www.soulfulencounters.com

Angels In Disquise

2009-06-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

I have always believed in angels but sometimes there are angels in disguise.
I met Charles about 2 years ago in my chatroom www.SoulfulEncounters.com. I instinctly knew that he must be housebound and very lonely and so I made him chat monitor. He came to me asking if I would help him one day. He had been robbed and he told me about his living conditions. Charles has cerebral palsy, in a wheelchair, and unable to go to lock his door at the bottom of the stairs. He seldom saw the outdoors and his meagre meal of once a day was hardly enough to sustain a child, yet he was 41.
I tried very hard to bring help to him but failed everytime. Noone usually wants to hear about disabled persons. A kind member, Bob from Michigan tried to help as well calling in the Salvation Army. They did their best to help but this avenue came to a dead end as well. Finally, the right phone call brought in Faithful Friends and with an angel called Jody to head the organizing ..Charles was now safe and sound living downstairs in a clean and safe enviroment. I am not quite ready to tell the extent of this story but please stay tuned and you will come to know how the City Of Marion, Indiana saved a disabled person with cerebral palsy.

2009-04-09T17:15:00.000-07:00

SOULFUL GOES TELEVISION YET AGAIN! AND RADIO TOO!

November 14, Louise Maxwell founder of Soulful Encounters made it onto Nite Lite Live..and she did an all nighter with host David Kwon answering phone calls from people who were depressed and were searching for some help. It had a theme "Do You Ever Think About The Disabled". It was a very inspirational nite with disabled persons or relatives of the disabled calling in. Also in November two Soulful Encounter's members met for the first time with cameras following them. Soulful Encounters used this on Dating 201 by Rogers in Toronto, Ontario.
Soulful Encounters made it onto three radio stations in the United States as well. So we are slowly but surely gaining momentum. Let us see what happens next. Stay tuned!

2008-10-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

SOULFUL GOES TELEVISION

Soulful Encounters has exciting news for the members. Louise Maxwell, founder of Soulful will be on television Tuesday October 14, 2008 on the following channels for the show 100 Huntley Street:

In Canada

Global TV 9:00—10:00 A.M.

CTS 9:00---10:00 A.M.

CTS 9:00---10:00 P.M.

CTS 1:00----2:00 A.M. (early hours of the 15th)

In United States

NRB Network in the United States is available from DIRECTTV, Channel 378 at 5:00 P.M. ET

For for a more complete listing please go to

www.crossroads.ca..... click onto Television and then 100 Huntley Street and then on click onto Times and Stations.

Soulful Encounters is always looking for exciting ways to bring you more members. Tune in!

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Louise Maxwell at admin@soulfulencounters.com

PRESS RELEASE WWW.SoulfulEncounters.com

2008-10-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SEPTEMBER 31, 2008

Unique Online Dating Site Celebrates First Marriage
Site Makes Dreams Come True For Persons with Disabilities

Contact: Louise Maxwell admin@soulfulencounters.com
London, ON -- Finding someone special to live ‘happily ever after’ with is a goal most of us wish to achieve in our lifetime. But what if you are physically or medically disabled? Then the dream of finding true love can seem impossible to attain. Obstacles such as isolation, mobility issues, low self-esteem and social discrimination can prevent people with disabilities from making romantic connections. Rejected and marginalized, many just give up, feeling that the odds of finding ‘that special someone’ are just too slim.
But recently, two people managed to beat those odds. Barbara and Sid* both have physical disabilities. Barbara has Multiple Sclerosis, (she uses a scooter and a walker to transport herself about) while Sid is dealing with a chronic heart condition. Barbara originates from Ontario, Canada, while Sid is from Indiana, in the United States. Yet the two met and were married recently in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.
So how did the couple come together despite all their obstacles? They met at Soulful Encounters, a unique online dating site for people with disabilities. The couple’s marriage is a landmark event – it is the first marriage to happen between people who met on the site.
Says the newlywed Barbara: “I finally have the family I have always craved. I am so grateful for Soulful Encounters. Without it, what medium would God have used to bring Sid and I together?”

Soulful Encounters administrator Louise Maxwell is also thrilled with the event: “I am so pleased for the two of them. For years it has been my goal to facilitate this type of opportunity for people who are disabled. I hope that there will be many more marriages to follow.”

Maxwell has long had a vision of making dreams come true for people with disabilities. During her previous career managing medical offices, Maxwell recognized the loneliness that punctuated the lives of many of the patients she met. So she set out to do something about it. In 2007, she created Soulful Encounters – an online networking site for the medically disabled and differently-abled. Says Maxwell, "It's a community, a place where friendships begin for people who are typically overlooked or forgotten.”

Conceptualized as a type of “Facebook for the Disabled,” the site was the first of its kind. It immediately became successful – in one short year it attracted close to 2000 members from all over North America, with membership still increasing.

