Hi everyone - just wanted to introduce myself. I posted a hi over in Personal Experiences, but thought I'd elaborate here....
I was raised a jw in Delaware, Ohio. You know, I was that girl all the old ones in the cong liked because I was kind to them and pioneered. Anyway, here's the short version of my story.
I was Miss Pioneer, but started working temp at a new job in the Summer of '92. I met someone that worked for the same company, but in California. One thing led to another and I moved out to CA in early '93 to be with my new "love". All I can say is there were a lot of jaws dropping in my old cong. Boy did I shock everyone. I was driving in the car one day and thought..okay, will God really punish me if I do something "wrong"? Up to this point, I had never really had doubts or anything about what I believed - I just really wanted to be with this person. So....I moved out here. We've been married for 8 years and have a 2yr old son and a baby on the way....I guess God decided not to punish me....
Anyway, I went through a really down period when I first came out here. I missed my family and wondered if I had made the biggest mistake of my life. I even went to a few meetings and dragged my husband to the memorial every year. Around this time the internet was just getting big, so I of course did some research. After everything I had been through with the cong and my family after I left I was still shocked to find out how many missing links there are in the jw doctrine. At that point, I decided to never feel guilty about anything I had done in the past. My husband (no religion, but believes in god) really helped me see how degraded some of the "rules" of the jw's are. I was so naive.
Now I have a nice home, wonderful husband and son (and peanut on the way), a great job etc... I can't help but dwell sometimes on what my life would be like if I hadn't had the courage to pursue something I wanted. I'd probably be an elder's wife (shudder!) pioneering etc...you know the good little jw. Whew, I'm so glad that didn't happen!
I've lurked here for a long time. I decided to finally post and maybe contribute something to those who have helped me. So...that's me.
Betsy