It's been eight months since I left my ex-husband. Only a few months really, but so much healing has happened in my life in that short amount of time. I posted a while back about the biggest difference between now and then being hope. That's still true. I used to be so stuck, and now I can dream and see so many possibilities for my life. Recently my mom and I went to my former town for the weekend. I was able to attend church where I attended for 5 1/2 years. I saw friends that I have been missing. It really was a good time! I've mentioned before that before I left I really had a hard time keeping myself together. I was constantly on the verge of tears. I'm sure anyone who wasn't oblivious could see it. That's why it was good to hear a couple of the comments that weekend from some of the people that I used to go to church with. One lady told me I was beautiful. I know we usually think of beauty as clear skin, straight teeth, stylish clothes, and carefully-...

Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Shouldn't there be thorns among the roses? Unfortunately, that's not how life works sometimes. We want our life to have roses, but it has thorns instead. But I think if we look close enough we can see some roses among those thorns. Sometimes they are pretty hidden and we have to really pay attention. It's interesting how marrying my husband brought so much heartache to my life, but at the same time brought me blessings. Marrying him was a huge mistake, and if I could tell my younger self what to do, I would say don't do it. BUT if I hadn't married him I wouldn't have been able to attend the church I attended for over 5 years and made so many great friends. I have some girlfriends now that I consider best friends from my years in McMinnville. My life is so much richer because of them! What about my husband's family that I now consider my own? They are awesome! Every time that the whole group gets t...