Have you ever felt like you were born under a malevolent star? That’s how my life has felt lately. Between health crises, worries and concerns, it has been a year to remember and not in a good way. To frost the devil’s cake, I fell about a week ago and bashed my already arthritic knee, fractured a rib, and attempted to open a door with my cheekbone resulting in a black eye. I am not relating this to elicit sympathy—rather to make a point.

So, here I am, laid up and in serious pain, unable to do much. My husband is recovering from surgery. And there’s just the two of us—and the dog, who also needs attention and to be walked.

All of this reminds me of how lucky we are to have friends and family who care about us. People have brought us delicious dinners, and offered to do whatever we need. One couple, long term friends, drove and hour and a half to visit and took my hubby out for pizza (I hurt too much to go).

Another friend sat with my hubby while I went to the hospital to get checked out, and made him dinner. Then she drove to the hospital in the middle of the night to pick me up from the ER.

And our families have been a tremendous support—my sister-in law- Connie, is here for a couple of weeks to help out. (That is me singing the Hallelujah chorus you hear!) Our daughter was able to get away from work at a crucial time and was here to help out. And my hubby’s brother will arrive the day Connie leaves.

So even though this has been a terrible, trying time—we have much to be grateful for— one another, our daughter, our families and our friends. It’s hard enough to face the sometimes bumpy road ahead—but thank God, we don’t travel this journey alone.