A Heavy Heart
We had a tragedy in our little town last night when a vibrant member of our arts community was struck by a car and killed. That happened in the midst of the last Monday Night Live event that takes place once a month with live music, food, dancing in the street, and artists of all […]
Remembering….
One year ago on this date my husband died. We had just celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary and were so hoping we would make it to 50. Since his health had been so fragile for a year or more, we both knew that was a real long-shot, but we hoped nonetheless. That’s what people do, […]
Remembering Dad
First I want to wish all the fathers a Happy Father’s Day. I know it is not until tomorrow, but I am doing posts early for the weekend, then I won’t be online much. This is an especially difficult Father’s Day for me and my kids as it is the first without my husband being […]
Monday Morning Musings
Had she lived four more weeks, my mother would be 95 years old today, April 28. When she was in the hospital, the doctor joked that she was close enough that we could say she was 95, but of course that could not be her official age. This is one of the ways I will […]
Book Review – The Year After by Ashley Warner
The Year AfterAshley WarnerFile Size: 699 KBPrint Length: 351 pagesPage Numbers Source ISBN: 1489557822Publisher: Ashley Warner (December 9, 2013)Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.Language: EnglishASIN: B00H9T3V3S “With unflinching honesty and unsinkable spirit, The Year After offers a rare and intimate portrait of trauma. …. the daily challenges of recovery from rape at the restless age […]
A Tribute
Earlier this month I posted that there was a death in my family and that is why I would not be blogging very much. I was a bit circumspect – as that is my way – and I was not sure I would actually publicly say who died. Many of my cyber friends do know […]
Gone Fishing
This is from a blog I did a number of years ago when I wanted to share some of my experiences as a hospital chaplain. The blog is called The Many Faces of Grief, and I have been reading some of those older posts as I walk this path of grief. One thing I have […]
Gardening is so good for the soul
I have been spending a lot of time outdoors planting new flowers and tending to my garden. Since I am still dealing with grief issues, it has been very therapeutic for me. Yesterday I spent an entire day planting things. That made me think of the year I couldn’t garden, so I found an excerpt […]
Rest In Peace
I am getting ready to go to Houston to bury my father. He has had Alzheimer’s for some time, so in some ways he has already been gone, but this physical leaving is different. And it is harder than I thought it would be. I thought I had already been saying goodbye. This picture was […]
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Is Constant Optimism Healthy?
Wildflowers have been blooming all over East Texas, and these little white ones have been popping up since late January. Now unmowed yards are full of them, and I’m glad that some folks haven’t cranked up the old mower yet this Spring. Author Kristen Lamb writes a terrific blog, offering advice, humor, and inspiration to […]
Tags: cats, family, grief, Kristen Lamb, loss, maryann miller, odds and ends, optimism, Texas wildflowers, writing