In my last post Moving Forward: Accepting Change I talked about change being inevitable and the need to accept change and move on.
It had been my intention to share a couple of stories from my life to illustrate how I have accepted change. The post however would have turned into a book so I decided to split it up.
If you did not read my first post I suggest you do that to set the scene for this one. Here is the link again.
I have had many changes in my life but the first really big one out of my control happened several years into my marriage.
Marrying Ivan – A Change that was moving forward and accepting change in a nice way.
I married Ivan, my husband in 1981. That made me an instant step mother to Jason, Rebecca and Quentin.
It also meant I moved from Perth, the capital city of Western Australia to a town called Esperance on the south coast. Esperance had a population of about 6000 people and was a long way from the nearest town. This was a huge change for me.
I also gave up my management job in an Accountancy Practice.
It took me a while to adjust to the new life style but in the most it was easy. I had chosen these changes! I have learned over the years that makes a very big difference… change that we choose is easier to adjust to than those imposed upon us.
I went on to build a small accounting practice in the town and life was good. We lived right on the beach, I had made new friends and we had a nice lifestyle.
The next major change was another welcome one.
Our daughter Shannon was born in 1984. I decided to sell my accounting practice and be a full time mum. Ivan’s business was doing well so that seemed like the best decision for our family.
My only work commitment was going to be doing the accounting for my husband’s business which was a Farm Machinery Dealership.
Here is a picture of my Mum and Dad with Shannon as a new born. My parents were so happy as she was their first granddaughter.
As any of you who are parents know becoming a new parent takes adjustment and is an amazing change to your life. But for most of us we adjust to our new role.
Again in life as this was a change I had chosen so accepting this change was done very willingly.
We also had a Corgi dog as well as a cat I had before I married Ivan. Once again life was good and I was very happy.
Then came the real test – where moving forward and accepting change was much more difficult.
We got news that would change everything in our world. The parent company of the farm machinery we sold had gone into receivership when Shannon had just celebrated her first birthday.
We had tractors, headers and other farm machinery on floor plan (a system where you pay interest on the items until you sell them – I think it was around 18 per cent at the time!). We also had a high level of spare parts we owned. All of which pretty much became obsolete over night.
Moving Forward and Accepting Change
Just over a year later we closed our doors, sold what we could to clear our business debts (including our beach front house) and moved back to Perth to start again. Well it was back to Perth for me, but given my husband had grown up in the country and taken over the family business this was huge for him.
I was as optimistic as I could be and knew I could go back to my profession of accounting.
My dream to stay home with my daughter looked like it would not be realized but I knew I could feed us and I could see no other way.
I ended up working for the guys who had purchased my practice from me.
Ivan on moving forward and Accepting Change
Ivan was pretty confused and did not know what he could do. One thing he was very clear about was that he wanted to use what he had learned to help people not make the mistakes he believed he had made. Ivan went on to become an excellent financial planner and over time we had our own business with another partner.
So what did we learn?
Lesson 1
What did my husband believe he should have done differently?
It was to not have all of your eggs in one basket. We had a dealership with one organization and we basically lost it all when they had financial difficulties. It was very much like a franchise is today which can be great when all is going well and the company is financially strong.
Lesson 2
To have a business where we did not carry stock. We wanted a different model.
Lesson 3
To build a recurring income stream.
Lesson 4
And this is something we did not think about at the time but that change that can seem devastating when it happens can be a gift in disguise. Usually we can only see the gift later.
And in summary I have come to understand that moving forward and accepting change is much easier when we are choosing the changes.
Over to you have you had life changing events happen to you? How do you move on and accept the change?
I will be back with one more post in this series. Another one that was certainly not welcome.
Make it a great day.
Sue Price
Skype: sueprice
Click here to work with me personally
PS
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Sylviane Nuccio says
Hi Sue,
Yeah, I’m first here it seems.
As Americans say, we live and we learn. One of the reasons why I didn’t like network marketing where you had to have an inventory is just that, the inventory. Yuck, that’s not a good idea when you close shop for one reason or another. In your case it was even worse.
Whether we want it or not, our life does change, and any change we don’t choose may be hard to accept. God knows I had to accept lots of changes in my life, but still I survived and cultivate my happiness. If you don’t you’re toasted. That’s as simple as that!
Thank you for sharing your story, and your personal pictures. I love those 🙂 Beautiful!
