Who am I?

Like most people, there are many aspects to me. I am...

Laura. Elfin, flighty, quirky and creative; Sibling of a monster. Lover of Insanity the human machine. One who feels the blue eerie emptiness, Needs the warmth of the Midnight Sun Gives her soul up to the Wind and Sky, and Feels the bright Darkness with no light. One who wants to see the starry Universe And is a resident of Purple Fantasy.

I am the older child of two girls. My sister, Amanda, is 17. We grew up in a small town in Michigan. My parents raised us as Roman Catholics, however, I have begun traveling a Neo-Pagan path. If you'd like to read more on my religious and spiritual adventures, click here.

My husband and I have been married since September 12, 1998. Cardinal Gerald Bacik married us at the Renasaince Festival in Hollygrove, MI. It was an extraordinary experience. Forrest and I are still very much in love, though being married can be pretty difficult sometimes. We compiled our own vows, which I pull out to re-read occasionally to remind myself of our commitment to one another.

I have two little girsl, Jade Mickayla, born October 30th, 1998, and Nova Gabriella, born March 27th, 2002. My girls light up my life; I wouldn't trade them for anything. I feel truely blessed to have my sweet girls, and to have the opportunity to stay home with them. We're expecting our third babe late this year.

Oh, my friends! It's hard to know where to even start. My friends have been wonderful, very important parts of my life. They helped me through some really rough times and rejoiced with my in my joyful times. They are great people, and I have to say, THANK YOU!!

Thank you to all those who stood by me in the good times and the bad. Thank you to my husband. Thank you to Karen (my maid of honor and Jade's Godmother), Julie, Dawn, Courtney, Tiffany, Jennifer, Heather, and so many others I can't begin to list. Thanks to Rhonda, who was my first friend after moving across the country, away from all that was comfortable and familiar. And thanks to Delta and Zart, who helped me to adjust when I moved again, this time into what seemed like a huge city. And of course, thanks to my many friends who I've met through API-SF.

To EVERY faithful friend out there, I just have to say, "YOU ROCK!" Keep up the good work.

I have many passions. I love art, reading, and especially writing. Someday I would like to become a professional, full-time author, but even if I never am, I'm still happy to have been blessed with a gift of creativity. I haven't been able to get much poetry written the past few years, but I do have some treasures that I wrote in the past. I also love the outdoor world. Some of of the activities I enjoy include hiking, gardening, camping, and swimming. In addition, my husband and I are learning photography, which is a lot of fun.

My belief and value systems are ever evolving and changing. Family is very important to me. I believe in full-time mothering. This includes staying at home with my children, breastfeeding, baby-wearing, and bedsharing. I also believe in the value of my daughters cues. I struggle to recognize her as a person, and not "just a kid." I stive to parent positively,treating my daughter with the same respect I would give to any adult.

I also value my relationship with my husband. I recognize the fact that I am very young, and don't really know much. In light of that, I have set a goal to become an excellent wife. I try to keep my home a peaceful and hospitable place of refuge. I focus on learning to eat healthy and exercise to keep my body and mind healthy.

Finally, I value my relationship with my Creator, the unseen Lady and Lord. I am constantly working towards respecting our Mother Earth, changing my habits to help care for her, and consequently, humanity as well.

I have struggled with depression and anxiety off and on for years. Recently I was also diagnosed with Bipolar I. For anyone who has never had to struggle with these illnesses, you are very lucky. If you know someone who is struggling, please read up on the issue! For those who have, or are struggling now, {{{hugs}}} to you. I've been there, and even though it's hard, you can make it.

Please note: ALL content at smartaustin.com is copyright protected. It is NOT public domain unless explicity posted. Content may not be reproduced in whole or part except for personal use with appropriate documentation. If you need further details, please e-mail me. Written and Copyright 2001.