Centerville, Ohio

Everyone has their own journeys in life and this is mine. I have been married to a wonderful man of 16 years. He took in my two children at the time, two and six years old and raised them as his own. Together we added two more children, so now we are a family of 6. He loved his job, we loved our life and I was able to be a stay at home mom.

On November 4, 2012 our lives were about to change into a downward spiral, up and down roller coaster, hectic and sometime neurotic episodes. My husband at age 48 was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer.

To add to the shock, four months later on March 16, 2013, I was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. I am a (almost) four year survivor but unfortunately my loving husband passed away on August 24, 2016.

I started back to school last August (2015) when my husband’s disability was finally approved.

Things have been very difficult financially, emotionally, mentally, and physically. I have tried very hard to keep going with my head held up and keep things going positively for the kids. I have a tremendous amount of support from my family, church family and friends.

Someone blessed our family with a Christmas jar this Christmas, our first Christmas without my beloved husband. I am so beyond thankful for the generous heart of someone else. One day when I am on my feet again, I will be paying it forward for someone else.

I miss my husband everyday, but someone out there was thinking about us this Christmas…it makes me feel a little less lonely and a lot more thankful for the angels in my life.