Do You Believe in Fate?

Some of you may know that several months ago I left my job working for a Medicare contractor to stay at home and decide exactly what I want to do. A year ago I left my job of 9 years after suffering from back pain and a strong desire to make a change in my life. I spent many years as nurse, doing the best that I could in a field that it so very difficult. There was a time when I was in love with my career and the excitement of going to work was enough. That all changed after Katie died. After seeing my daughter, injured and taking the last breath of her life, my life as I knew it was gone.
I took some time off from work and after several months decided to return to my job as a floor nurse. That first year was so very, very difficult. But it didn't get better. When patients complained of their pain which in my eyes could never compare with what my daughter went through, I tried my best to empathize and go through the motions of nursing them. But my thoughts would always stray back to Katie. When a patient would tell me their knee or hip hurt, I felt for them but it was never as bad as the pain Katie felt. I found myself always comparing each and gradually losing my motivation to remain where I was.
So here I am about to embark on another area of employment, something so entirely different that even I need to pinch myself. You know my love of photography (even thought I'm not a good photographer). Yesterday I went for a group interview as a newborn photographer at one of our local hospitals. And you know what????
I was offered the job. I am so blessed.
But there is more... (sorry for the long post)....but it gets a bit longer. A couple of years ago during Christmas time I was visiting Katie's wall at the cemetary, not grave because she is not buried), and hanging decorations. Not far from where Katie's ashes are, was an older woman obviously upset and trying to hang large Christmas stockings on her family member's wall.
I lent her some of tape and we briefly spoke. She, too lost her daughter about two years prior to Katie's death. We both shed tears for each other and hug prior to our departures. I haven't seen her again although I leave butterfly stickers on her daughter's wall and I find small thoughts from her on Katie's wall.
The job interview yesterday was a group interview. There were 4 of us woman applying for the photographer's position. A young quiet girl, a very chatty woman about my age, and older woman and myself. After about two hours of this very informal interview I had found that this older woman had lost a daughter too, about 6 years ago. And, she kept looking at me, saying how familiar I looked to her. I just shrugged it off as her probably seeing me on the news the other day...but didn't say anything. I had planned to confide to her that I lost a daughter too.
During one of the many times she was telling me that she thought she knew me I told her my last name. She said, I know one Lambert but you don't look like her. I asked her "What is her name?" She says that she doesn't know but that she had a daughter who died.... and her name was Katie." I respond that Katie is my daughter who died in a furniture tip-over accident. I still have no idea who this woman is but that she seemed very sad, and very nice. She smiled and reminded me of the time at the cemetery when I had helped a woman hang a stocking....that woman was her.
After that, we hugged, talked cried...all during the interview. YIKES! We briefly informed our interviewer and other interviewees of our stories. They are sat there wide-eyed and unbelieving.
After the interview/conversation ended the other two woman left and we sat with our interviewer. I apologized to her for what had happened and she responded that it was absolutely NO problem and that she had made her decision and the two of us were hired. WOW! Could it be the work of two special angels...Katie and Jennifer bringing their two grief-stricken moms together, with completely different career backgrounds in the most unlikely place.....
There is a reason for everything and HE has a plan which we may never fully understand. But if you do not believe, maybe my story will touch and give to you a piece of faith, belief and hope in a stronger power.
Thank you my Angel, mommy misses you,
J