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I always say being challenged in life is inevitable, but being being defeated is optional. I have that phrase hanging above my kitchen sink so I don't forget. At age 42, I have had my share of life curve balls - a military wife for 15 years (moves and deployments), watching my second daughter suffer from a brain injury and eventually releasing her to heaven at the sweet age of 2 1/2, and now the daily pains of raising a teenager who on most days does not like me. Yes, I think resilence is something we have all had to wear in order to hold on for sunnier days!

Because of the earthquake nd tsunami disasters in Japan, we have gone down to four hour work days. In planning on trying for a baby in July, this has slowed down our savings. We both work at the same place. We know our situation is nothing compared to the resilience that the people of japan are displaying, but in our corner of the world it is a lot to us.

I was born with a club foot, which was corrected through surgery, but its weakness has always posed challenges for me. The fact that I was a competitive volleyball player and still find ways to be active shows my resilience.

In 2009-surviving a lengthy hospital stay with H1N1 and pneumonia while five months pregnant. My beautiful son was born in March 2010-with no complications.

resilience is sharing that story, the painful one, hoping that your story helps to lift another!

Resiliance is living daily with the chronic illnesses of both my husband and son

My resilience is trying to be strong while my mother is dying. I have always told her that she is my role model and that she is strong. It is hard to tell her just how much tht I love her now because I get so weepy. I told her today that I loved her and I knew that she loves me and she said, "I do". A mother and daughter bond is the strongest and I have been lucky to have my mother in my life.

Resiclience for me is starting a new job after 11 years of retirement. It is hard to give up the freedom but our economy makes me. I am working with small children and an surprisingly enjoying the job. Who knew!

We are all resilliant just being a parent proves this everyday.

Resilience; surviving. My Mom survived the death of her Mom at age 12 and subsequently living with an uncle who was an abuser. Now my daughter is coping with her husband's brain tumor at age 38 while raising 2 beautiful daughters and working full time. Me? I try to be resilient for those on both sides of me. It is hard to see your own child suffer.You try to be a rock for her, but there is an emotional toll. And meanwhile I will help my Son and his family change jobs and move from Hawaii to New Hampshire. I WILL have lots to scrap!

Adopting and loving a little boy with autism and making sure he has the appropriate support, love and resources he needs to continue on his journey as successfully as possible. Resilience is not giving up, trying new medications, behavioral techniques, revisiting past successes/failures to see if they just might work now. You keep going even when doctors, teachers and their support staff have reached their level of patience and knowledge in assisting him or tell you this is as good as it is going get. Celebrating success and remembering it is ok to pull back, access and regroup before taking on the battles again because he is worth it. Teaching my other children the right actions are defending their brother even though he is quite different and it is our job to educate those who do not understand or appreciate him--even when it hurts us and to treat each person we meet as a special and unique individual. You keep going even when you are tired of retelling the stories and history over and over again and receive only nods in response. You may be discouraged, worn down, disheartened and feeling alone but you do it again because you are the Mommy who loves these children and they are worth it.

My faith keeps me going!

Resilience is being everything others thought I wouldn't be! Keeping strong and raising a strong, wonderful young man to be the awesome man he is today.

Resilience is about being myself in a world that doesn't believe, trust and love. Continuing to spread friendship, love and service is who I am and makes me whole.

Resilience is continuing on when those you love have passed on. Continuing the traditions of old and learning what I need to do for the future.

9 months after giving birth to our second daughter my husband lost his job and was off for 3 years. The topper was my oldest had just been diagnosed with autism. But with the help of family and friends we buckled down and have survived!

I went through two risk pregnancies and have three awesome and healthy kids. It was not easy to go both pregnancies and c-sections afraid of everything and not being able to really enjoy that time, but I am definetely enjoying my kids :) thanks for the wonderful giveway!

I've had a lot of obstacles in my life because of a progressive disability that started in my childhood and has robbed me of most of my mobility. I try to focus on what I can do instead of what I can't do. In many ways I think I'm a much stronger person because of what I've been through.

Resilience for me is living 15 hours away from any family and having the strength to end an unhappy marriage, to raise my autistic son by myself, knowing that I'd have to remain in the state because the law says my son has to reside in the same state as his father. I try to find the silver lining in all of this and I've come up with being thankful that our school district has wonderful services for my son!

I've had some bad personal things happen this year and have kept them to myself. It's called sucking it up and plugging along so that my problems don't involve my DD. I use scrapping to help me escape this issues. It's all about my time when I scrap.

Resilience to means taking anything life throws at you and tossing it right back. I switched careers from business to teaching 17 years ago and have never looked back. As I became happier with what I was doing professionally, I became happier personally, losing a TON of weight, and finding and marrying the man of my dreams at age 41. I've been supported all along by my BFF of 36 years (we met our freshman year of college) and am very happy that the husbands have become BFFs as well.

I'm able to adjust as life throws things at me and still maintain a positive outlook. Not always easy. But it is resilient.

A few weeks ago my three year old daughter was diagnosed as autistic and has started a special education preschool and occupational therapy. While my husband and I are feeling some relief to finally have some answers and help, some days are a huge challenge. But, I know we will be resilient. We will learn and adapt and be the best parents we can be.

I'm amazed by all of these stories- women are strong, so strong!

My resilience is evident by my marriage of almost 11 years, moving from home in Scandinavia to the US, not being able to practice the profession I was trained to do and having infertility battles for years. It's been tough at times but it doesn't seem to compare to health issues. I'm so lucky to have been healthy and have my family stay healthy as well.

resilience is getting through divorce and learning to be happy with life and not hating men. It's learning that sometimes blessings come from the horrible things that happen to us. I am grateful for my obstacles even though difficult because I have learned and become a better person.