

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{ 20:21, Sunday, October 14, 2007 } { Posted by meme21713 }

Yea, been there done that and those chat rooms are not at all good.....You are right, how do we know what they say is to be real? The dealings there for me was not done in truth and could of brought my wonderful marriage to a fast end..I stayed off the net for a year or two and came back now and then..But never had the desire to go into another one of those rooms..Then Kitty at Kitty's Corner showed me this site while I was visiting her one day and then I was in hook line and sinker. Now days I have somewhat left a lot of the computer time aside to do other things. I always come to read a few blogs nitely. Yours being one..You have so much to share, I love your out look on life in general....Your blog is a delight to alot of us..Thanks for being here.......God bless you and your home...Hope your husband is doing well also away from home...Debbie.

Uplifted

{ 20:35, Wednesday, October 17, 2007 } { Posted by savdn4gvn }

Sister Lori.........as always you have done such a wonderful job of putting things into such wonderful perspective! I just love to read your writings! The internet can be such an awesoem thing............yet a little scary at times if one is not careful.

In Christ,
Carrie