Seventeen years ago I had a baby girl and decided to name her Janie Samantha after the grandmothers of my ex and me.

Lord knows, ALOT has happened in 17 years--the times when I questioned my parenting skills...the times she made me so proud when she was honored for being an honor roll student.She was a latchkey kid for many years but she managed to make it through.

Just a few short months ago, she was near death after being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy--a heart disease the doctors at Duke said was truly rare for a girl her age.

But through all of this, today we celebrate and I ask that you join me in praising God for our children!

Peace & Blessings,

Beverly Mahone

Author, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

Purchase your copy of “Hope for the Holidays” at [Link Removed]

“I’m not a writer because I wrote a book. I wrote a book because I was inspired by God.”