With the approaching holidays, I’ve been thinking about mental health and stress of the holidays. Many of us do not especially enjoy the holidays. My brother died on New Year’s. We had my grandma’s (dad’s mom) funeral on Christmas Eve. The loss of a loved one is often highlighted during Read more…
November is a time when our hearts naturally turn to thankfulness because of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is three weeks from today. It’s hard to believe it, this year has felt both endless and fast. So much has happened. There is much to give thanks for. The life of my grandmother, who Read more…
Today, like most holidays, I woke up thinking of holidays spent with Tom. The last one we spent together was three years ago in 2020. The main thing I remember about that one was that our toilet was clogged lol. We used to sometimes attend block parties or parties at Read more…
The kids, grandkids, my parents, and I met for lunch on Sunday to celebrate my birthday and Josh’s graduation from college. My kids got me a Nintendo Classic mini for a combination Mother’s Day/birthday gift. Back when we first got married, Tom and I had a Nintendo, and we spent Read more…
Today I just want to remind you to check on people. Just touch base and reach out. You never know who is hurting and what is truly going on in their lives or their heads. While this is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year”, the reality Read more…
What is your favorite Christmas song? Is there one that really inspires you when you hear it? The song “Put one foot in front of the other” from the movie “Santa Claus is coming to town” has always touched my heart, especially in the last few years. I think it’s Read more…
With Christmas being just 10 days away, I thought today we could talk about your favorite Christmas toys/gifts from your childhood. One of my favorites was the school chalkboard I got for Christmas one year. It was the last year I believed in Santa. I remember getting up and walking Read more…
Today, we had our Thanksmas gathering at my house. It was a wonderful time, and also a little bittersweet. It was the first gathering at my house since before Tom got sick. One of our favorite family games has always been Farkle. This year, I made copies of the handwritten Read more…
Christmas 2020 was the first Christmas for our family after Tom died. Prior to that year, I had not put up a Christmas tree for several years. Putting them together and decorating them was fun when the kids were home to help us, but later on, we just didn’t enjoy Read more…