Sue Price says
Hi Sylviane
Ah yes you are first here. 🙂
Yes that business really turned us off carrying inventory. In that case it was horrible.
Yes we do need to be able to accept what life throws at us or as you say we are toasted. I also know you have had many changes in your life and some that are not your choice. I am sure every human being can say the same.
It truly is not what happens to us so much but how we deal with it. Resisting and not moving forward is really crazy but there are times when I know I have felt stuck. Funnily enough the times like in this businesses I talked about I felt very positive about the future.
Thanks for liking my pictures. I went to find some to scan as they are prints before digital. I ended up wasting time looking through old photos but there are some great memories in there.
Thanks for your comment and I hope you are having a nice weekend Sylviane.
Sue
Harleena Singh says
Hi Sue,
A beautiful post indeed 🙂
It was lovely to go through this post and know more about Ivan and your kids. Yes, you all have surely been through a great deal, but as you mentioned – it’s something you chose to do. Like they say – the choices are always in our hands, and what we choose is what we willingly accept, so there should be no going back or feeling bad about things later then, isn’t it?
Well for me, the greatest change was switching over from my full time job to working from home – to leave the pay cheque I was getting there and trying to make it initially in the online world, which is SO uncertain. I guess because I wasn’t aware of how to go about things online, it took time, but not all that much and things picked up pace pretty soon. But it was a choice to do so and a good choice because I wanted to be with my kids, which was my priority.
I agree with your lesson of not putting all your eggs in one basket as some of us tend to do. Perhaps that’s why we’ve started doing a bit of everything so that if one suffers, one doesn’t lose much.
Overall, whether we like it or not, want it or not, our life will change. So, it’s better to move forward and accept that change happily and willingly.
Thanks for sharing. Have a nice weekend 🙂
Sue Price says
Hi Harleena
Yes we have been through a great deal in our lives and had some very good times and some not so good. But that is part of like and we have taken more risks than many. You are spot on in saying there is no going back and feeling bad later. I sometimes say stupid things like “if we had done this” and it is such a waste of time. I pick myself up very quickly. A friend of my mothers used to say “if is a very small word that in most cases should not be used” – she was meaning don’t get into “of only s”.
I am sure giving up a job and deciding to work from home was not an easy decision. Most of us were brought up to value having a job and it is scary to not have one. I think it is great that you made that choice Harleena. My only real regret is that I did not stay home with my daughter. There were not the options so much back then and it was me that became the major bread winner for a bit after this business closed. The sad part is you never get that time back. Now I would encourage any mother to do what you have done. Congratulations on having the courage to do what you did.
I am still trying to find the real balance between not having all my eggs in one basket and not spreading myself too far so nothing is properly successful. I am leaning 🙂
Yes life changes and some are good and some are not so good. Today in Australia is Fathers Day and it is the first one without my Dad. That is a change I feel sad about but of course death is part of life.
Thanks for your comment Harleena. You have a great rest of your weekend.
Sue
Harleena Singh says
Well, wishing you a very Happy Father’s Day as you mentioned it’s celebrated there today. I know your Dad’s not with you and I can understand how it must be feeling…but always remember that he remains with you in spirit and will always be your guardian angel. I can relate having lost my Mom a few years ago. Yes, death is a part of life and we all have to accept it.
Thanks once again 🙂
Sue Price says
Thank you so much Harleena. You are such a good, thoughtful person. Yes I know he is with me in spirit and I must remember that. Thank you.
Have a great day.
Sue
William Butler says
Hello Sue,
Thank you for sharing your story. I learned to adapt to change and to become resilient at a very young age, having lived in orphanages and receiving homes. I joined the military when I was 17, where the discipline of that mindset also helps you to adjust rather quickly.
I have learned that changes in life, as well as whatever we accumulate, all have ‘attendant care and concern’ attached to them.
Reinhold Niebuhr wrote, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” This is my favorite thought on the concept of change.
Kind Regards,
Bill
Sue Price says
Hi Bill
Wow now I have just learned something about you. I am sure you had to adapt many times as a young person. I am sure the military at least provided you with a sense of belonging.
I love how you put ‘attendant care and concern’ attached to them. So true.
Ah you have said my very favorite quote. It is the one I put first on my Facebook profile. If there is something in my life I do not like then I ask myself if it is something that I can change or not. I base my actions on that quote. For many years I had it posted on my office wall.
