Exactly when you think of it. Having been a widow for over a year and a half now, I know what most often stops people from doing something kind after a tragedy. People worry way too much about timing. All of these thoughts are garbage. The right time to reach out to someone dealing with loss is exactly when it crosses
Read MoreWhat a gift perspective is. Often it means many years of experience have come and gone and left an earned understanding of what matters in life. To gain perspective early, it might mean something awful happened. So it is with me. My husband died unexpectedly at age 40, on a random Tuesday in May, in the prime of his life. He was in the right...
Read MoreHave a friend that just lets you show up? Fly across country and don’t plan a thing. She just says, "Come." I have such a friend. So, I hopped a plane to Portland, Oregon last August. My first solo trip as a widow. Julie is the kindest soul. We met in Peru. Both Ambassadors for Noonday Collection, a fair-trade accessory company that allows you to...
Read MoreWhen asked what it’s like to suddenly lose your husband, I say it’s like having a white board for the entire span of your marriage. For us, 15 years. You throw ideas up on it periodically, like a vacation to Hawaii or planting a garden. Things you should do around the house, like paint the office or fix a sink. Even wild hairs to start a food...
Read MoreI used to love making resolutions, goals, lists of things to accomplish in a new year. As a grieving, single-parent I don’t need that kind of pressure. I don’t want a list that overwhelms and eventually falls by the wayside. This year I’m picking one thing.
Read MoreIn November, I wrote an essay for a writing class and surprised myself when I declared that I would be working from home for the foreseeable future. I did not have a job at the time, but I felt in my heart that this was a decision that needed to be made. Something I needed to say out loud. Another shift in my existence, but a good one, that will...
Read MoreIf you’ve been following along by now you know I’m a believer, relying on faith in the darkest moments. I don’t know how people walk through tragedy without a relationship with Jesus. Clearly, it doesn’t make you immune from the pain and struggles of life, but when you fix your eyes on the One who knows what lies ahead and sees you in the lonely,...
Read MoreThe slog of winter, bad weather, and more things on your plate than can be accomplished can keep a day feeling gray. I’ve been trying to train myself to notice the sparkle in each day. At least one thing that brings a little glimmer of hope, of fun, of joy. On Saturday, we had 3 hockey games on the calendar and I wasn’t looking forward to...
Read MoreNot just any bracelets, but pieces that remind them of their faith, their strength, or their loved one. I received these beautiful Bel Koz Haiti bracelets from friends at different times since losing Adam. Such a fun surprise to find one in the mail on days I needed
Read MoreAs we enter the season of giving, it can be a real challenge to find a gift for someone dealing with loss. A friend going through a hard time. Anyone walking in difficult circumstances. My kids and I received journals from sweet friends after losing Adam. Colorful, personalized journals that came with endless options of erasable pens. My kids...
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