My life on the day of July 8, 1978: My husband passed away. This was a hard time for me. To start over again meant that I would have to pay all the bills, take care of all nine children alone, and one on the way. Doing this alone, Oh boy! What kind of trouble could I be in.

I was living in Boston with my nine children - 6 girls and 3 boys, ages from 2 to 12 years. I worked two jobs. I was a nurse's aide at a nursing home and I worked for Medical Resources and worked anywhere, from nursing homes to private homes.

My day started at 7 a.m. and I would get home at 11 p.m. Then I would do wash, clean, get things ready for the kids' next day. A friend would come to my house every day to watch my children. She worked weekends, and I would take care of her kids.

I did that kind of work for a long time.

Then the "hard times" came. First, my nine-year-old son caught a turtle and wouldn't let him go. He ended up falling the lake and almost drowned. Two young white boys in a boat saved him.

The same year, my four-year-old girl was playing on the sidewalk. A car drove up on the sidewalk and hit her, but she was all right.

Another thing that happened that year was my ten-year-old son was riding his bike in a parking lot. An eighteen-wheeler backed up and pinned him under the truck. The bike protected him, but he had tire marks on his shoulder. I said, "No more Boston!"

We moved to an apartment in Groton. The kids loved it, but the rent was too high. That's when we moved to an apartment in Worcester, in 1987. I worked in the Lutheran Home, my children went to school, and our luck turned better. I was able to buy a house and it worked out great but because of money we lost it. Now I live in a nice apartment with my daughter's family.

I started school at couple of years ago to learn to read and write. I still come to school but medical problems have made it difficult to come at times. But I'm still trying, and Kathy says I'm still improving!

I joined the Jehovah Witnesses and was baptized. I am now a Witness and enjoy my fellow brothers and sisters. My new skills in reading help me in Theocratic School and my Bible reading.

I am more relaxed than I was 26 years ago! My family is doing well and I'm doing things for myself.

I do thank Jehovah for His love that He gave me.