Thanks for your comment Bill.
Have a great weekend.
Sue
Arleen says
Sue- Boy I think we all go through changes. I was married at 18 years old and had a son when I was nineteen. When I look back now I have no idea how I did it. After a year or so I went back to college to get my degree and during that time I had another child. That put college off for another year and half. I finally graduated from college. I then went to work selling real estate in California. My husband lost his job and the closest job he could find was New Jersey as he was offered a job in England. The hardest thing I had to do was leave my family and move across the United States, to a state that was in no comparison to California. After selling real estate in California I had a good referral base. I had to start all over again and that was hard. It really takes a good 2 years to start making any kind of money. My husband’s job didn’t pay much so it was tough for many years.
After selling real estate for years and finally becoming successful, I made a real life altering change, I started by own business at 50 years old. I was number in the office and the manager said I can’t give you the recognition as it is going the person that always receives the award. I don’t think I would have taken the path of starting a new business if this had not happened. Yes it was a real change but one that I am thankful for.
Sue Price says
Hi Arleen
Wow you have had a very interesting journey. Having children at such a young age must have been challenging but I know you would have just done it. Good on you for persevering and finishing college. Not everyone would have done that. It says a lot about you.
I can imagine moving from one side of the USA to the other would have been difficult. It is nice to be near our family when we have young children and I know it is difficult to move like that. I have not been to the east coast yet but I love California and have been there quite a few times. Starting a business again when you once had a referral base is also tough.
And yes starting a business at 50 is very brave but I can see why you did. I would have been so angry if that happened to me when you were number 1. Clearly that real estate business were the losers when you left.
Thanks for sharing some of your journey Arleen. Most of us have amazing stories and I love hearing about others.
I hope you are having a nice weekend.
Sue
Silviu says
Hi Sue,
Did you know you have storytelling talents? The article is beautiful and challenging. I like the pictures. Especially the first one. I think I know that lady from somewhere … 🙂
Change always happen in our lives. In the modern world change is even more present and more important than it was in the past. Dealing with the change, accepting it, moving forward is a whole art in itself.
People need to learn how to deal with change. Otherwise you can get into what Alvin Toffler called “Future shock” and suffer a lot.
The topic is extremely important. Maybe you could write another article someday in the future.
Have a beautiful day
Sue Price says
Hi Silviu
Ah thank you for saying that about my story telling. I keep hearing advice that we should tell our stories more online as it is what people connect with. We all have experiences in our life and we can learn from others.
Those pictures have some lovely memories 🙂
I agree that now in the modern world we are dealing with change at a much faster pace that in the past. I look at young children now seeming to be born with computer skills.
Accepting change is an art in itself as you say. There are still people who resist but I think most of us know we must adapt.
Now that is one book I still have not read “Future Shock” it was on my must read list so you have reminded me.
I will write another one very soon. There is a “next chapter” to this story which was perhaps the most difficult one for me. It has taken me a long time to be willing to write about this but there are lessons in there people can learn from.
I hope you are having a nice weekend. Thanks for your comment Silviu.
Sue
Dana says
Hi Sue,
Ok, first of all, I LOVE the pics. Very cool to be able to get a glimpse into your past. You were as adorable then as you are now.
Secondly – yes, I can absolutely relate to having to make changes. My folks, many years ago, had decided to pack up and leave the country. They took my baby sister, of course, along with the family dog and LEFT.
I was a young adult at the time, very confused and very dependent on them. So this move was not only scary for me, but heartbreaking.
I cried a lot, felt lonely and suffered panic attacks frequently.
Truth is though, this change, which was completely out of my hands, ended up being one of the best things that ever happened to me. While there was a lot of pain involved, it forced me to buck up and start taking responsibility for my life.
As a result, my relationships with my family changed as well. They had been very nervous for me at one point – and now we’re really close with a level of such mutual respect. They’ve moved back since – and we enjoy each other’s company immensely.
What the whole thing ended up teaching me was that one of the best ways to love someone is to be an asset to their lives – or at least to stop being a liability.
I had been a liability and it took the pain of this change to help me identify this and use it for what it was worth.
Now I get to be an asset.
So, yes – change in any form can be scary. It’s up to us to decide how to define it I suppose.
And it seems as though you’ve also figured this out as well 🙂
I enjoyed the post Sue. Awesome!