However, Soulful Encounters is not just your average networking site. It is also a major lifeline and support system for persons with disabilities. Along with the usual profiles, chat rooms and forum features, the site has a resident pharmacist, social worker, psychologist, and pastor available to answer questions or offer counseling. As well, Maxwell takes a very “hands on” approach to her site, working hard to keep the community clean, wholesome and free from scammers. Disabled herself after a series of failed back surgeries, Maxwell’s work is fueled by empathy and understanding. She personally answers all E-mail from members and is always willing to lend an ear to someone in trouble. Daily, she provides compassionate support, practical advice or a cheery telephone call of encouragement to those who are feeling down. Often, she helps to find food, shelter and medicine for those who are in dire straits.

But for today, Maxwell is celebrating. The marriage of Barbara and Sid was a significant victory – not only for the couple themselves but for all persons with disabilities. As Maxwell notes: “Barbara and Sid’s marriage has sparked the hopes and dreams of other members on the site. Their story proves that no matter how difficult the circumstances, marriage is still an achievable goal for people with disabilities.”

Newlyweds Barbara and Sid agree, adding that Soulful Encounters was the doorway to a whole new life for them. When asked if she thinks Soulful Encounters could help other people with disabilities find love and marriage too, Barbara nods confidently and smiles, stating: “Fairy tales can come true if you keep the faith….”

###

For further information, visit the Soulful Encounters website at www.soulfulencounters.com or call Louise Maxwell at E-mail: admin@soulfulencounters.com

*Names have been changed in order to protect the privacy of the couple

Soulful Encounters What Does This Mean?

2008-03-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

Soulful Encounters means beautiful souls awaiting to be your friend! Soulful is for love..Come to www.SoulfulEncounters and you will see that you can fill your soul with lasting bliss!

And Now For The Rest Of The Story

2008-03-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

they have a dolphin adventure where you can go in the water with them. Then we talked about the Stat~ Fair-Kenny Rogers and the Oakridge Boys were going to be there. So in August I jumped in my car and drove to Indianapolis. My friends were all worried about me driving down by myself, and for me it was a huge leap of faith. We had a fantastic time."
Londoner Carole McFadden has no disability, so she never dreamed that she would find romance on Soulful Encounters. But she has after connect¬ing with Kevin Saichuk, who lives in Burnaby B.C. As the parent and primary caregiver of a 25 year-old daughter with spina hydrocephalus, McFadden was simply looking for someone to talk to, someone she could relate to because their experience waS similar to her daughter's. She has made a number of new friends through the website, but says, "for some reason Kevin and I clicked." The two have chatted and talked using a web cam, but have yet to meet in person. Saichuk, who has brittle bone disease, isn't fussy about flying, says McFadden, but they are hoping to meet up in Winnipeg sometime in February.
As with any Internet dating site, people need to be cautious when they meet someone online because there are a lot of scammers in cyberspace, says Maxwell. As the site's administrator, she is very protective of Soulful Encounters' members, and has put a number of filters and safe¬guards in place to quickly identify and eliminate scammers and spammers.
Maxwell is far more than the site's administrator, though. For many members she has become a mentor, supporter and friend. "I welcome everyone personally, and I spend a lot of time with people on the phone," says Maxwell, who takes the time to understand each person's personal situation and draw out their strengths and talents.
Maxwell first worked with people with disabilities when she was in her early twenties and on staff in a medical office. From the outset she was determined to

treat them as people first. "I made a hab¬it of speaking directly with people with physical challenges, instead of have their parent or caregiver speak for them."
After being involved in a car accident when she was in her late thirties, Maxwell underwent eight different back surgeries. Being housebound for nearly 10 years, she experienced the isolation and frustration that many people with disabilities encounter on a daily basis.
The inspiration for Soulful Encounters came from a young woman Maxwell met who was born with no arms and had resigned herself to never having a romantic relationship. At around the same time, one of Maxwell's sons was exploring dating sites on the Internet. That planted the seed in Maxwell's mind: why not a dating site that catered specifically to people with physical disabilities? "It drives me nuts that some people think disabled people do not need physical and emotional intimacy," says Maxwell. "That's not true."
Launched in 2005, Soulful Encounters logged almost 2,400 members by 2006. That year Maxwell began to use a new website hosting company and during the transition to the new service provider she lost many of the member contacts. The website was restructured and relaunched in May, 2006, and since then has attracted over 600 members that range in age from 21 to 87, with the majority in their forties and fifties. Most are North American-more than half in the U.S.-but there are also members in Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, France, Denmark and Sweden.
Chad McLinchey was Soulful Encounter's first member, joining in April 2005 . He had been looking for web¬sites where he could connect with people with disabilities and had not found any Canadian sites until he happened upon Maxwell's. McLinchey isn't housebound or isolated-he gets out and about on a regular basiS-and plays drums in a
rock band-but he enjoys talking with other people with disabilities who share common experiences. And at 27, he still holds hope that he might find romance one day.
Because he has dystonia, a movement disorder that leaves him with minimal movement control, McLinchey has to rely on others to type for him and only visits Soulful Encounters about three times a week. For other members, the site is a daily lifeline that connects them to online friendships. Read the website's testimonial page and you quickly under¬stand the impact that Soulful Encounters and Maxwell have had on their day-to¬day lives. Says one member, "Louise made me feel worthy and confident ... not trapped and sad. I have never felt so good about myself in my entire life."
"Whether they date or not is secondary now," says Maxwell. "What is more important is the way they feel empowered, the way everyone is embracing each other, and the huge support system that people have developed."
www.soulfulencounters.com

Soulful Encounters Is Dancing!!!

