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My name is Barbara, but my friends call me Barb. I went to college for Criminal Justice, grad school for Elementary Education, and after working as a kindergarten teacher for 4 years, I was a stay at home mom for the next 18. I had four wonderful children. (Well, technically they are adults, but they will always be my babies.) When they eventually went to school all day, I went back to work as a nanny, a home healthcare worker, and a tutor. I went through a divorce after 25 years of marriage, and then reality struck me right in the face. I had to start over financially and navigate life differently.

I have always been a nurturer. I take care of my children, other people's children, my parents, other people's parents, and anyone else who comes into my life. What I was never good at, was taking care of me. But because of all the love I gave, it came back to me a hundredfold, and I am surrounded by loving friends and family who take care of me, for me.  They all helped me through it. 

I realized along the way, that I had a lot to share. God gave me the phrase a few years ago, "Happily Ever After After." I think He wanted me to know that although I had not gotten my "happily ever after", that I could still live happily ever after. After. After all the hurt, the breakups, the pain, the financial hardship, the confusion, the disillusionment. The ugly parts of life. He showed me that life doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. That no one promised me that life would be free from sucky stuff, but God could, and would, get me through it. He would not only get me through it, but He would make something beautiful out of the ugly. 

He doesn't waste our pain, friends. He just doesn't. I want to tell you more. I want you to tell me too. Tell me about your sucky stuff and how you got through it. I want us to learn from each other.  To heal, to grow, and to learn to live happily ever after, after.