Sue Price says
Hi Dana
Thanks for your comment on the pictures. Finding them took me a some trips down memory lane. Thanks for the compliment. I was very think then though 🙂
Thanks for sharing your story with us. Wow that would have been scary when your parents left. Where did they go to? You have me curious now 🙂
That is about the opposite from my story with my family. I did the leaving much to my parents heartbreak. Until they went into care late last year they had lived in the same house for 56 or 57 years.
I totally understand the way your describe your relationship with them and how it is now. I also see how it would have made you become more responsible. I did that the first time I left the state where I grew up and went to another one and then moved to the UK. That was absolute grow up time.
Change does happen to us all and we either accept it or not. You and I have decided to accept and deal with our lives.
Thanks for sharing your story Dana. Now I know more about you too. 🙂
Have lovely weekend.
Sue
Viola Tam says
Hi Sue,
What a beautiful story of positive change! Ivan and you have so much to offer to others because of what you have shared here. Congratulations to you both, especially to Ivan who was initially confused.
I can totally relate to Lesson Number 1. While we were in Hong Kong, Tim and I both had a good income. We were able to lead a comfortable life without even have to budget. When we migrated to Sydney, I chose to be home with my kids. That was when the single-income journey started. We had to learn to budget and spend our savings more carefully.
I could sense the stress that Tim was having when his ex-boss wanted to sell her business. I could also see how insecure it was to have all eggs in one basket!
As you can imagine, we educated our daughters to be wiser. Now all of them are in network marketing. Although they are not serious enough to build a substantial extra stream of income, they are there doing the business low-key! My youngest daughter Jessica is also writing her first young adult’s novel.
I totally agree with you that even seemingly devastating changes can be a gift in disguise. Thank you for your insights, Sue!
Viola Tam – The Business Mum
Sue Price says
Hi Viola
It was a story of that did have a happy ending 🙂
I can imagine it was scary for you and Tim to even move to Australia and leave Hong Kong but going down to one income would have been life changing. It is much more difficult to learn to adjust our lifestyle down that up. I have done both a few times over.
You certainly have gone through your share of changes Viola. Great that you have educated your daughters about residual incomes and even if they are not building a business seriously they are doing it. And a novel on the way. That is awesome. My daughter is a great writer and story teller and I would love her to do the same. When she was young she wanted to be a writer.
Thanks for sharing some of your journey here with us Viola.
I hope you are having a nice weekend.
Sue
Donna Merrill says
OMG Sue..
I love this series. Thank you so much for being so candid as a fine example of how life goes through many changes. Just when you think you might be “settled” things change.
We have to always learn from our pitfalls and never ever give up. We learn the best that way don’t we?
I have gone through so many changes in my personal life and business life. People always tell me how “strong” I am. But it is not a question of strength, rather sheer adaptability. It’s like survival of the fittest to me. There was a time where I had so much money, then left my husband with everything except my daughter. That was the best decision I ever made.
I picked myself up, got re-educated, and went on with my life. I had many of my own businesses and still do. So flop, some are successful. But the most important lesson I have ever learned is NEVER put your eggs in one basket.
-Donna
Sue Price says
Hi Donna
I am glad you like this series. Wait til you hear the next chapter 🙂 I have had so many experiences I decided I should be sharing more about them.
We do learn form our pitfalls for sure. I know I have learned much more from my failures then I ever have from my successes. I have had plenty of both too.
I know you have also had many changes. It must have taken courage to leave your husband but then you are strong. I think staying in a relationship that is not right for us is the worst thing yes so many people do it.
Well done on moving on with your life and making the changes you have. And eventually you found David and have an awesome relationship.
Life is not all high times for sure but if we can get through the difficult times with the right attitude we always grow.
I hope you are loving your new home and are settled in.
See you this week I hope.
Sue
Adrienne says
Love the photos Sue, thanks for sharing some of your background with us. I’ve always thought you’re a very beautiful lady inside and out and I noticed that you just keep getting prettier and prettier. I’m sure Ivan thinks so too.
I use to hate change. It’s only because we get so comfortable where we are that our thinking is if it works so well now then why do things have to change! Well, my life has taken some drastic turns as well that were totally out of my control. At the time I was devastated and was for years. Even today I can’t say that those changes were for the best because I really wanted my life to turn out different then it is today. Not that I’m not happy, I think I’ll always be happy but the fact that I was never a mother still upsets me at times. I have no idea what God was thinking cause I would have been a terrific Mom.
