An Iraqi family is settling into their life in Corvallis as refugees, and hoping for a peaceful chapter after a long and frightening journey.

Two years ago, Shiymaa's life changed. The Iraqi woman, who asked that her last name not be used because she still fears for her family's safety, was widowed when her husband was shot during a battle between rival Sunni and Shiite factions. Her husband, a Sunni, was killed, and Shiymaa was left with three young children, including her infant daughter Ruasee, who was five days old when her father was killed.

Before her husband's death, Shiymaa, 29, was a successful beautician who owned her own salon. But after his death, and fearing for her family's safety, she fled to Syria, where her extended family had relocated six months previously.

For two years, Shiymaa and her children were crowded into an apartment that included 11 family members. She was unable to afford to enroll her older children in school, and couldn't work to support the family. In April 2007 she applied to receive refugee status in the United States after hearing other families had successfully relocated.

It took a little over a year, but Shiymaa finally received word she was relocating to Corvallis, and the news both frightened and thrilled her.

"All of these together," she said, holding her hands in the shape of a ball.

Now her focus is on improving her English, getting a job to support her family, and getting her two older children, 6-year-old Hanen and 4-year-old Yusef, into school. At 2, Ruasee still is too young for school.

Shiymaa also hopes that doctors can do something for Yusef, who was born blind. His condition has provided yet one more challenge to be faced. She also hopes that some of her extended family will eventually relocate to the United States from Syria.

Meanwhile, her eldest daughter, Hanen, turned 6 on Monday, and the Corvallis-based organization that is helping the family get settled, Welcoming Iraqis to Oregon, threw a birthday party in her honor at the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center. As her children played happily in the center's toy room, Shiymaa smiled.