Chapter 11 Summary and Analysis

With her new understanding, Joni decides to take pride in her appearance. Jay and Diana help her with her hair and make-up and buy her better fitting clothes. In the summer of 1970, Joni and some friends attend a Christian seminar in Philadelphia. She learns there that God allows certain circumstances to interrupt lives and thus serve as a rasp to file down the rough edges. Joni is soon put to the test when one of her friends who empties her catheter bag forgets to clamp it shut. Soon a stream of Joni's urine is running down the aisle. Though at first Joni feels anger toward the forgetful friend and then embarrassment, she remembers what she just learned. God was filing down more of her "rough edges."

Joni realizes more each day how much her family means to her. She feels she...