Last week I stayed up late too many nights. I should’ve caught up on my sleep over the weekend but there was too much to do and for some reason I added cleaning behind the fridge to the list . Anyway, now it’s a new week and I’m thinking about all the things I’m trying to…
The day my son died, I fed him his early morning feeding at 5:30am and he went back to sleep. I was transitioning back to full-time at work so I had to wake him up at 7:30am and “top him off” before leaving to go to the sitter’s house. Since he had eaten at 5:30am…
“He’s a monster!” said my sister one night as we tried to enjoy a small town Christmas parade and festival. Jake had already had multiple meltdowns and there was no end in sight. He was about 2 years old. He didn’t like to sit … he wanted to run and explore, say Hi to people…
“Oh no you won’t,” he said. I was driving past the child support office muttering to myself, “I’m going to go in there and get them to start collecting all that unpaid medical support.” That’s when God set me straight, “Oh no you won’t.” It wasn’t an audible voice of course. But the thought came…
“He’s gotten an attitude lately. He’s talking back and acting surly every time I ask him to do anything. His favorite word is ‘Well …’ and he says it in a huff and with an eye roll.” Does this sound like your teenager? Yeah, mine too. If you are wondering why, living in the new…
Since the presidential election there has been a firestorm of articles, social media posts, and heated comments and replies back and forth from extremely unhappy voters and those who feel compelled to try and change other people’s minds. What an exercise in futility. Yet here I sit, feeling frustrated and thinking maybe I can enter…
The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home. (Confucius) In today’s society, many words that once had positive connotations now have negative connotations … religion, morals, Christian, conservative. A word that has come up recently in our family is integrity. I think this word still has a positive meaning even in…
“The bone is infected and you’ll probably lose your leg.” I’d taken my dad for a “routine” doctor visit and instead we were sent directly to the hospital with this dire prognosis. Normally there would have been a number of people to help out with hospital duty but not this time. My mom had pneumonia…
Last week I survived the 13th anniversary of my son’s death. Even after 13 years, the dreaded day comes and it’s painful. In fact, the days and weeks leading up to the anniversary date are extremely emotional and anxious and heart-wrenching. Those who have not experienced this kind of loss are probably surprised and confused…
Learning to live without your loved one is a long and difficult road to travel. Through books,support groups, blind luck, and the grace of God, I have learned many things that were of great help to me. I share three simple ideas here. I hope they help you on your journey. In Memory of ……
I’ve have been missing my son Jackson since he died in 2003. While it does get better as time goes on, contrary to what most people think, I won’t ever “get over it.” I won’t just wake up one day and say, “Hey, you know what? I’m totally OK with the fact that Jackson isn’t…
Every year as the holidays approach, I get to thinking about the nuances of familial relationships. In other words, I wonder, “Why can’t people just get along?” The holidays are considered a time of friendly get-togethers complemented by bountiful meals of delicious waist-altering food made all the more enjoyable by the loving and happy hearts…
