Wow. A lot of words.
Great discussions and food for thought.
Mamabear, you seem to be doing very well. Asking great questions. Enjoying life. Praying. Letting God guide.
My experience: getting bogged down in problems, whether real or imagined, solves nothing except creating energy in the supposed problem.
As I step out in Faith and enjoy Life, good gets better. And better. And better. Awareness of the goodness of Life, expectations of great things in our lives, allows us to opening up to that. No fear. Simply following God.