I woke up this morning....

I woke up this morning a 40 year-old breast cancer survivor.

I woke up this morning with a husband of 17 years that has shown me more ups and downs then any roller coaster at an amusement park.  He has driven me to a point of madness I felt nonreturnable, and shown me depths of love unspeakable.

I woke up this morning a mother of a nine-year-old boy almost as tall as me and a six-year-old much more precocious.  Two very different individuals that show such strength, courage, bravery, empathy, understanding, love, beauty, and power everyday that I think they were put here on this earth to teach me how to be a better person, not the other way around.

I woke up this morning in darkness.  And I prayed.  I thanked God for winning the cancer lottery.  I thanked him for a husband who can go days without sleep and still get me into a shower at 9:00 p.m. at night.  I thanked him for these amazing boys that have shown me a strength I never thought I had within me pulling me along through panic and through pain and past myself.

I woke up this morning confused.  Not only about where I was, but who I was.  When did I become this person?  When did I become braver than I believe, stronger than I seem, and smarter than I think.

I woke up this morning.  I looked in the mirror and I said, "Hello.  My name is strength, power, grace, beauty, and love.  It is very nice to meet you. 

I woke up this morning......