GAIL WHITE The sun warms away even the darkest winters

It is the time of year for new beginnings.
Spring is here as the dark, gray winter sky retreats and each new day is greeted with the rising of the gloriously, bright sun.
Likewise, the Easter celebration commemorates the death of sin and the rising of a Son.
Like the seasons of the year, life can be looked at through seasons.
Spring, a life season of new beginnings.
Summer, a season of enjoying life's blessings.
Autumn, a season of learning change.
Winter, a life season of hardship and struggle.
Indeed, the more difficult the winter, the more appreciation of spring.
A spring, coupled with the faith, hope and love from a risen Son, adds unyielding promise to new beginnings.
Difficult journey: Judy Shirilla of Boardman has traveled through a long, difficult season of winter.
Through prayer and support, she has reached the sunny skies of spring and is looking forward to a long season of summer.
On March 30, 1995, Judy's husband, Nick, died after an eight-year battle with a brain tumor.
The season of winter blew upon this young, married couple in the spring of their life.
"A happy marriage, a new house, jobs that we loved, an expected baby, a loving family ..." writes Judy in her book, "Out Of Order," a recount of the trek through winter and Judy's journey into spring.
"A fantasy land, an exhilarating merry-go-round with happy music playing and the horses gliding round and round. Life was far better than I could have expected," she writes.
Devastating news: Two weeks before the birth of their first baby, Nick was diagnosed with glioblastoma -- a brain tumor.
"All of a sudden the bubbles burst and the music stopped," Judy recounts.
Surgery to remove the mass was delayed so Nick could be present for the birth of his first child. On June 3, 1987, Nicholas, 8 pounds 10 ounces, parted the gray clouds of impending winter and brought sunshine to this family.
On June 15, Nick had brain surgery. It would be his first of six.
For the next eight years, the harsh winter winds blew down on the Shirilla home.
"Our challenge," Judy writes, "was to make every day count, to enjoy every day to the fullest and to count our blessings. And we did."
Nicholas, always a ray of sunlight, was joined two years later by a sister, Lindsey.
Together, this family huddled through the winter storm.
"I climbed into the tiny little bed with my husband," Judy writes of the night before her husband's death. "Nicholas and Lindsey joined me."
In the depths of winter, Judy clung to her faith, the hope it promised and the love of her family and friends.
Today, in the sunlight of spring, Judy speaks to groups of her journey.
"Everyone has a story. Everybody has pain in their life," she says. "I want to help people so that they don't get stuck in any of the phases of healing."
What she hopes: Her hope is that "Out of Order" will help others through the winters of their lives as well.
"Maybe you've been crushed many times in life, by the loss of a loved one, the loss of your job or a health problem."
She ends her book. "Remember, no matter how out of order our lives may become, if we continue to have faith, hope and love we, too can conquer anything."
At the time of her husband's death, the funeral director gave Judy a crucifix of Jesus on the cross.
"Do you want the suffering Jesus or the resurrected Jesus?" Judy remembers him asking.
Judy chose the suffering Jesus.
"Today, I would choose the resurrected Jesus," she smiles.
In winter, Judy clung to the Son. In spring, she is determined to shine like the sun.
gwhite@vindy.com
XJudy will be speaking at Barnes and Noble in Boardman on April 13 at 2 p.m. Her books will be available.