Gentle joy...sweet, sweet life here...

Sweet, simple Friday afternoon....it is the middle of September and I am sitting at this little laptop of Caroline's, reflecting on the joys and the sweetness of my life as it is today. It was a season of losses, one after the other this year, coming fast and furious and almost before I could catch my breath in between them. Everything started one year and about one week ago, on Chloe's 13th birthday. That's the day that David decided to leave for a surfing trip and never come home. By October, I was aware that my marriage was definitely ending, and realizing sadly that our time in Florida was also coming to an abrupt end. We lost our dear cat, Emma Sr. in October. In November we left our home and moved to Georgia. The girls lost their schools and friends. In December I found out my dad had colon cancer. In January, I missed Caroline's 11 th birthday altogether because I was in Tennessee, sitting by the bed of my dying father. In February, my dad - Jack Lynn Surgenor - died and went to be with the Lord he loved so much. Also in February, my marriage suffered the final blow. After asking me to come back to him, in January, and meeting with me on Valentine's Day weekend, David decided, once and for all, that he truly did NOT want the marriage after all and that ended. On April 7, I lost my beloved cat Nini. In May, on the 6th, we lost our strong, sweet dog Dottie Rose. In June, a man I was interested in decided to date someone else. In July, my sweet faithful dog Ruffy got critically ill but we did NOT lose him, praise God! Also in July, the man I liked came back, setting the tide to turn. In August, we got a house. In September, which is now, my life is coming about. I have a sweet home, our dogs are healthy, and I am in a very strong relationship.