My husband’s death was an event that completely changed my life. He was 36 years old when thieves murdered him. I was five months pregnant with my only daughter. I suffered a lot, but I came to understand that life is not guaranteed for any period of time.

Before that, I was young and thought that I had a whole life ahead of me, and that I would have everyone that I loved around me until I got old. When that happened, I changed completely. I started to be thankful for my life, my daughter, my family, my work and my friends, for staying here in the U.S., and for everything that I have. Now I try to be happy and make others happy, too. I raised my daughter in a very happy environment with no anger.

I try to live in the present, and the future I leave in the hands of God. I am a person who loves life and I always try to look at the bright side of things, good and bad. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Odete Resende has been here since August 1998. She is from Brazil. She works as a housecleaner. She wants to speak English very well and become an American citizen. She is an intermediate ESOL student at the Framingham Adult ESL Program.