I have always loved Christmas. For me, as a child, it was a magical time. Lights, presents, caroling, friends, shows, music, family… all of it, just made me feel warm and fuzzy. As I grew up, I continued to love the warm and fuzzy parts of the season and tried to pass them along to … Continue reading Warm and Fuzzy Christmas
Family
Unexpected Sorrow
A wave of sorrow hit me yesterday unexpectedly, but I have come to recognize grief when it knocks on my heart’s door. I’m not sure if I can say grief is my friend, but I am getting acquainted with the daily visits and finding they are a pressure release…if I don’t slam the door. Grieving … Continue reading Unexpected Sorrow
Thankfulness
The rain is pattering on my window and I am thankful. The dogs are snoring nearby and I am thankful. The blanket on my lap is warm and cozy and I am thankful. Being full of thanks does not require circumstances to be perfect. Neither does it require material things. In fact, stuff sometimes … Continue reading Thankfulness
Walking Them Home
I never rode a bus to school when I was a girl. I walked. It wasn’t 10 miles in the snow, uphill, both ways. No, nothing like that. It was a simple, mostly flat, couple of miles. Mom walked us to the corner every day. Then, most of the kids in our neighborhood, walked on … Continue reading Walking Them Home
Three Decades
Three decades ago, my heart expanded. It was a moment like none other…my first experience with how spacious love can be. I thought I understood before, but the depth and width and breadth of it in the moment took my breath away. My heart beat faster, with more passion and love flooding out of my … Continue reading Three Decades
Companion Tears
There are several different types of tears. I am a crier, so I should know. There are event tears that spring up at the moment an event happens. It could be a tragic event, like a death in the family, or it could be a happy event, like a new baby being born. These type … Continue reading Companion Tears
Legacy
I’ve been thinking about leaving a legacy lately. Maybe it’s working with elderly parents, wondering when they are gone what of them will continue on in generations to come. I am recognizing with new eyes, we all leave an inheritance of one kind or another. I’m pondering what I want mine to be. These … Continue reading Legacy
Dear Friends and Family
I have been doing dementia research this week; not really, but it seems that way. There have been two excellent dementia awareness events near me that I attended with my family. If you know my dad at all, you know he is a bulldog. It is why he was such a successful business man. He … Continue reading Dear Friends and Family
Hard Things
It has been a week of hard things. The thing we had been dreading came to pass. Moving Ray into memory care was physically exhausting as expected, but I don’t think it was because of the move itself. That part only took the movers two hours because there is very little stuff left. Each move … Continue reading Hard Things
Meltdown
I had a meltdown this week. Allow me to give you some backstory. Five or so years ago, we began caring for Bill’s dad, Ray. In that time, we have moved him 4 times, handled some very complicated legal matters, managed all his doctor and dental appointments (and the dog’s vet appointments), gotten his estate … Continue reading Meltdown
