My son Robert was 6 years old at the time and starting to see his father’s rage towards me and generally life itself. I couldn't continue to let him see this, or possibly become part of his father’s anger someday.  I left while my son’s father was in jail for battery on me. After 3 years, 2 lawyers and a couple of beatings later, my divorce would be final. During those 3 years, I became a strong woman again. I did more than a 90 degree turn, I did a 180!
     In the first year of taking care of my son Robert, I worked very hard. Within that year, I was able to give Robert more then he had in the past 7 years. I would never let anybody take away my identity ever again.
     A month before the divorce was to be final; I was talked into going on a blind date. When I say "talked into", my friend actually had to twist my arm. I cancelled 2 times, and then finally decided to get it over with. This blind date ended up to be my husband now of almost 16 years. Sean Richard Caroline became my "knight in shining armor".We married, and for the first time in such a long time, I was happy.
     My first husband finally left me alone. I now had a wonderful role model as a stepfather for my son Robert, as well as a new baby on the way! Even the pregnancy was different this time.  My husband and I read books and took parenting classes together.  He was even proud of how big I was getting. This was the way life was supposed to be, normal and good!
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     On November 25th, 1990, I had another beautiful boy who we named Sean Richard Caroline ll. Since my husband and the baby were named the same, I ended up calling my son, Seanne. We were a wonderful family of 4.There was a lot of cooking, laundry and kids coming over. I loved it!
     In 1992, when Seanne was 1 ½ years old, we decided to move from California to Florida for several reasons. Robert at that time, was entering into Jr. High which concerned us with the number of gangs/drugs and violence increasing in that area.
Also my husband Sean had a lot of family members in Florida, which seemed like a better place for the kids to grow up, being around so many relatives.
     Since my family was kind of spread through out the United States, Florida sounded perfect.We moved and within a couple of years, bought our first house with the help of Sean’s grandparents.
     We were living paycheck to paycheck like most families do. When we would get a little ahead, it went for something for the kids or the house. A lot of overtime, refinancing and living just like everybody else. The subdivision was ideal, a lot of kids, close to schools and a park.
     The kids grew up with baseball 2 to 3 nights a week, karate 2 nights a week, golfing on weekends and for 10 years I watched not just my own kids grow up, but all the kids in the neighborhood! We knew every parent, teachers, everyone! Looking back now, I think God gave me a taste of what heaven was. [more]