A Life Worth Living

By Nadine G. Therriault

Poetry is a lens through which I view the world. This book is a collection of poems that are an exploration and resolution of events within my personal life plus reflections on the events that occurred during this time period.

These events range from recovery from divorce to writing my dissertation to world events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall to the first Iraq war to the move in Russia from Communism to capitalism in 1990. In addition, I am moved by nature, effects of seasons, and processes of transformations illustrated by rocks becoming soil, green leaves changing to fall colors, seeds growing into plants.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514424704

Nadine G. Therriault

Yes, this has been a life worth living expressed in the poetry I wrote along the way. From the pits of despair when my husband left me to mountaintop experiences years later when I graduated with a PhD in the department of agronomy, Colorado State University, and then later recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia Assembly as conservation educator of the year in 2008. I found that some experiences along the way were one step forward then one or two back, but I kept my eye on the prize, which is now being played out in retirement and will be finished when I join my Lord in heaven.

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A Life Worth Living

Nadine G. Therriault

Copyright © 2016 by Nadine G. Therriault.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Scriptures used in this book are from Holy Bible, New International Version 1978 by New York International Bible Society.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 02/26/2016

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This autobiography of prayer poems is for my two daughters.

Additionally, these words are dedicated to the many women who walked beside me as I traversed the terrain of mountaintops, valleys, and sometimes the deep crevasses of despair found along my path.

These words of prayer were and are offered to my Lord and Savior, who walked beside me in my journey into wholeness.

Yes, this has been a life worth living. From the pits of despair to graduating from graduate school with a PhD, to being recognized by the joint houses of the state legislature for my teaching, to watching both my daughters graduate from high school and college, to seeing them happily married and give me six grandchildren.

Yes, I have been truly blessed.

Acknowledgment

The beautiful picture on the cover of my book was taken by my friend Laura Neal on August 29, 2015, of the Chesapeake Bay from Silver Beach, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. This picture captures my life. The afterglow has been beautiful.

The picture of daylily fields in the poem Renewal was taken by my friend Susan Sterrett, a gifted research scientist who I collaborated with in some research projects. This has turned into a lasting friendship.

Contents

Acknowledgment

1. My Reason for Writing

2. Struggle through the Darkness of Life

3. I Took Communion Today

4. I Became Unglued Today

5. He Restoreth My Soul

6. In Touch

7. The Struggle to Be

8. Freedom

9. Escape

10. Discovering

11. Water

12. The Tears of Life

13. Remember and Focus

14. Pondering

15. A Collection of Short Verses as I Traverse Time

16. Celebration

17. Renewal

18. Beginnings

19. Frustration

20. Juggling the Demands of Life

21. Victory through a Focus on Christ

22. Standing in Defense

23. Struggling Again

24. Fourth of July

25. Commitment

26. Acceptance

27. Cost to Follow Jesus

28. Discipline

29. Remember

30. Success

31. A New Focus

32. Academia Gold Metal

33. Failure versus Success

34. Adoration and Thanksgiving

35. Attitude

36. Shifting Focus

37. Perseverance

38. Autumn

39. Time

40. Birthdays

41. Memories

42. Thanksgiving

43. Birth/Death

44. Priority

45. Requiem of a Dream

46. Alienated, Isolated, and So Alone

47. Climbing Again

48. Traveling To Ecuador and Peru

49. Risk

50. Specks of Life

51. Spiritual Sacrifice

52. My Ebenezer

53. Kabardin-Balkar

54. Peace and War

55. A Touch of Spring

56. Yellow Ribbons

57. Who Am I?

58. Dreams Imprisoned

59. Quiet Time in Retreat

60. God’s Wounded Warriors

61. From Death to New Life

62. Courage

63. Winter on the Atlantic Ocean Beach

64. Scenarios of the Eastern Shore

65. Autumn