Questions for BeadinggalinMS

In my enthusiasm for being interviewed I now have 3 people lined up who want the same, so I'll be posting their interview questions over the next few... posts [let's not limit ourselves with time, okay ;)]
Since Beads was first, here we go...

I don't remember the first time I wandered over to Mississippi Mud Pie. Perhaps that is because it feels like I've been visiting there my whole life. Owned by BeadinggalinMS, the blog is like a favourite Aunt's kitchen that is always full of visitors and where everyone is welcome.
Linda is one of the warmest, most down-to-earth and likeable people I know. For those of you who don't know her, she has a twin sister, Lori, of LoriNFlorida fame, and a younger brother, JP.
She loves chocolate and she loves where she lives - it is a secluded place where she can sit on the deck in the evening and enjoy the sights and sounds of Mother Nature in Mississippi.

Apart from being a wonderful, loving mother, she is also very creative and one of her favourite things to do is to make things out of beads, hence the name BeadinggalinMS.

I could probably write a whole essay on my friend Beads, but that's not the point of this. The point is, she has very bravely volunteered to be interviewed by me in the same way I volunteered to be interviewed by Buddess, so why don't we all settle down and prepare to get to know this bundle of fun just a little better.

U ready Beads? Here are my questions:

Question 1:
You often mention Hurricane Katrina on your blog. You were right there, in the middle of it, and your sister Lori wrote on her blog how terribly worried she was about you at the time because all communication was cut off and she didn't hear from you for ages, causing much consternation in Blogland. The next thing we knew you had made it to Lori's place and were staying there until it was safe and OK to go back home.
You have posted some pictures on your photo blog of the devastation and you still mention the destruction caused by Katrina. And let's not even mention the trouble you have had getting your phone lines to stay up permanently since then! My question is, now that it's over and life is being rebuilt, how do you feel about the whole experience looking back, and has it affected the way you look at the future at all?


Question 2:
It is obvious to anyone who reads your blog that you adore your children. Your oldest is on the verge of getting married, but your youngest is still very much a child, if I read correctly. Considering your age, you must have married quite young, and you have devoted your life to raising and loving your children. How different do you think your life would be now if you hadn't married when you did?

Question 3:
You chose to home-school your children. Did you home-school all of them? Why did you decide to do it this way? It must be really rewarding but also quite difficult at times. I've never met anyone who home-schooled their kids - do you have a set syllabus that you follow, and do they write tests and exams same as children their age that attend regular school?

Question 4:
You and your twin, Lori, are very close. You talk on the phone all the time and have a very special bond. You are both also close with your younger brother. But there was a period when you and Lori lost touch. I know you don't like to talk about this part of your life but it's kind of a complete blank. How long did you lose touch for, and what brought you together again and where did your brother fit in in all of this?

Question 5:
Beads, you have a wonderful sense of humour and you're always laughing and teasing. Visiting your blog brightens up everyone's day. Have you always been like that? Do you laugh as much in real life or is your blog an outlet for the naughty, playful woman inside you who never really stopped being a teenager? OK, let's make this a 2-part question. Do you think the people who know you in 'real life' see you the same way as we do?

OK Beads, you can breathe again. It's over - no more questions... for now, lol! You can take as much time as you like in posting your answers on your blog. As long as it's done by tomorrow, hahaha {{jokes!!}}

Me being the mushy person I am (NOT!!!) I'm only going to say one more thing:
Linda, meeting you online added a bright spot in in my life on some very dark days.
Don't ever change.
xxx