The life which is unexamined is not worth living. (Socrates) This is the story of my family of nine siblings and my faith-filled mother, Bessie. My mostly-absentee father, Glid. traveled with a road construction crew after he lost his beloved farm during the Great Depression. My mother's courage in raising our family despite hard and sometimes tragic times was always an inspiration to me. This story relates my faith progression from age fifteen when I entered the convent against my parents' advice. It describes the joy and hardships that I encountered in the convent. Many people influenced my life, strengthening my faith and increased my trust in the Lord. The changes advocated by Vatican II caused great upheavals in many people's lives. These changes profoundly affected my life and brought about events that eventually lead me to serve God outside convent life. It describes the trauma I felt coming back into a world that had become foreign to me after spending so many years in an isolated environment. It is my hope that this story will inspire people of every faith to put their trust in a wise God who always opens new doors when others choose to close those that have been most sacred and familiar.