Strength

God sure thinks I'm a strong person.  As I was pedaling today at the YMCA, I reflected over some major turning points in my life.  

• I am the third of eight children, all born within 14 years.
• I had my appendix removed and spent a few days in the hospital when I was 8 years old.
• Our house had a big fire.  My family, mom and dad plus eight children, were out of our house for three months - November, December, and January.
• I attended public school for seventh and eighth grade.
• I was the first in my family to go away to college.
• I got married and had four children.  We lived in Pensacola and Virginia Beach.
• I got divorced and moved back to Ohio.
• I received my degree in Education.
• My sister Barb was killed in an accident at work.
• I bought my first house.
• My parents celebrated 50 years of marriage.
• I became a grandmother.
• My mother died.
• I lost my job.
• A year later, I got a new job.
• I had a house fire and lived with my brother Chris for six months.
• I lost that job.
• I got my first dog:  Aiden, a rescue from the Humane Society.
• I was hired by my current employer.
• My daughter Haylee was killed in a car accident while walking her dog.
• My dad remarried.

Of course there were many more events in my 54 years of life, but these are the ones that changed me.  I grew during the happiness or sorrow that I experienced.  I didn't know how strong I was.