I woke up as a 6 year old terrified of the creatures that haunted
me in my dreams
I woke up at 10 to the sounds of screaming knowing that it wasn’t
ending soon
I woke up at 14 with a feeling hard to explain unless you’ve met
that boy that makes your heart skip
ten beats at a time
I woke up at 16 to a flutter that I knew wasn’t gas
I woke up at 17 to his cries of hunger knowing I’m all he has
I woke up at 19, 6am seems early for college algebra
I woke up at 20 with the utmost confidence that he will never hurt
me again
I woke up at 24 having no idea that this was the day that a man
would ask me to be his forever
I woke up at 25 with a new last name and the feeling of elation
I woke up at 26 to a suckling baby on my breast
I woke up at 30 with a sinking feeling, knowing I will never see
my grandma again
I awoke at 35 with the phone in my hand and fear in my chest as
I prayed, “God, please keep my son safe tonight”
I awoke at 38 with the call from our daughter that it’s time,
our first grandson is on his way
I awoke at 41 with anticipation knowing today we would give our
daughter away
I awoke at 42 and excitedly headed to the hospital to meet my
son’s son, what a delightful day
I awoke today, I thanked
God for waking me. For my parents, my husband, my kids and grandsons,
my home,
my friends, my business…for my life.
Today I live. I live
because I woke up, to Life
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| Chris and I at a wedding in 2014, Happily ever after. |


