For Kristy Baker, growing up in Guthrie, Oklahoma, couldn't have been more ideal. Loving parents, lifelong friends and summers spent playing tennis and swimming at the country club was all she needed for a happy, simple life. It wasn't always perfect dealing with an annoying brother and pesky neighbourhood boys, but these were small bumps in the road of her young life. Ironically, surviving a tornado even brought her true love. As Kristy grew older, she began to realize that life's not perfect. Tragedy struck Kristy twice and her life began to spiral down. Struggling to get through the hardships, she hit many walls. Perseverance, faith and the love of her young son, family and friends, gave Kristy the motivation to keep going. Fate brought Kristy together with Laura Dixon, another single mother of a four-year-old boy. Laura found the courage to leave her physically and emotionally abusive husband and ended up in Guthrie at the same diner Kristy worked. Laura, having no plans and nowhere to go, was convinced by Kristy to come and live with her and her son Logan. Supporting each other through their healing, they became like sisters and their sons, inseparable. Things couldn't be any better. However, life once again disrupts their happiness by separating the friends for eight long years. They meet up again under unfavourable circumstances involving their now teenage sons. This is a story of accepting the good with the bad and how with love, a positive attitude and the willingness to reach out for help....good always wins. Marilyn, the youngest of four, was born in Casper, Wyoming. Having lived in Denver then Oklahoma City, at four years old, her family moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She grew up in Calgary but did move to Spokane, Washington to pursue a career teaching high school and middle school special education. The love of Calgary and the beautiful Canadian Rockies brought her back to her home. Marilyn loves to travel, play tennis, badminton, curl, ski and hike. She is an avid sports fan, loves going to movies and reading. Her biggest passion is her family and is very proud to be the mother of her daughter, Charlotte. Accepting your life unconditionally means you embrace the good times and when hard times hit, you find the strength to persevere through, knowing that happiness and joy are right around the corner. This isn't easy but not doing anything to change your situation is the wrong choice. Take that first step towards joy by asking for help from family, friends and the many support groups waiting to help. Both of these women in this story would have continued to spiral down if they hadn't taken that first step. One was abused and the only way for it to stop was to leave with her young son. If she had stayed, she may have ended up dead. The other woman, having experienced a life changing tragedy, never gave up. Every time life pushed her down, she stayed positive and fought for her happiness and her young son's. She lived her life knowing there are ups and downs and she accepted it and stayed true to herself. She loved herself, her family and friends unconditionally. At the back of the book, there is a short list of crisis hotlines, website and support groups that are waiting to help people with depression, domestic abuse, PTSD, bereavement, teenage issues, addiction and the list goes on. Don't do this alone. Live a life with kindness, self-love and a positive attitude. With this you will have strength to get through anything and find happiness.
About the Author: Marilyn, the youngest of four, was born in Casper, Wyoming. Having lived in Denver then Oklahoma City, at four years old, her family moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She grew up in Calgary but did move to Spokane, Washington to pursue a career teaching high school and middle school special education. The love of Calgary and the beautiful Canadian Rockies brought her back to her home. Marilyn loves to travel, play tennis, badminton, curl, ski and hike. She is an avid sports fan, loves going to movies and reading. Her biggest passion is her family and is very proud to be the mother of her daughter, Charlotte.