Category: elder care
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Still Here
Dad slipped away quietly one year ago today. And, oh, how I miss him. I remember that day in vivid detail. The steady rain. The chill in the air. How I knew he’d passed when hospice’s number appeared on my phone screen. How I let it go to voicemail because I was taking our teen…
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Seasons
Originally published April 2023 – reposting after disappearing mysteriously . . . . Dad’s passing is not my first rodeo with loss and grief. I know that seasons of grief often require a certain kind of energy. Wrestling with acceptance that life has, yet again, changed significantly. Riding an unpredictable rollercoaster of emotions. Toggling between…
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Both/And
Since losing my dad a few weeks ago, I’ve been living in the Land of Both/And. It’s where two diametrically opposed feelings co-exist. Both gratitude and disappointment, both acceptance and sadness, both peace and grief. I’m feeling it all. Dad was blessed with 92 amazing years. His heart and mind were as beautiful as his…
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At This Moment
“Are you getting ready for the baby?” (Pause) “Uhhh . . . no.” My response to this popular, well-meaning question has likely surprised some folks. So, let’s be clear: We are over-the-moon happy and excited for Baby Dancy’s arrival this spring. And we’re equally grateful for a healthy pregnancy and growing baby in my tummy.…
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It Ain’t Over
At 86, my dad is playing checkers again – after at least a 65+ year hiatus. My sister and I have never, ever seen Dad play checkers. He was way too busy raising us – cooking, doing the yard work, fixing whatever was broken, serving at church, working as a school principal, making visitors feel…
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All Shook Up
Do you ever wish life only offered lovely sunshine and little birds singing – you know, skipping the blizzards and buzzards of life? I do. But Life chuckles and says, “Blizzards and buzzards show up because easy moments alone won’t help you grow.” And I gotta agree. We can be oh-so stubborn, especially when…
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Wiggling in My Seat
If you care for a loved one with cognitive decline or dementia, feel free to raise your banner and sing the anthem of this blog post with me. At least 2-4 times each week, I find myself wiggling in my seat. Not literally, mind you. But wiggling, nonetheless – in my mind, in my heart. I wiggle…
