Introducing: Heather Campbell, chirplady

I guess after being on Gather for a few weeks it may be too late for introductions but here goes anyway.

I was born in Connecticut. I lived most of my childhood in New Jersey. There was a year spent in Los Angeles and time in Connecticut at my Grandparents summer home.

I have four children. Three are grown and married, two live in Pennsylvania. My youngest is still at home and is entering 8th grade.

I will be married to my kind, loving, generous husband John, for 27 years, June 28th. His passion is sailing and we own a 30' catalina sloop rig. Since we wed we have lived in New Jersey, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and for the last 10 years, Florida.

When I was in college I was an Art Major. My artistic soul more comes out in my cooking, poetry and my home. I plan to take some art courses locally to motivate me to create art again.

In addition to my four children that I love with all my heart, I have two wonderful grandchildren. 

I have a life that years ago I would never had dreamed would happen. I won the lottery of having many people who love me in my life. The main messages of my life is to encourage others to have hope. Things can change in your life. I almost walked away from my life in depression and despair after a major loss in my life. I am so glad, almost thirty years have passed since that time,  that I survived. 

I belong to a group at my church called Christ Renews His Parish. I tend to go by the moniker  "Chirplady". I have deep faith in God. I have no desire to use my Bible to hit anyone on the head. I believe everyone is on their own path and the only witness I give is my life in living my beliefs. I was in my thirties before I understood Gods love and began fully living my beliefs. Understanding forgiveness freed me from the chains of anger that I had been trapped by.

I  have been writing poetry for decades though I haven't shared most of them and I am beginning to do that, like my poem "Nonsense on Toast" which was quite a departure from my standard writing style. I enjoy reading and writing so Gather is for me, a great forum. I am glad to have made so many friends on Gather. (Everyone here is my friend!) 

 So this is my story and I'm sticking to it.