hard times?

no washer
no dryer

one car that starts intermittently
one van that needs perhaps ten minutes to warm up.  if not, it won't reverse, or shift from first to second gear.

don't ask about the home life

no money for Christmas
no way to earn more

a worry about bills that are coming
a worry about a daughter's future

a wish for peace

yet

i may have beaten this cancer thing
i may have taught a boy to read (who i thought would never read)
i may have given a boy a love for math (who i thought would never algebra)

(yes, algebra is a verb)

a feeling that i've grown closer with the kids through this.... that they have grown up (in a good way)

a feeling that i can see this through, if i just organize better

a feeling of tired hope

why must i endure so much?  so i can get much.... by learning to handle it all.

let the lessons continue......