As some of you know, I had a 20-year career with Delta Air Lines. It was a wonderful time in my life, and I thoroughly enjoyed this period of my professional career. It afforded our family the opportunity to take trips all over the world and create some beautiful memories. After Melanie ran ahead toContinue reading “Grief: Five Little Letters That Change Your Entire Life”
Tag Archives: #memories
Christmas Memories
As the days inch closer to December 25th Christmas memories fill my mind and heart. Memories can hurt and cause an ache and missing so deep within, but if we let them memories can also bring joy. If we can choose joyful memories, then slowly glimpses of happiness like sunshine peeking out through the cloudsContinue reading “Christmas Memories”
Surviving the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Over the past few weeks, I began to feel an old familiar stirring deep within my heart. It’s a feeling hard to ignore. Since Melanie ran ahead to heaven, as each holiday approaches I’m left with a hole that cannot be filled. The memories of times past begin to creep in and no matter whatContinue reading “Surviving the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
Focusing on Thanks Even When Your Heart is Hurting
Can you believe it’s already the beginning of November? Where has the time gone? The calendar reminds me it’s only 53 more days until Christmas, but I’m not ready to think about that yet. It’s November, the month of Thanksgiving, so instead, I’m trying to focus on thanks, even if my heart is hurting. TruthContinue reading “Focusing on Thanks Even When Your Heart is Hurting”
Memories: A Bookbag Full of Lotion, Body Wash, and a Hairbrush
When our loved one dies all we have left of them is memories. And, memories come in many different forms. Sometimes it may be a special photo, which brings both smiles and tears. If you’re walking this grief journey alongside me you understand this double-edged sword. Perhaps like me you will never have a photoContinue reading “Memories: A Bookbag Full of Lotion, Body Wash, and a Hairbrush”
Navigating Memories When They Bring Both Comfort and Pain
I’m a member of a few private grief groups for parents who have lost children to Substance Use Disorder. These groups have hundreds of moms and dads with this same shared experience. We can be there to comfort one another and it helps knowing we are not alone. As you would imagine, although we shareContinue reading “Navigating Memories When They Bring Both Comfort and Pain”
The First Christmas
Here we are in this “Year of Firsts” getting ready to experience Christmas without Melanie. Have I ever had a Christmas without Melanie? Unfortunately, yes. We experienced several without her but this one will be entirely different. During those times when we could not celebrate together we would always speak by phone and visit onContinue reading “The First Christmas”
Nine Months
Melanie went on to heaven 9 months ago today. I’ve been thinking about what a difference 9 months can make in a life. It takes 9 months to bring a child into this world. Oh, how elated I was when my girl was born! It was a beautiful Saturday in April. Once she decided itContinue reading “Nine Months”
Halloween Memories or Signs?
Although Fall is my favorite season, we are not a family that makes a big celebration out of Halloween. But, during this grief journey every memory that pops up on my timeline touches my heart in a special way, like this picture of Melanie with our son, Cameron. Oh, how I love those smiles!! IContinue reading “Halloween Memories or Signs?”