2008-03-20T17:13:00.000-07:00

Enterprise
Louise Maxwell started Soulful Encounters as an Internet dating service for the disabled. What she ended up with is so much more BY KYMWOLFE
City Life Magazine February/March Edition 2008
GOOD FOR THE SOUL

LOUISE MAXWELL INITIALLY LAUNCHED Soulful Encounters as a dating site for the medically disabled and differently abled, but it has quickly evolved into a unique online community that goes far beyond the role of matchmaker. It is a support system for people (and their parents) with disabilities; it's a forum where members can get expert advice from psychologists, pastors, lawyers and other professionals; and it is a virtual meeting place where people can find friendship-and, in some cases, romance.
That's what happened for Londoner Bonnie Maas, who met Ed Allen through Soulful Encounters and spent this past Christmas with him in Walton, Indiana. Maas, 49, who has multiple sclerosis, had previously been on regular dating sites and says, "I met some really nice guys, but there was no chemistry." She joined Soulful Encounters early in 2007 and 50-year-old Allen, who has a heart condition, joined in February. The two began to chat and email back and forth, but it wasn't until Allen went on vacation during the summer that Maas realized how much she looked forward to his messages.
"I missed him, so I sent him a message: 'Just wondering, did you fall off the face of the earth or what?'" she chuckles. "I found out later he was rock climbing and in fact there were a couple of times where he almost did fall am" Once Allen returned the two began to phone each other and that led to an invitation to visit in August.
"I've always wanted to swim with the dolphins, and Ed suggested I check out the Indianapolis Zoo because (to be continued)

WOW! You can read about Soulful Encounters!!

2008-03-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

Soulful Encounters is full of surprises and seems to be in the news of late..The press release was carried..Louise Maxwell knows the problems the disabled have in starting new relationships. So she's helping them on her website.
ENTERPRISE: Giving disabled a chance to find someone
Christopher Clark
Sun Media
January 7, 2008
Though she is married, Louise Maxwell is quite upfront about the fact an Internet dating service changed her life.

CHRISTOPHER CLARK

A CLICK AWAY: Louise Maxwell's website, SoulfulEncounters.com, has evolved from a dating service to a community. (MIKE HENSEN photographer/Sun Media)
The service is SoulfulEncounters.com, and she is the founder. Although it began as a dating service, its users quickly transformed it into a community of individuals looking to form friendships in cyberspace.

Maxwell, 61, was never interested in creating a dating service for twentysomethings looking to hook up with each other. Her service is dedicated to people with physical or medical disabilities, people she knows from experience can have trouble making friendships and finding like-minded people with whom they can share time and attention.

"I worked in medical offices for 20 years and I saw a lot of people with physical disabilities," Maxwell says. "Attitudes have changed since then, but I saw a lot of people being ignored. If someone is in a wheelchair, it's common for them to be talked over and ignored."

Maxwell was already sympathetic to the situation of many disabled, and then she ran into a series of health challenges that left her unable to leave her home for years at a time.

An auto accident in Saudi Arabia in 1982 triggered a lifelong battle for mobility, an experience that has included five major back surgeries and episodes of chronic pain she has learned to manage, but not avoid.

Her husband, Brian, is visually impaired and cannot drive.

"Every day I get up and I don't know what I will be able to do that day. I make plans, but I never know what I can do until the moment arrives," she says.

In an effort to keep herself busy and learn something new, she started dabbling with the Internet two years ago. She wanted to do something focused on disabled people, and her initial foray was a dating service.

"That was how it started, but it expanded into something more very quickly," she says. "Many disabled are so lonely, so I found that a lot of people were spending time in the chat room on my site. They were talking to each other, regardless of their location or disability.

"It became a social setting, a community."

After launching the site in May 2006, Maxwell rejigged it and switched Internet providers last fall. Since then, it has been growing every week. Friends recommend the site to each other, and many people have turned to Maxwell for advice and help. She dives in and helps whenever she can.

Recently, she helped an epileptic in the U.S. find free medical care, then helped him apply for Medicaid.

In the same spirit, she has given some loyal website visitors tasks that help keep the site operating. It makes them feel good and helps Maxwell handle the daily load of keeping her site running smoothly.

She hopes to sell some advertising to defray her costs or turn a small profit this year. That's far down her list of hopes for the project, but it would ensure the site's continued viability -- and that's at the top of her wish list.

-- -- --

LOUISE MAXWELL

www.SoulfulEncounters.com (see link).

nline and then some. Yippee!!

Soulful Soon Rings In A New Year!

