I was never a “typical” girl. Of course now we know, none of us were. Girls are all complex individuals with differing personalities and interests, but before we were allowed to explore those we were trained to fit into a “typical” girl mold. I did not. I was what you call a Tom-boy. Meaning, I … Continue reading Thoughts from a Daddy’s Girl
love
Happy 1st Birthday!
When I had my first baby, my heart grew three sizes. I had no idea before that moment that the heart was expandable. I had never felt this kind of love before. It was big and all consuming. It resulted in joy overflowing and even on hard days it didn’t diminish. So much so, that … Continue reading Happy 1st Birthday!
Helene
The devastating pictures from Helene have my heart breaking this morning. Some of my favorite places have been completely destroyed. I know this storm affected many states, but the crisis in NC and Tennessee is the majority of what I have been seeing. All of Western NC is cut off from the outside world. No … Continue reading Helene
Update
It’s no secret Mom and Dad had quite a remarkable love story. It was in no way perfect, but their dedication, commitment and love for each other was unmatched. Since Mom passed, the number one question I get asked is, “How is your Dad?” That is understandable, since their story was well known and since … Continue reading Update
Mom’s Eulogy
Mom was a woman of many talents. An organizer extraordinaire. A fabulous cook. A deep thinker. A hospitality queen. A servant and lover of people. An encourager. A follower of Christ. An empathetic ear. A noticer of details. A lover of color and design. And a memory maker. One life contains so many layers, doesn’t … Continue reading Mom’s Eulogy
Love
I’m on my porch this morning. It is cool and the birds seem grateful for that fact. The sun is playing with the trees and the result is a light show sprinkling the rays all around me like a disco ball. My fingers take the cue and dance across the keyboard. Today they are writing … Continue reading Love
Surprised by Joy
The last few days I have been resting, processing, planning, and resting some more. The cumulative physical exhaustion of the past few years seems to have caught up to me. Yet, it is different than the heavy sleep/sleepless roller coaster of those years. During the dementia journey, it has felt like trying to sleep with … Continue reading Surprised by Joy
The Last Week
You know that even though I haven’t been posting, I have still been writing. After all, this blog is an e-journal of sorts. My diary, so others will know they are not alone in their feelings. This is what I have written in the last week of Mom’s life. It’s long. If you just want … Continue reading The Last Week
Sneak Peek
Here is a sneak peek of what the content of Navigating the Caregiver's Journey is like... Week 41...Caregiving takes courage. To get up every day and continue to do the things that must be done without fanfare or recognition takes bravery. It is not the kind of courage that runs into battle with swords drawn. … Continue reading Sneak Peek
Dancing Light
I live in a deciduous forest, meaning I am surrounded by hardwoods. I pretend I am in a treehouse when I sit on my porch. To sit among the trees transports my imagination. When the wind is blowing, the leaves sway. The rays of sunlight filter through the leaves creating dancing light. The stronger the … Continue reading Dancing Light