NLQ Blogathon Fundraiser ~ the Prize: Bennett Family Online Journal

One of the goals for the NLQ Blogathon has been to raise $1,000 in donations ~ we actually have exceeded this goal with a total to date of $1,075!  As promised, I am linking to the Bennett Family Online Journal ~ the family blog I kept from August of 2006 until the end of 2007. 

Keep in mind as you read that in the 16 months covered on the blog, my Christian faith suffered a complete upheaval and by the end of that period, I no longer considered myself a Believer and follower of Jesus Christ.  Some of that comes through in the blog posts ~ but you have to look for it, because through it all, I was careful about appearances so did not let on to much of what was really going on in my mind and in our lives.

Here’s a bit of “behind the scenes” info. from that time period:

From Sept. ’06 – May ’07, I was writing obsessively to my uncle ~ we exchanged almost 1,000 letters ~ began to taper off some in June, and by July, Ron ended our correspondence.  Angel’s first suicide attempt was in March of 2007 ~ she spent the next six weeks being bounced back and forth among mental health facilities until I finally brought her home early in May.  We made three trips to Minneapolis in 2007 ~ two of the girls had surgery in July.  I miscarried in December of 2006 and again in July of 2007.  In August and again in September, we were reported to Social Services due to concerns about my health.  At the end of September, Warren went to stay for three weeks with Randy and Trina from the home church.  It was during the time that Warren was away that I wrote a final letter to Uncle Ron.  Warren was to return home on a Monday morning, but before he arrived, I got in the car and “ran away” to Kansas City for two and half weeks ~ leaving Warren to care for the children while I tried to rest and sort things out.  I returned just before Halloween ~ and we were only together for a couple of days before Warren took all six children to stay with his mother about three hours away from our home.  This was to give me “a break” so I could work on recovering my health.  On December 31, 2007, I filed for divorce. 

So ~ ready for the blog? 

Here it is: http://7arrows4him.blogspot.com ~ typical of blogs, this starts with the most recent posts ~ I recommend that you start here: August 2006 ~ allow the page to load fully, and then go to the bottom of the page and work your way up to read the posts in chronological order.

I have comments turned off ~ let’s discuss the posts on the NLQ forum.  I’m looking forward to reading reactions and feedback ~ I’ll gladly answer any questions or fill in details ~ so ask away!