What life has taught me...

"The best way out is always through...."

"Pain nourishes courage...you can't be brave if you have only had wonderful things happen to you."

I feel that life is a lesson.  God has each step paved and planned for you and he hopes that you learn the lesson he is trying to teach with each movement.  It is hard to see the positive in each negative and I continue to struggle with that on a daily basis...however it is becoming easier.  Our family has really pulled together with the recent battles with cancer...we can not actually travel the journey for them, but we can be there every step of the way for them to lean on us or to be picked up when they feel they can not fight any longer.  We have always been close as family but it is on a whole new level post-diagnosis.  If we can get through this, we can get through anything.  That's the way I see life now.

Working in the oncology field and dealing with oncology in my home life has really put things in perspective.  I see patients face huge issues on a daily basis and they still come in and greet me with a smile - it puts money troubles, small disagreements, and so on in perspective.  Life could be a lot worse. 

Unfortunately, life after marriage hasn't been all fairytale like - there are those certain individuals that have tried to make it as hard as possible on us.  I still have yet to figure out the reasoning behind it...but all I know is that they way they acted during our engagement, the day of our wedding, and the stuff said there after is completely unacceptable and will never be forgotten or forgiven.  We have not let them get to us as they have hoped, but it has been a struggle.  We have finally gotten to the point where we have cut them out of our lives almost completely.... my life's struggles have given me the strength to just walk away and not look back.  It is probably easy because they are not my family...I know it bothers Lance a great deal more then it does me.  I don't miss them at all but I know that Lance still does.  It hurts him that people so close to him would act so horribly to him and the woman he loves.  Anyhow, I know that life is too short to constantly deal with drama and as long as they are thriving on hurting others and gossiping constantly...we are staying away!   That's what just has to happen.  I have so much on plate right now...I just can't handle much else. 

The positive that has come out of their negativity is it has really made me appreciate my family.  Their unconditional and never ending love and support has really shone through to both Lance and I...it has shown us that we would rather use someone like them for role models of our future family.  It's sad that life has turned out this way regarding us and their's relationship...however, we are thinking of us first and they were damaging our relationship instead of encouraging and helping us grow.  People like that do not need to be involved in us.  As sad as it is, this is just how it has to be!