2007-12-16T21:59:00.000-08:00

Soulful Encounters has shown itself to be very flexible...dating site to community site and now Soulful Encounters is working the phones to bring help to those who need it..
We are a great support group for the disabled..And, so we will ring in the New Year with a fresh start..Soulful is becoming a disabled community and dating site by the disabled...How unique is that...This fresh new site for the disabled is just that...unique..It is like My Space and Facebook rolled into one but only for the disabled..Come see us...Join Up and create a little space of your very own with guestbooks, blogs and you now have the ability to invite friends to your little space.
We are forever improving and gaining popularity. Don't be left behind. Get on board and enjoy the benefits.

Here is My News Release for Soulful's Second Time Around

2007-12-01T22:21:00.000-08:00

NEWS RELEASE

WEB SITE PROVIDES ONLINE COMMUNITY FOR THE DISABLED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 20, 2007
In only one year, SoulfulEncounters.com has evolved from a Web-based dating connection into a life-asserting online community. With chat rooms, personal profiles, and photo albums, it is best described as a cross between My Space, Face Book, and a dating site…but with a twist. It is niched for those who are physically or medically disabled – and there is nothing else like it online.

Louise Maxwell, the site’s founder and administrator, has been instrumental in drastically changing the lives of its members. With close to 2400 members before its current restructure, including lawyers, pastors, psychologists, and other professionals, the site has become a support system for the disabled by the disabled – and a support for parents of disabled children.

SoulfulEncounters.com is quickly building a reputation for providing a new outlook or purpose in life as members become extended family – and many have developed friendships and romance that otherwise would not have been possible. “Louise made me feel worthy and confident…not trapped and sad,” said one member. “I have never felt so good about myself in my entire life.”

Online membership ranges from age 21 to 87 with most between 40 and 55. Maxwell takes the time to discover each person’s strengths and brings it out through chat room conversations to help build self-esteem. And she is extremely protective of her online community. Spammers and scammers are quickly identified and eliminated to protect the vulnerable members.

Maxwell worked more than twenty years in medical offices surrounded by the very ill and disabled – and she was in her comfort zone. After becoming disabled herself in her late thirties due to numerous back surgeries following a car accident, she discovered that she continually had to prove she was smart and capable. Being housebound for nearly ten years, she felt isolated…and understands the needs of the disabled community first hand. “Just because you’re physically handicapped doesn’t mean that your heart and soul are. We’re empowering people to be who they want to be,” said Maxwell.

At SoulfulEncounters.com the type of disability doesn’t matter – the important thing is that everyone is regarded as an individual with unique talents and aspirations. Maxwell recognizes this in each member and strives to make everyone feel good about themselves.

“Members form a unique community in which they feel safe, accepted, and appreciated regardless of their country of origin,” said Maxwell, “because in the hearts of the disabled, no border exists.”

-30-

CONTACT: Louise Maxwell.. soulfulencounters@rogers.com www.soulfulencounters.com

PREPARED BY: Susan Regier, Vantage One Writing susan@vantageone.ca

Second Time Around Baby!

2007-11-17T22:31:00.000-08:00

Second time around for Soulful Encounters. But, how sweet it is! Have you missed me?
Well, I decided to update Soulful Encounters and give it a fresh new cover. Why? Soulful has gone from stage one to stage two and there could possibly be a stage three.
Soulful Encounters is no longer just an exclusive dating site..It is now a disability community free for anyone who is medically disabled or differently abled..It is a community with dating as an option as well. Now more persons, whether disabled themselves or if they have family member who is disabled, could join and we will give you support. We are flying now! We have become one of the first disabled sites for members to have "A Space" of their own..and what marvellous spaces. We can spent as much time as you would like...fixing it just how you like it...Put themes up and then take them down and start over. Why just this morning I had my tea in Kevinoi69's parlour. And, what a nice parlour it is...so cozy and warm..and Santa is there to greet you! Even Santa loves Soulful Encounters..He is probably getting disabled himself having to carry such a heavy bag and then squeezing himself down that tight chimney.
Keep tuned now because we are on a roll again...
See you soon...

My Angels Have Become Crazy Soulful Kids

2007-05-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

I call Soulful Encounters' disabled members "my angels" but tonight GG said that my angels were more like "crazy soulful kids". Her words and not mine!! Well I guess GG is right --we are becoming more like a family every day on SoulfulEncounters.com....a place for disabled dating and much more. We cry together, we laugh, we pout and most of all we are there for each other..We care about each other and want to give a helping hand...These are my kids...the little angels.
Like I said before, they are very giving. There is Charles who is bright,intuitive, giving, thoughtful and generous with his time...He is appointed Soulful's Technical Support Angel.
My vision is starting to take place...When the house of SoulfulEncounters gets too busy and has a lot of kiddies...I would like to have only disabled singles working for this house of joy. So, GG calls the kiddies here Crazy Soulful Kids but I think of them as Skillful Soulful kids.
Come on over and meet my other kids...I have a lot of sweet angels living here in the house of www.Soulfulencounters.com . It brings to mind what one of my angels said when she was interviewed for SoulfulEncounters..."Just because the car is dented does not mean that it won't get you to where you want to go". Words from flutters...You see what I mean--we are real people who want to have fun. We want to be recognized as valuable citizens, because we are! We ought to be changing the name of SoulfulEncounters to House of Grand Talent!!

