Me in February of '97


        Hi! I'm Flo,
        and this is my place!
        Welcome!


        I am honored that you have chosen to stop by and see what I have to offer. I'm happy to say that I've had my own place here on the web since February of '97. Granted the ol' page doesn't look quite like it did back then, but then I'd like to think it has grown in content as I have grown as a person. I hope that by the time you leave here, you will feel that you have left with a better understanding of the causes that I support and that you feel you have made a new friend. Grab a cup of coffee, a tall glass of iced tea or a cold pop, get nice and comfy and maybe even bookmark this page now. Give me and my page a chance. What have you got to lose? Not near as much as you have to gain...

        Like I'd stated earlier, I'd like you to leave here feeling like you've made a new friend. This in mind, I think I ought to tell you a little about myself. I mean, come on! (*smile*) How many friends do you have that you know absolutely nothing about?

        I'm originally from San Antonio, Texas and currently reside in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with my husband, BJ and two of our three children. I'd like to consider myself very devoted to both God and my family. We actively attend Thompson Baptist Church down the street, where I teach the 1st and 2nd grade Children's Church class. Before taking over this class, I was a soprano in the church choir. But, when our pastor's youngest son went off to college, the Lord called me into service working with the children. At first, I didn't feel comfortable with the idea of teaching a class; I didn't feel I was ready for that kind of responsibility, nor was I sure that I wanted to give up being in the choir. However, after much prayer, realized God must've wanted this for me. And what a blessing it has been!


        Another love that I have is cooking. Funny that I would enjoy cooking as much as I do as an adult. While growing up, my mother tried so hard to teach me how to cook, but I just wasn't interested. Bless her heart, all I learned was the art of making grains of rice the size of grits. (*LOL*) It took my daughter's birth to finally spur me into motion. I just couldn't bear the thought of her and her friends comparing notes about what dish each ones mother made and the girls asking my daughter, "What's your mom make the best?" And her replying, "Burnt toast." (*LOL*) Isn't it great when you can look back and laugh at yourself? I'd like to think I've gotten much better ... Well, I'm either better or my family is feeding an awful lot of food to our dogs .... (*LOL*)




        All kidding aside, having been a mother for the past 13 years, I now know how my mother must have felt about my safety and well-being. Sometimes I feel like I'm the "over-protective" mother not letting my children do anything. I worry about them going into town without me, I worry about someone snatching 'em up right out from under me. I worry about some drunk taking their lives in an accident when their out. I'm sure I'm not the only parent who feels this way. That's why I have chosen to include on my page the following missing children's banner:



        Through God's grace I know where my children are and I pray that the above link will help reunite a missing child with his or her loved ones. Won't you please help get our children home.

        God bless you for your efforts!




        Along with the tragedy of having missing loved ones, people all over are having to deal with the loss of loved ones due to the negligence of drunk drivers. Children grow up not knowing their parents...parents live with memories of a child that never had the chance to grow old. Sometimes whole families are killed, peoples lives are turned upside down because someone "thought" they were sober enough to get behind a wheel. As a mother of three teenagers, drinking and driving is a very real concern for me. When I was a teenager (though I didn't drink), I thought I was invincible and that nothing would ever happen to me...it was always gonna happen to someone else...someone I didn't even know. Well, with the passing of time, I have come to realize what a danger drinking and driving really is. And, though I'm not proud of it, I must admit I was foolish enough to try it once myself. I thank God that I didn't have an accident. I was fortunate, but so many others are not. I will never take that risk again...life's too fragile and time's too short. I pray the Lord would forgive me for my foolishness and thank Him for keeping me safe.

        They always say, "The drunk never dies, it's always the innocent people that get hurt." In most cases, it is the other driver that is seriously injured or dies, but not always, and even when it is the drunk that dies, innocent people still get hurt. Their families and friends are hurt at their loss. My husband had a friend in Montana named Merle who died on October 7, 1997. He was drinking and driving. This hurt his family, his bride of two months, and his many friends. Had he gotten someone else to drive him, he would still be alive today.

        Getting behind the wheel of an automobile takes a lot of responsibility, for the lives of others depend on your competence. Please don't drink and drive, and please, don't let your friends or family members get behind a wheel if they've been drinking. It could be the difference in saving their life and the lives of others.

        I found the following poem on the net one day while I was surfing. It made me cry and I knew I had to include it on my page. The entire time I read it, all I could think about was, "This could've been one of my children telling this to me." Whether you have children or are known to "drink and drive," it's something you should read.


        DEATH OF AN INNOCENT

        I went to a party, Mom,
        I remembered what you said.
        You told me not to drink, Mom,
        so I drank soda instead.
        I really felt proud inside, Mom,
        the way you said I would.
        I didn't drink and drive, Mom,
        even though the others said I should.
        I know I did the right thing, Mom,
        I know you are always right.

        Now the party is finally ending, Mom,
        as everyone is driving out of sight.
        As I got into my car, Mom,
        I knew I'd get home in one piece.
        Because of the way you raised me,
        so responsible and sweet.
        I started to drive away, Mom,
        but as I pulled out into the road,
        the other car didn't see me, Mom,
        and hit me like a load.

        As I lay there on the pavement, Mom,
        I hear the policeman say,
        the other guy is drunk, Mom,
        and now I'm the one who will pay.
        I'm lying here dying, Mom.
        I wish you'd get here soon.
        How could this happen to me, Mom?
        My life just burst like a balloon.

        There is blood all around me, Mom,
        and most of it is mine.
        I hear the medic say, Mom,
        I'll die in a short time.
        I just wanted to tell you, Mom,
        I swear I didn't drink.
        It was the others, Mom.
        The others didn't think.
        He was probably at the same party as I.
        The only difference is,
        he drank and I will die.

        Why do people drink, Mom?
        It can ruin your whole life.
        I'm feeling sharp pains now.
        Pains just like a knife.
        The guy who hit me is walking, Mom,
        and I don't think it's fair.
        I'm lying here dying
        and all he can do is stare.

        Tell my brother not to cry, Mom.
        Tell Daddy to be brave.
        And when I go to Heaven, Mom
        put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave
        Someone should have told him, Mom,
        not to drink and drive.
        If only they had told him, Mom,
        I would still be alive.

        My breath is getting shorter, Mom.
        I'm becoming very scared.
        Please don't cry for me, Mom.
        When I needed you,
        you were always there.
        I have one last question, Mom,
        before I say good bye.
        I didn't drink and drive,
        so why am I the one to die?


        - Author Unknown

        • MADD - Mother's Against Drunk Drivers




        When you're special to a cat, you're special indeed ... he brings to you the gift of his preference of you, the sight of you, the sound of your voice, the touch of your hand.

        - Author Unknown


        This is "Magic" - the apple of my eye.







        Well, I guess I'll bring this to a close for now so that I can get this page uploaded. I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my page and that you took the time to sign my guestbook. My last update to this page was 3/7/99.








        ***Acknowledgements***
        I want to take this time to thank God for giving me the ability to present this page to you, thank my bestfriend and husband, BJ, for all of his help, and each of you for visiting my webpage, and allowing me to share myself with you.

        All graphics are originals created by Flo.
        If you'd like to use any of my graphics, feel free, but please give credit where credit is due. Thanks!

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