Katie closed her journal entries for 2009 by reflecting on a December that was a fitting end to a hard year! Everyone in our family got sick with strep the week before Christmas. We were so sick we could not even celebrate Katie's birthday (which happened to be our anniversary). However, everyone was back on their feet for our pilgrimage to Wisconsin to be with family for the holiday. Katie rejoiced at the splendid winter weather ... and the chance to go shopping with her mom. If you asked her at the time how she was doing, she would say, "Really well, and forever altered; deeply happy and profoundly emotional; up, and down!" Maybe her experience is not too far from your own. May her reflections strengthen you.