A Special Valentine For SoulfulEncounters

2007-02-18T17:50:00.000-08:00

February is a special time for us to show love to the people we care about.
Igor Packer is sharing this Valentine Poem with SoulfulEncounters members. He is sending the message out to take the chance...Come join SoulfulEncounters if you are medically disabled or differently abled. You never know when a circumstance is about to come to you. Love could be a click away!!!

Taking a chance.

I took a chance,
The circumstance just came around.
I waited long,
My pretty blond, has just been found.
I asked her out
To a café, for a cup of tea,
Connected with her right away,
She was so pretty.
And now, evenings are so long,
But never lonely,
Cause, I have you, and you have me,
And life is lovely.

February 17, 2007

© By Igor Packer.

Soulful Encounters Goes "Radio"!!!!

2007-02-17T19:47:00.000-08:00

SoulfulEncounters.com is getting a lot of publicity and the disabled are worthy of this. We have come a long way baby but "miles to go before we sleep". We now made it to a radio station with host Shauna Rae CJBK AM. Thank you Shauna! We need everyone's help to overcome our isolation. Shauna thought that Soulful Encounters for the medically disabled and differently abled was a great undertaking and for a worthy cause. Soulful gives its members an opportunity to connect with others who have disabilities and helps to remove the isolation that hinders them to find someone to love...someone to love them back. I have found that the disabled have their own class and that is First Class. We thank everyone who tries to help us so that our voice could be heard. The disabled do not have a handicapped heart! Yes, there are extra challenges but having someone by their side helps to normalize their every day living.
If anyone out there would like to do a human interest story about Soulful Encounters and its disabled members we would appreciate it greatly.
I wonder what is next for Soulful...join us for the next episode.

A SPECIAL VALENTINE FOR THE DISABLED!

2007-02-16T20:51:00.000-08:00

February is the month for love and a Valentine is offered to the disabled members of SoulfulEncounters.com. Ben Benedict, of The Londoner, was instrumental in getting Soulful Encounters more members to my site for the medically and physically challenged. By featuring my website,SoulfulEncounters.com, he expresses that there is another place to look for love...on SoulfulEncounters. Ben talks about giving Valentine's Day a new perspective..He gives the disabled a chance to voice their desires through myself and through a few Soulful Encounters members whom he interviewed. Ben realizes that the Soulful Encounters website gives hope to the disabled. There are challenges but the outcome could fill the heart with renewed dreams, hope and energy...The heart, after all ,is not handicapped. One Soulful Encounters member is quick to admit that they too(the physically and medically challenged) are proud sexual beings and not asexual as some are led to believe..
So, we thank Ben for doing an awesome in depth feature in the Londoner about the struggles of the disabled. I consider this to be a great valentine to the disabled community. We have been pushed into the background for too long and we are longing to come forward. Little by little, with interviews such as this our voice is heard.
Come embrace our disability community and share with us the hopes and dreams that love could be a click away!

Wonders Never Cease And Neither Do Problems!

2007-02-03T20:22:00.000-08:00

Building the space for www.SoulfulEncounters.com has had many happy times and many bumps along the way. But once these are overcome I am sure that we will triumph and be the best site as an online dating community for the medically disabled and differently abled. We had the forum up and available for posting but lately there has been a few snags along the way that need to be ironed out. This is disappointing since we waited a long time for the message boards but I am confident that it is just what I said a snag--a little bump that needs straightening out. www.SoulfulEncounters.com has also tried three different chat rooms and did not approve of any..Now we are about to embark in another. Soulful Encounters members are so excited about chatting with each other that they wish to continue to use an inferior one for the time being. It is amazing that in the chat room you are quickly able to get the feel of this disabled dating community. Members, who are mostly housebound, enjoy it immensely because it is a great way to reach out and get human contact. So let us wait with anticipation for a better chat room and a wonderful physically and medically disabled group to share it with.

Check in and see what is happening next!

FEBRUARY IS MONTH OF LOVE

2007-02-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

February is the month of love and the month of hope. Soulfulencounters stands for hope and love! Come join our community with the hopes of finding your true love.
Soulfulencounters is for the medically disabled and differently abled.

HOPE IS A THING WITH FEATHERS
BY Emily Dickinson

Hope is a thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings a tune without words
And never stops at all.

And sweetest, in the gale, is heard
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That keeps so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea
Yet, never, in extremity
It ask a crumb of me.

How true these words are of Ms. Dickinson...
Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul..
Everyone needs to hang on to the hope that tomorrow will bring something new, something fresh, something warm.. We are all born to love and be loved!
Come join SoulfulEncounters.com with the hope that love could be a click away!!

Jumped Onto A Roller Coaster!

