travellady
If only the world could be like WDW every day!
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2003
When I tell people about what I've experienced in my life, they often ask how I was able to cope and I honestly answer I'm thankful for each day. I do stop and smell the roses each morning (at least when they're in bloom), and at some basic level, believe it's important to experience life to the fullest because many in my family haven't had that opportunity.
Life was grand and uneventful until I hit 30. Out of the blue, or so it seemed, my first husband had an affair and we divorced. I had 2 young boys but pulled myself up by the bootstraps and went on to provide them a good life. They are now in their late 20s, wonderful young men, and very appreciative of what life has to offer. But this event was nothing compared to what lie ahead.
3 years later I remarried but we were only married a month, when my 24 year old brother-in-law was killed in an auto accident. The following December, my grandmother died. She was old, and had a wonderful life, so easy to get through this one. A year later, my second husband and I had our first child, a daughter. But sadly, at 3 months old, she died of a genetic disorder. And my other grandmother died the day my daughter was born.
No sooner did we get over this than my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died 3 months after the diagnosis A short 5 months later, in fact a week before Christmas, my sister was killed in a domestic violence incident leaving her 3 kids without parents.
A fairly uneventful 1.5 years went by and I was greeted once again by that dreadful phone call. My son's were in a car accident and one of them was clinging to life. I drove to the hospital pleading with God saying "Please don't take this one. I can't do this again". And you know what, he didn't take him. In fact, the young man who the County Sheriff said byall rights should be dead, his head injuries were that severe, is now a fully functioning wonderful adult and very succesful businessman.
During this time, my husband and I adopted a wonderful little boy just now entering his teen years. We believe there isn't much we can't deal with, when it comes to raising a teenager. And though my mother died but 3 years ago, I'm thankful she lived into her late 70's.
With the holidays coming up, I totally understand it can be very difficult as I've been there more than once. I've learned to focus on what we do have, instead of what we don't have, and have created traditions that bring us closer together and ensure stress remains at a minimum. Christmas to us does not focus on material goods, but instead on spending focused time together.
One thing we have all learned in my family, through life's hard lessons, is we really only have today because we can't predict tomorrow. Rejoice in who we are, embrace what each one of us has to offer, and though each of us is imperfect, haivng each other is a gift.
I leave each of you with this final thought:
LOVE
, LAUGH 
, and LET GO 
Life was grand and uneventful until I hit 30. Out of the blue, or so it seemed, my first husband had an affair and we divorced. I had 2 young boys but pulled myself up by the bootstraps and went on to provide them a good life. They are now in their late 20s, wonderful young men, and very appreciative of what life has to offer. But this event was nothing compared to what lie ahead.
3 years later I remarried but we were only married a month, when my 24 year old brother-in-law was killed in an auto accident. The following December, my grandmother died. She was old, and had a wonderful life, so easy to get through this one. A year later, my second husband and I had our first child, a daughter. But sadly, at 3 months old, she died of a genetic disorder. And my other grandmother died the day my daughter was born.
No sooner did we get over this than my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died 3 months after the diagnosis A short 5 months later, in fact a week before Christmas, my sister was killed in a domestic violence incident leaving her 3 kids without parents.
A fairly uneventful 1.5 years went by and I was greeted once again by that dreadful phone call. My son's were in a car accident and one of them was clinging to life. I drove to the hospital pleading with God saying "Please don't take this one. I can't do this again". And you know what, he didn't take him. In fact, the young man who the County Sheriff said byall rights should be dead, his head injuries were that severe, is now a fully functioning wonderful adult and very succesful businessman.
During this time, my husband and I adopted a wonderful little boy just now entering his teen years. We believe there isn't much we can't deal with, when it comes to raising a teenager. And though my mother died but 3 years ago, I'm thankful she lived into her late 70's.
With the holidays coming up, I totally understand it can be very difficult as I've been there more than once. I've learned to focus on what we do have, instead of what we don't have, and have created traditions that bring us closer together and ensure stress remains at a minimum. Christmas to us does not focus on material goods, but instead on spending focused time together.
One thing we have all learned in my family, through life's hard lessons, is we really only have today because we can't predict tomorrow. Rejoice in who we are, embrace what each one of us has to offer, and though each of us is imperfect, haivng each other is a gift.
I leave each of you with this final thought:
LOVE
, LAUGH , and LET GO 
