Jennifer’s favorite Bible verse was Phil 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It is a verse that has served me and my family well, but never any more than during the past 18 months.

Today my heart is overflowing with thanksgiving for the grace God surrounds us with in our darkest hour of need and the blessings He showers upon us when we least expect it. And my platter of blessings is as overflowing as my heart. I am the proud mom to four of the most wonderful kids ever put on this earth and four grandchildren more precious than any nana could deserve. I don’t know what I would have done without them during these 18 months; in fact, I can’t imagine my life without them. While Jennifer and Jacob left this earth much too soon, their memories and the light that shined from them lives on. Death can rob us of many things but not our love and our memories and those will stay with us always until we are reunited again.

I am blessed with a wonderful stepson and his family and we were recently blessed with our newest addition that made me a great grand nana. It doesn’t get better than that………or does it.

Almost one year ago I met a man who has become a huge part of my life. When we met I never dreamed I could love someone so completely in such a short amount of time and that I could grow to love him even more with each passing day. Mike not only brought love and joy to my life he was vital to my healing and progress. I am a better person because of him and he inspires me to become even better. He is my confidant, my lover, my best friend. Just by being the wonderful human being he is, he wiped away my fears, my doubts and my sorrow. He renewed my faith and enabled me to dream again.

What started out to be one of the darkest periods of my life turned out to be a time of rebirth, healing, renewal of faith and the absolute best 18 months of my life. But then, isn’t that what God promises in that verse. I am blessed beyond measure and happy, happy, happy!