2007-01-31T19:38:00.000-08:00

It really has been awhile but you know the story "and miles to go before I sleep".
This is how it has been for a few weeks. Children sick, husband following their lead and emails to get out to SoulfulEncounters.com's special members. Also on the agenda is making personal calls to them and personalized help if they have difficulty. People ask me why I created Soulful Encounters for the medically disabled and differently abled. The real reason is that I feel totally comfortable in their presence. They are truly giving, thoughtful and loving. There is always someone who wants to help www.soulfulencounters.com in some way.
The message boards are up so we can go in and be a real family...disabled helping the disabled. This should get interesting over the course of months. The chat is up but my programmer who is co-operative and wanting this feature to work at it's best is working on getting us one that will run smoother. He wants us all to be able to make use of these features and to enjoy ourselves while we are logged onto Soulful Encounters. He got us to try a few and I invited some disabled members to log on and to give my feedback. Just stepping back and seeing how well and how quickly they connect to each other warms my heart. They talk about all issues just like abled bodied persons. And, yes, they talk about their disabilies as well....Politics and the weather as well...yachity yach...don't turn back now Louise.
Tune in and see what happens next....February should be a good month. After all it is for lovers!!!!

Poetry To Fill My Soul With Lasting Bliss!

2007-01-12T20:24:00.000-08:00

SoulfulEncounters has members from diverse background and talent. Apart from their disability, the medically disabled and differently abled have the same emotions and sensibilities as people the world over. Among the disabled, there are many great and talented persons. I feel blessed to meet some of the most talented people on my disabled dating website. Igor Packer is a poet of exceptional talent who I met on Soulful Encounters. He has unique talent to share and I am proud that he is a member of SoulfulEncounters.com.
Soulful Encounters, a disabled dating community features some of his poetry on our message boards. Come, Join Us! It is FREE! You get to meet others like yourself....beautiful soulful persons.

Boy Meets Girl

Boy meets girl, boy likes girl,
Relationship sparks.
He takes her to the mall,
Sea shore and the park.
They walk under the stars,
Talking, holding hands.
They talk Venus and Mars,
Being lifetime friends.
They see their whole lives
Planned out ahead,
Plan to stay side by side,
Till there time’s end.
And today, there is
Writing on the wall.
“We remember the day,
When a boy met a girl.”

January 1, 2007

© By Igor Packer

Music To My Ears

2007-01-10T19:00:00.000-08:00

When one hears music amidst a bit of chaos...you are surely blessed!! The music man came playing and his music resounded from my ears right to the centre of my heart...
The Music Man was Soulful Encounters first disabled member, and; already because of this, he was very special to me. Shortly after he joined,I received a kind email from him saying that he was willing to hand out flyers for Soulful Encounters. His emails were articulate showing me that he is quick and very intelligent....friendly and kind. Speaking with him indicates to me that he is a very normal young man with hopes and desires and dreams. Sure he has a disability but sometimes the disability lies more with how abled bodied persons perceive us. They become more disabled than us!! This sweet young man offered me some of his savings to help with new features for Soulful Encounters. I was so shaken by his email that tears came to my eyes. He really cares about my site for the medically disabled and differently abled! Of course, I would not take advantage of his generosity but one cannot deny that I am blessed. I have been hearing music ever since!!

Around the World In 60 Days!!!

2007-01-09T20:38:00.000-08:00

Here we are well into 2007! What kind of mixture will this year bring? Already, I feel both blessed and frustrated. Soulful Encounters is in slow motion and taking a slow boat around the world is much faster than finishing up a disabled dating website. The message boards are almost done and I have heard that phrase far too many times and so have Soulful Encounters members. And, of course week after week goes by and we are still no competition for a slow boat ride. We have gone around China several times now. If it is not up soon I will call it a day and start afresh!!! The slow boat around the world is far faster than getting these boards up. It is more than 5 months and you heard about the phrase ,"around the world in 60 days". And, what happened to my chat room. I am patient to a point and even cool, calm and collective. Louise will say, "I have had enough". The members of Soulful Encounters deserve better. If anyone out there has any ideas for me---I am ready to listen....
Thank goodness I have my friends at Soulful Encounters to uplift me.

PEACE, LOVE, JOY, HEALTH & LAUGHTER 2007

2006-12-30T16:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Holiday Season To All

May 2007 be filled with love, joy, health and laughter to all of my fans. Let us all strive for the beauty of inner peace and tranquility.

Happy New Year!
Louise Maxwell www.SoulfulEncounters.com

HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING....

2006-12-23T22:24:00.000-08:00

This happy holiday season is a special time to say thank you to all my members of SoulfulEncounters.com. Thank you for hanging in with us. We appreciate having all of you join. I wish you all the warmth, peace and happiness during this joyful time.
May 2007 bring all my members peace, love, joy and good health.
From my home to yours....have a nice time!
Louise Maxwell and all my helpers here at www.SoulfulEncounters.com .

Television And SoulfulEncounters!