I think that for a lot of people though they aren’t willing to open up to change until something drastic happens like a health scare or loss of their business. Just like Ivan and his business, that use to be the way to have success. Little were you aware that there needed to be much more. It’s not until something horrible happens that we soon realize that it ended up being for the best because it was a powerful lesson you had to learn.
The only good thing about that is that you can now teach others as well. Unfortunately I still have a feeling a lot of people won’t take your advice though until they hit rock bottom but at least there are several people eager to learn.
Thank you again Sue for sharing part of your life with us. I thoroughly enjoyed these two posts and thanks again.
Have a beautiful week and hope you’re feeling so much better today.
~Adrienne
Sue Price says
Hi Adrienne
Aw shucks thank you so much. You know Ivan does think I get prettier. I was very very skinny when I married him as I had caught a gastro bug in the Philippines and could not keep any food down for months. When I finally got over that I did not put the weight back on for a very long time. He thinks I look so much better now. From the inside I think I am a better person now as I am more in balance.
I know you have had some terrible stuff thrown at you Adrienne and changes way outside your control. Yes you would have been a beautiful Mom and only God knows the why in this one. I sometimes really question why people who so badly would love kids for some reason cannot have them or do not and others who pump out baby after baby neglect them. To me that just does not make sense. I can only think we all came into this life for our own lessons.
Recently I was lunching with a few women friends celebrating one of their birthdays. I have only lived in this town 8 years so mostly newish friends. There is one woman here I went to Uni with though and we go back a very long way. But the rest newish. There were 7 of us. Only 3 had children. Someone made a comment that 4 had chosen not to have children. The truth was only one had chosen. The other 3 for different reasons did not or could not. All of those 3 are like you and wished they had.
Yes you are spot on about Ivan and the change for him. I would never have got him out of that town and you know I reckon as much as I love him I would not have stayed. He now looks at his cousins and people there and thanks God for that business failure and him moving on. It is interesting how it works.
You are probably right (unfortunately) that many people will not listen to me until they hit rock bottom. But then hopefully I can show them you can pick yourself up and start again. Having said that Adrienne there are a couple of people I have given very strong business advice to because of my experiences and they have listened.
I am so glad you have enjoyed these posts. I am feeling much better and hopefully will see you tomorrow.
Thanks so much for your awesome comment.
Sue
Barbara Charles says
Sue,
Thanks for sharing your story. It really think the tips you gave were perfect for getting on with your life in ‘life’ gets in the way and change comes. Adjusting and always thinking positive is the best way to get through life changes.
And I enjoyed getting to know more about you. It’s also nice to know that other people have life changes and survive them and go on to be successful and have a better life.
Change is not the end and the personal and spiritual growth is often a reward that we do not feel at the time. Thanks for letting people know this.
Barbara
Sue Price says
Hi Barbara
It has been good to share this story as I had forgotten just how much I have managed to pack in so far. Change happens to us all and yes we need to be positive and move forward.
I have loved in writing about me and my journey others are sharing theirs. We all have changes thrown at us at times that are not our choice and we need to move on.
I think you nailed the most important point here Barbara in saying that we experience personal and spiritual growth through change. And you are spot on most times we do not feel it at the time. Mostly we resist and cannot see a good outcome. But most times there is a learning and growth for us.
Thanks for your comment and for sharing my journey in the connection we have Barbara.
Sue
Pramod says
Hi Sue !
One thing that i really liked in your story is that you and your husband never gave up in difficult situations and you always supported your husband.I wish you more success in your businesses 🙂 , Please keep sharing such experiences with us !
Thanks for sharing .
-Pramod
Sue Price says
Hi Pramod
No we never gave up for sure. It never occurred to either of us to do that. I had some people I know say to me I should leave Ivan when the business had to be closed. I was so shocked. I cannot believe someone would even think about leaving their spouse in tough times. We were in life together.
Thanks for your comment Pramod and I will share a couple more on this topic 🙂
Sue
Gladys says
Hello Ms. Sue
First I love all of your pictures. We embrace them as we embrace you.
Changes are the ingredients we all need to continue on the path of Personal Development.
As I read your article, I thought “Wow Ms. Sue is so resilient”. You are a strong level headed person because of all the changes you accepted in your life. I am very thankful because I am getting to know you.
