Gloria, when you say, "by some miracle" that Lynne and I re-connected, you have no idea.

I had back surgery a year ago. The doctors had me on a strong narcotic for maintenance pain meds.

On January 19, 2013, about a month ago...my heart became very very heavy. It felt like something or someone was pushing me to believe I could go off of the pain meds, even though I would endure chronic daily pain if I did.

I had become distant from God due to the narcotics, so I did not feel it could be God telling me to stop. But within two days, for whatever reason, I decided I would taper down and go off of my pain meds.

These were dark and desperate hours for me. The physical pain, not to mention the emotional, was unbearable and I felt I could not turn to God because I had let him down.

About two weeks ago, as I tapered down my pain doses, I decided it was not worth living if I had to be in that much pain everyday. But, during those dark moments, Lynne Lara kept coming to my mind. Everything she had taught me when I got sober from alcohol 23.5 yrs ago came to my heart and mind. I knew she used to live in Seattle Washington, but I had not talked to her in 23 years, so I did not know how I was ever going to find her. My heart sank as I searched for her with no avail.

Finally, I found her picture on Heavenly Letters. I decided to write you Gloria and ask for your help in finding Lynne.

After I wrote you, I bowed down on my knees and prayed to God to show me why I was still down here on this earth. Meanwhile, the pain and anxiety was taking over my life without the pain meds. I decided I no longer could take the pain.

I went to work that day believing I would never find Lynne, who had counseled me into sobriety and gave me my life back in 1989. Here are the miracles:

At 7:00 that night the phone rang. It was Lynne. She remembered me and I cried as I told her how much I had missed her all of these years. She said... Unbelievably, I am in Bend right now! I have been here for 7 days.

I said, "Lynne, I have been off of my pain meds completely for 7 days!

She also said she had been thinking about me so strongly about a month earlier.....At that point I knew the day. The day a month ago that my heart was heavy telling me to let go of my pain meds, that they could destroy my life if I let them. Now, finding Lynne, was like God was telling me....I am here, have faith.

This is what I wrote to Lynne in an email yesterday:

Lynne, you have no idea what a life changing event last night was for me. I prayed to God yesterday morning that he give me a sign that I was supposed to be down here on earth. Never in life has God answered my cries and prayers for help so quickly. Lynne, throughout the years I have always felt a connection to you. How God made you such an angel and spoke to me through you is truly a miracle. Nothing short. I will never lose track of you again. I am going to write a letter to Heavenly Letters. The world needs to know how God works among us. Lynne, you are my gift, wrapped in a person, from God. Love Annie

I feel not alone anymore. I feel I can talk to God again. And I feel so grateful to Heavenly Letters for bringing such a priceless woman back into my life. She brought God with her. No matter what, all will be fine now.

Lovingly,

Ann Marie