2006-12-20T21:18:00.000-08:00

Wow wee! Tune in, turn up the volume! SoulfulEncounters.com goes on television! For someone who does not like front line attention.....what could I say. I am doing it all for you members..I love you all!
I thought this would be too hard to bare. But, when I started to speak about my SoulfulEncounters disability site and my medically disabled and differently abled members all my words came from my heart and soul. The viewing was shown 6 times that weekend. It aired on my hometown's local station but heh---you know that everyone is welcome to join! If you have not seen me that is okay...If you wish to correspond with me... I am open to that.
I had several other interviews as well for a national Canadian disability magazine. Soulful Encounters is getting coverage. I was also interviewed for a disability magazine in the United States and I start off the New Year with yet another interview from a free lance writer with our local newspaper. This is all good news for the disabled singles. We are getting new members every day. Your soulmate awaits you! If you are single and handicapped or medically disabled....come join us! If you are a member please feel free to give us ideas as we value your input. We would like you to feel part of it.
So, what is next now that all this excitement is behind us!! You will have to tune in.....why not...

Who Would Dare To Attack Angels!

2006-12-19T20:32:00.000-08:00

A strange, malicious force is out there. But, the Angels will win! An insidious attack prevents my Sweet Angels their shelter. Soulful Encounters crashes at the same time every night which is peculiar. Noone was around on the weekend to repair its doors and so the disabled singles had to remain outdoors. New members with disabilities try to make their way into SoulfulEncounters.com and are denied access. They are denied the companionship they seek. This weekend seems endless.
Once again, the new features that are in process are halted in order to remedy and fix this problem so that the handicapped are able to once again engage in their search for dating, friendship and companionship.
I stay up until 3 A.M. for days to monitor the situation. I care for my angels and want to protect them. But, the attacks have been plentiful. The online dating scammers have been a menace as well. But, my very nice programmer is as determined as I am to conquer all these assaults.
So, you see....we are a bit tardy with features but Soulful Encounters is more interested in the well being of the Sweet Angels; and, we are trying everything to
prevent them from being bugged by the lowly scammers. It is inconceivable that they would try to scam anyone let alone the disabled!!! How low could one get!
With all these problems, I received numerous emails from my members telling me not to worry and that everything will be fine in the end. It gave me a chance to get to know some of the disabled in a deeper more meaningful way. And, if it had to take SoulfulEncounters to crash for a few days then it is worth it. Once again, my friends are enjoying the comfort of the SoulfulEncounters.com disability community.
Hang in with me and I will tell you more.....Will it be frustrations, will it be joy....

Angels Came To Wipe The Tears Of Frustration!

2006-12-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

This week Soulful Encounters has encountered a few ups and downs. Frustrations are still there but I am riding on my Angels' wings. My disabled dating site had the nerve to crash three times this week. My angels have to get into their home. They are counting on me to have the doors of this disability dating site open at all times so that they could feel comfortable to search for companionship, relationships and love. Now my programmer he is a very understanding guy and he knows the urgency that this presents. We have a commitment to uphold here. So, he is working very diligently to fix the problem hopefully for good. It is hard to detect why this is happening. SoulfulEncounters needs its doors open and so I am happy that I am with a reliable computer place that is willing to drop everything else when emergencies arise.
Out of this place of discontent came some more special angels. Some sent me messages wanting to know the reason why they were unable to enter and I got to know a few of them today. One girl with a disability and challenge has her own website and she designs the most beautiful silk flowers. Such skill, such talent. Another angel is a writer. His mind is not handicapped and he writes fiction stories. This is what my site is about ....the mind is not handicapped and the heart is not handicapped either.

So what began as another frustrating day became a blissful one....one that I shall always cherish.

What will the next few days bring to SoulfulEncounters.com?

Pleased To Know You Soulful Encounters

2006-12-10T18:59:00.000-08:00

I keep wanting to put off babbling about Soulful Encounters' frustrations. Telling the niceties is so much more fun! Tonight, my mind wanders to my first interview for SoulfulEncounters, the Free dating site for the medically and physically challenged.
My eyes widened as I starred at the email from an editor with our local newspaper. He wanted to speak with me that same day about my disability dating site. As it happened, I had my day lined up before me. I had many things to do and I was going to take my husband for his doctor appointment. He is visually impaired....near blind and unable to drive.
I rang up the number and right from the onset I felt very comfortable with Ian. He asked many questions about Soulful Encounters including how I got the idea to have a disabled dating site for the differently abled. I spontaneously chatted away not realizing that he was conducting an interview. I thought that he would schedule a date for it. However, I think it turned out for the best because my heart spoke for me. I spoke of my work managing medical offices for over 20 years where I met very ill and disabled persons lacking companionship and desiring relationships. Later,I became disabled as well. I spoke of my affinity with disabled persons; having been housebound for 10 years and still unable to do things the way normal persons do. I consider myself differently abled.
Suddenly, in the midst of our conversation he said that he wanted to send a photographer to me right away and this put me in a bit of a panic. But, in the end I decided that I would not change--they could take my picture just as I was. The story was well covered and filled a fairly large space on the front page of the City Section.."Website gives disabled chance to find companionship." My words that I spoke openly were repeated, "Sometimes you can't really explain to a person who is not disabled what you are going through....They have no concept of what it is really like"
When the paper came out..I was too excited to even open the newspaper. That was back in May/06. And, so started on an uphill journey to get the House of Soulful Encounters off the ground....frustrations.. an uphill battle...

