When reality gets a bit too much to handle I have to stop and remember just exactly where I came from and WHO I came from.

I come from such incredible strength and hard work. Everything my family has, they have earned.

When I constantly experience struggle after struggle I try to remind myself it could be worse, but sometimes it still feels heavy.

I will never forget a story my grandfather told me: When his grandparents traveled to America from Norway, they had nothing and knew nobody. They traveled from New York to North Dakota with other Norwegians while his grandmother was pregnant with his dad. It was the middle of Winter when she gave birth to him, about two months early. He was a little bit of about 4 pounds. They kept him warm by placing him in a shoe box and surrounding it with bricks they warmed by the fire.

Those are hearty folks and those are my ancestors.

If they can survive situations like that as well as many other struggles then I can keep my faith that times will get better.