I too have been through many difficult times that created changes for me. In the coming weeks I will share some of the most difficult times I experienced due to sexual abuse. But I am an overcomer and I have no scars to show. The trauma caused changes, but I love my life and even though changes are constant, we all need them.
Accepting the things we cannot change is the key.
Ms. Sue you are a pearl of great price.
Thank you for sharing from your heart.
Gladys recently posted Four Tips To Create Change In Our Beliefs
Sue Price says
Hi Gladys
Thank you for the comment on my pictures and embracing me. I so appreciate it. I have had such a trip down memory lane going through old photos.
Ah yes resilient I am. I never thought lying down and not trying again was an option. I am glad to share myself and love that it is also encouraging others to share more of themselves. Our online relationships deepen in that way.
Oh wow Gladys at least I can say that sexual abuse was not in my life. I have many friends that were sexually abuses though and some have let it stop them in life and it is an excuse while others have used it as fuel to be greater. You of course have done the second thing I named.
I am so happy to hear you have no scars. I think it is great you are going to share more because there are people living with it who will benefit.
Yes accepting the things we cannot change is the key. It is the key to our happiness.
Gladys thank you so much for the lovely words about me. I am most comfortable when I come from my heart. Thank you and bless you.
Sue
Mayura says
Hi Sue,
It’s very nice to see some photos from your albums dear 🙂 Love the wedding photo. A beautiful family!
Gosh… Changes over and over! Even chances turned into difficulties. Must be a tough time with little kids by your side. But love when I read how you made the hurdles dear. No overnight, but gradual improvement, eh?
I really like to read how flexible you both were when it comes to critical situations. If one of you resisted to change, that could be greatly affected on your family. Isn’t it? Too much risk! I believe that understanding between each others is a great deal in such scenarios. ‘Cause I find some families in the neighborhood which raising children with financial difficulties, but no improvement. Just blame someone else for their problems which I hate to hear.
Inspiring indeed Sue! It opens up our thinking cap and allow us to be prepared for worst situations 🙂 A wise decision to be made.
You have a lovely weekend over there dear 🙂
Cheers…
Sue Price says
Hi Mayura
Ivan and I have had an interesting journey with some great successes and some scary down times. You are spot on the fact we stuck together to overcome them got us through. It is really awful to see people blaming others about their situation as you have described. That gets no one anywhere and just builds resentments.
Everyone has difficulties in their lives and we all have challenges. We can either tackle them and move on or we become very bitter. I never choose that way.
It was tough with little kids but that is when my Mum and Dad were still very fit and active and they helped us so much. I am not sure how we would have done the same without them.
Thanks again for your comment Mayura.
Have a great day.
Sue
Dee Ann Rice says
Sue,
I really love your series on accepting change. This is so good and makes me really look at myself. I will have to say I have not done a very good job of getting over here in a timely manner lately. I do fully intend to read and comment on this entire series though.
I will have to fully agree with you that accepting change we choose is much easier to do then change that is imposed on us.
You reminded me of me when I was reading this post. I also was married in 1981. I did not have any stepchildren though. My oldest daughter was born in 1983 and was the oldest grandchild on both sides. All were changes I choose and easily accepted.
The first change that was imposed on me was when I was very young. I was 18 months old when my older sister died. One day she just did not come home. I waited for her at the front window for months. This was a change that has taken me my entire life to deal with.
I have always said that change is good and makes us grow. I still think that is true but some changes are just a lot harder to deal with than others.
Dee An
Sue Price says
Hi Dee Ann
Please do not be concerned with being late here. I know how busy you are. I too have not made the rounds at all in a timely manner lately as I had a month of illness and just got so behind. Life happens to us all!
Interesting that we were both married in the same year and your daughter was born the year before mine. And yes these were changes that were much easier to accept for sure.
I felt so much emotion just thinking of you as a little girl waiting for your sister, That must have been so confusing for you so young. I have heard children do not understand death until they are around 8 years of age. Not sure if that is accurate but it is what I have read. I can see that would take you a life time to deal with. So sad for your parents and whole family too.
Change does in the main make us stronger but it can make us bitter and a whole bunch of other things too. I have seen that happen to people as I am sure you have.
Thanks for making it over here Dee Ann. I loved reading more about you from Adrienne. I did not know that bit of history 🙂
Have a great week.
Sue