My, how things change in 3 years...

The past three years haven't flown by, but the past year has. I've experienced love and loss all in a year. But this time it's different. I've found my soul mate finally and married him on April 4, 2015.

I'm so thankful that the Lord saw fit to bring him into my life when I needed him. I have been through so much with Chuck in the past year that we've known each other. He's been with me through all of it, holding my hand. They say that true love hits you in the face, but I know that isn't true in my case. It grows from like to love over the course of many conversations and actions. Sometimes I wonder how I could ever find a man as wonderful as Chuck to love me and all of my faults. But I know it was God who led us to each other. He knew I needed Chuck and that Chuck needed me. I'm beyond blessed.

In December, we lost my Uncle Robert, who was very dear to me. I know I didn't always tell him that I loved and appreciated him, but I know he knew.

He was the head of our family - the one who prayed for you and treated you like an adult. He told the best stories about his life and I was blessed to hear his stories. I even have a recording of him telling me stories about his life on my old interview recorder that I need to get transferred over to a CD. My Uncle Robert encouraged me to sing and he taught me so much about God's word. I'll never forget him calling me Hadassah, which is Jewish for Esther. He was a wonderful man and he blessed so many people in his life. He brought so many people to know God and I know that I was beyond blessed to have him in my life as a father figure.

Even four months later, when I go to church, I see him in my mind leading the singing and hearing his tenor voice blend with the choir. I hear him singing with me "I Have Found a Hiding Place." I will never forget the special moments we shared singing in church.

Even though I have worries right now, I'm really a blessed girl to have such a wonderful family. And my new extended family is wonderful too. They have accepted me into their homes and hearts as one of their own and I am truly thankful and wonderfully blessed to be a part of their lives and family.