The New Old Me.

Well, it's official. As of 9:00 last Friday morning, my marriage is over. At the risk of seeming macabre, I like to say this:

R.I.P. Jennifer DeVries Caron (4/15/06-4/22/11)

I've bid farewell to Jennifer Caron, and have welcomed Jennifer Rae DeVries back. It feels really good to have my old name - my real name - back.

It's crazy to think that five years has come and gone. It's crazy to think that I'm divorced, and now a single mother. But I'll tell you what - even though I didn't plan it this way, I've always believed that things happen for a reason. In this case, the reason is the two beautiful children sleeping soundly upstairs. I know that everything in my life had to happen exactly the way it did, because any deviation from the path I took would mean I wouldn't have my kids. Clearly my marriage wasn't meant to last -- but when I look at my little man and my baby girl, I find it very difficult to be bitter. Instead I'm grateful. Optimistic. Confident. Feeling more and more like my old self every day. And I'm feeling deep in my bones that there's something bigger and better waiting for me just over the horizon. Whatever that may end up being, I'm so glad I'll be able to share it with my kids.

These two goofballs are the reason for everything I do.

Price Phillip, age 3-1/2

Kendall Rae, age 14 mos