Category: gratitude
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A Fond Farewell
As the youngins say, life be lifing. But, it’s still life. And, this year often reminded me that life is such an incredible gift.
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Papa
This time each year my heart takes a rollercoaster ride. We’re shaking off the busyness of summer. The kiddos go back to school and grow up some more on us. And our family celebrates at least 15 birthdays in September. And this year’s heart rollercoaster ride is right on time. Our oldest is starting her…
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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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Grace and Time
As 2021 exits not-so stage left, I remember my late mother’s steadfast faith and her frequent reminder that “time takes care of everything.” She was so right. Time allows us to look back on what we’ve lived through – doors that opened at just the right time, battles we won, battles we didn’t even have…
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Weary, But Worth It
Hard to believe my last blog post was 8 months ago. The culprit? A tiny human with 2 teeth and a serious milk habit. His happy eyes and easy smile are downright disarming. And, his giggles? Like sunshine for your soul. My last post was just weeks shy of Josiah’s birth. To say that life…
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Endings & Beginnings
It’s hard to believe that we’re quickly nearing the end of this very special pregnancy. I think back to last fall, when my eyes kept adjusting to the pink lines on the home pregnancy tests (I took 2, remember?). In shock, all I could think was, are you kidding?!? I have more than enough “life”…
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The 4th Reaction
Ever since sharing our surprise pregnancy at age 47, my hubby and I have received quite an assortment of reactions. He has his own stories of responses from guys (let’s just say they involve a lot of high-fives). For me, reactions from women have varied but ultimately fall into 1 of 4 categories: 1. “Wow.…
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Expecting the Unexpected
My hubby and I are ardent planners. Over the last 19 years, we’ve come to value having a roadmap for our journey together. Buying a one-story home we can easily maneuver later in our golden years? Yep. Having two kids, 3 years apart so “they could play together?” Uh-huh. Career moves that let us balance…
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Thank You! (Ummm, I Think?)
Granny Sykes was a hoot. Born in 1905 in North Carolina, Effie Burt moved to Virginia as a young woman. She met and married my grandfather, David Sykes. Some years after he died, Granny Sykes moved in with our family when I was about 13 years old. My parents cared for her until she passed away…
