It's been a tough couple years for our family. Between layoffs for both my husband and I, my husband's recent diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes and numerous other life roadblocks it's hard to feel like life will ever hand you a break. Trying to survive in times where unemployment pays less than 1/2 of your normal income, Peter gets robbed and Paul still has his hand out. I think you get the picture - like many others, we've struggled to stay afloat mentally, physically and emotionally the last couple years. I'm a pretty positive individual, but I won't lie...I had my moments of stomping my feet and howling "THIS IS NOT FAIR." 

During the roughest part of the last year, when it seemed like I was having difficulty putting one foot in front of another, I found myself saying out to no one in particular, "can I please just get a break?" I pleaded with the universe to give me a sign that all was going to be ok. Something. ANYTHING!

And then I came home to a letter in my mailbox from my beloved aunt and uncle.

It began, "Dear Eric and Chellie, we will be taking an Alaskan cruise in June of 2012 and would like to pay for you to go with us on vacation for 7 days." It went on to say that they were inviting all 17 of their nieces and nephews and spouses for a kind of family reunion. Cousins would be seeing each other for the first time in decades, kids from 6 different families coming together to share some time together and with Uncle Mick and Aunt Janice. 

The generosity of this gift was and is overwhelming to me and they will never know how hard it is for me to not be able to say thank you enough. They do not know that the timing of their gift coincided with my plea to the universe to let me know that it was all going to be ok. Maybe not today, but things would get better. 

So Friday, I will board a ship that will take me through the Alaska interior with almost 40 family members. And every moment of every day, I will try to remember that we are not alone, even when we feel like we are alone. That when we need an answer from God or the universe or the fates, that we just need to ask. It doesn't mean we will get an all expense paid 7 day vacation, but there are answers out there. And that it WILL be ok if we just hang on a little bit longer. You know what they say - when you reach the end of the rope, tie a knot and hang on. 

Here's wishing you the answers you are looking for. And if you feel like I did that life gives you the answer to help you look past the tough times and hang on for the good times.