Such timely questions!! I have been trying to get these answers down in my journal as I had my life turned upside down on Dec. 29th when i was injured at work. I am now ready to go back to work but have to find something different to do as I can't return to the same type of work i was doing before. That is quite a test to find that your whole life gets re-arranged in less than 60 seconds.

I feel pushed in every area. Loosing income has pushed the financial boundaries to the limit. I had to move into a much smaller home and that meant giving up many personal belongings. It has tested my relationship and I am happy to report we are still together but with eyes wider open.

I went through a deep depression, the first one of my life, and I found myself thinking death would be preferable to life. Now I am looking forward to new experience's. A new job and going back to school. It has truly been a Dark Night of the Soul.  Thomas Merton really has it right in that book. If you haven't read it I suggest that you put it on your reading list.

I have learned a lot about myself and those around me during these last seven months. I really am thankful for my youngest son. He has been very helpful and very understanding. We are closer than we have ever been. I have a good friend in him. the whole process through pain and dark times into this lighter time has been worth it as I have gained greater insight into myself and my son.

My red tennis shoes. All the girls had them and my sister and I, with our mother's help talked our dad into letting us get a pair. He said we had to have the navy blue ones. Our uncle came over for a visit. He noticed that I was withdrawn a little and asked what was worng. I told him about the shoes and how I wanted the red ones, and how I always had to have what my sister had. He told me not to worry that he thought I would get the red ones. I DID and what happy little girl I was in my red shoes. Years later I learned from my friend Gwen that my uncle talked to her dad, who owned the shoe store about not having any other color in stock in my size but red. I was amazed that my favorite uncle loved me so much that he would see to it I got my red shoes. PS. Red is still my favorite color.