Tune in for more----

Sweet Angels Abide in the House of SoulfulEncounters

2006-12-07T21:17:00.000-08:00

Well, I was going to tell you about more frustrations with this disabled dating site, SoulfulEncounters.com, but then my mind wandered to more pleasant thoughts, my Sweet Angels. I have been so blessed! Some of my daily e-mails are from these Angels who joined SoulfulEncounters. I remember the excitement when SoulfulEncounters first went live. The Music Man came a playing....yes he did...My very first differently abled member with dystonia and he looked so divine. He was my first Sweet Angel. He became my friend..what more could I ask for? We exchanged emails and I could tell right away that this was no ordinary fellow. He was quick,intelligent and so willing to help so that Soulful Encounters could work up more members. He took it upon himself to distribute SoulfulEncounters flyers. But, more than this he is very musical and plays in a band on the weekends. When my forum goes up he will have a blog of his own and a forum called Chadder's Music Corner. All you music lovers can go in and send him messages. He would love to hear from you.

Tune in to the next episode of either frustrations or to tell you about other sweet angels who SoulfulEncounters has acquired. We like to call them disabled, but, are they? I believe that differently abled is more appropriate.

Merry Go Round Likes The Ride So Why Stop!

2006-12-06T18:25:00.000-08:00

Hmm! To think that I loved the Merry Go Round so very long ago. Now the ride is getting bumpy. My mind is even going round and round. I should have known better. When you are told that your disability dating site will be done in a few weeks just add a couple of years onto that.

Okay, Louise slow down. One thing is true; I really like the programmer who is working on my disabled site for singles. He is a good listener and points out what is good about my ideas for my handicapped dating members and what could be improved. He is a honey that is for sure. So, why am I so frustrated? I seem to have a major disability..or weakness...I hate slow when it comes to work or creativity. I think that I have a lesson to learn here. Remember Rome was not built in a day. Yes, but a dating site--I have to house all these souls--the medically disabled and differently abled. Little frustrations are okay but why is my site for dating personals taking so long. It is up live but there are so many features that I am waiting for. At this rate, Rome was probably built with more speed than a simple disabled dating site.

I had asked for a chat room right at the onset but I was persuaded to wait until I had enough members. Then when the chat room went up--it was not quite right and then programmer told me months ago, "I have a surprise for you; nice chat room for you". I am still in anticipation mode. And, I am internally screaming, "Give me realization, pleasssse!!

Tune in for more frustrations to be told....

Souls In Search Of A Home! APlace For The Disabled

2006-12-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

Well Hello!
My name is Louise! I thought I had a chaotic life before Soulful Encounters with all my ups and downs with my disability. Try building a website..a place where all the lovely differently abled souls could congregate;a home to call their own. I wanted to have a neat place where disabled singles could have fun, chat, find friends and help if they needed it. It would be a unique disability community. Once the idea hit me, I could not get any rest until I put it into action.

I did not know who to approach or where to go with my plan. I first approached a very nice man that had maintained computers for large companies. He told me that he would be able to help. After six months I only had the main page but he was never progressing beyond that. I had my youngest son look at this failed masterpiece and he dared to voice what I felt. He said, "Oh Mom that is ugly". Hmmm! It did not take him six months to figure that out.

The very next day I shopped around for a nicer spot to house a disabled dating arena. I was sure that my disabled friends were waiting for me to take them in. So I chose a business place because they told me that they could have me up and running in a few weeks. Six months later, it went live but without all the features that I wanted for a disability dating site. However, I did not have members so I did not worry much.

There were so many things to delete, change or add. It has been a learning experience for someone who would not go near a computer 3 or 4 years ago. I had to ask family and friends to join up and pretend that they were my disabled persons trying to log on. We had to see if this dating site was functioning as it should be.
It is one year later and my disability home for the medically disabled and differently abled is still trying to progress.

My days have been full to say the least. One year later and I am still waiting for features to be implemented and finishing touches to be done. I am of the compulsive nature so this waiting was worse than having my physical disability. I thought this would be easy---just assign someone and off you go.

Next time I will tell you about some of my frustrations...

Welcome to the Soulful Encounters Blog!

2006-11-24T14:20:00.000-08:00

Soulful Encounters is a free dating website for the medically disabled and differently abled. Our goal is to fill beautiful souls with lasting bliss. Soulful Encounters is run by Louise Maxwell, and features wonderful services such as counselling, life coaching and even a pharmacist on site to answer your questions! Coming soon is a forum with optional personal blogs and an interactive chat!

The purpose of this blog is to chronicle the development of the website...see what it's like to start up a website from scratch! Read about the difficulties involved and witness the progress first-hand. We will also discuss dating tips and pitfalls, disability issues, anything and everything!