Celebrating my Mom
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My Easter Reflections for 2024
Easter was one of my Mom’s favorite holidays, she always bought my daughter an Easter dress and enjoyed organizing a family meal to celebrate. This year I have been thinking about the significance of Easter and what it means to me. In Christianity the focus of Easter is the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion, but I have been thinking about how Easter & Spring is a time for renewal and restoration. I’ll admit, things have not been easy lately and what I want most is to have my Mom to lean on during challenging times. Instead of focusing on missing her presence in my life I have the…
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Grief Support Group: My 8 Week Journey
For the past 8 weeks I have been participating in a small in-person grief support group. Through a combination of sharing stories, deep listening and grief education, we were encouraged to honor our grief and to find continued meaning in our lives. Each week was different – some weeks easier than others but it was an opportunity to share, be vulnerable, and learn how move forward. Week One: Learning & Listening – We all briefly shared who we were there to honor by lighting a candle in their name. The simple act of creating a warm glowing light brought a feeling of peace and safety to the room. This lesson was primarily listening –…
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New Beginnings under the Cherry Blossoms
Every March I travel to Washington D.C. for work and it was an annual tradition for my Mom and I to meet in the city several days in advance of my meetings. We enjoyed exploring museums, monuments, galleries, and trying new restaurants while logging many miles of walking each day. This year I went to Washington D.C. for the first time since my Mom passed away. I knew this trip would bring up tender emotions and a yearning for her presence, but it would also bring memories to mind that I have not thought of in some time. While stepping onto the Metro platform for the first time I was…
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An Unexpected Coffee Date with my Mom
On really cold winter days in the Pacific Northwest I slip on my Mom’s puffy jacket and pop on her cozy Ugg hat when I take my morning walk. I’ve been doing this for two winter seasons now and I thought I knew each pocket and feature of the jacket. One morning during my walk I found a top chest pocket I just hadn’t noticed before and I opened it up. Inside was my Mom’s business card with $10 cash, it felt like striking gold and it was such an unexpected surprise. Right after my Mom passed away I made a promise to myself that I would continue to talk…
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A New Year of Opportunity: 2023
Many of us see the new year as an opportunity to start fresh, to set new goals, and to dream about the year ahead. I see this as an opportunity to be introspective, to think about how I can best spend my minutes, hours, and days moving forward. Instead of thinking about resolutions (the firm choice to do or not do something) my family and I like to sit down and answer a series of questions. We then share our answers to those questions over the course of several days at dinner – it’s a fun way to connect with each other. I’d encourage you to answer the questions too…
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I Am Grateful Activities: Thanksgiving 2022
A dear friend gave me a gratitude journal in late 2020 and I recently came across it while going through my book closet. It was fun to look back at what I wrote down in the journal and to be reminded of some of the things I was focusing my attention on at that time. The journal starts with 6 questions that I’d highly recommend you take the time to do – perhaps it can be a Thanksgiving activity at your dining room table this year. If you feel comfortable, share your gratitude with those that you are with today. Gratitude has the power to change your perspective and it…
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Planting Thanksgiving Tulips in 2022
Every November I plant tulip bulbs in honor of my Mom. My Dad, brothers, and I did this just a few days after she passed away (check out my Living Lessons: Tulips post) and now it’s one of my favorite annual traditions. This year I took this tradition to a whole new level and planted 650 bulbs in my garden and surrounding our home! Planting each one brought me so much joy and I absolutely cannot wait to share photos with all of you in Spring 2023! Here is what I planted in the garden and around our property this year; Tulips represent “perfect and deep love” and are given…
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Year Two: Grow Through What You Go Through
It is hard to believe that it has been two years since my Mom’s passing. There are some days when it feels like an eternity and others when it feels like moments ago I was with her – talking, laughing, traveling together, endless phone calls and texts, and sharing our thoughts and dreams with one another. Some days I feel at peace and others I miss her so much I can barely breathe. Each day I am learning to give myself more grace, more patience, and more time to reflect. I was recently at our local book store and saw a quote that said, “Grow through what you go through.”…
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Honoring my Mom at our Family Rehearsal Dinner Celebration
Last weekend my younger brother Ryan got married! It was a beautiful weekend filled with love and celebration and some bittersweet feelings of wishing my Mom was there to celebrate with us. I had to actively remind myself that the weekend was a celebration of love and new beginnings, not a time to wallow in sadness and focus only on the one person who we wished was there. I had the honor to share some of my Mom’s life guidance at the rehearsal dinner and then share some thoughts as part of the wedding ceremony. It’s not only guidance for newlyweds, but all around solid life advice that I lean…
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Receiving Birthday Love from Above: My 40th
Today 40 years ago I was placed into the arms of my Mom for the very first time. That moment is one of the greatest gifts I will ever receive – the gift of her nurturing love, guidance, and presence in my life for 38 years along with countless lessons that she taught me along the way. I wanted to share just a handful of those lessons with you today to mark this milestone day. Lesson #1: Be Present. When my Mom and I talked on the phone (which was all the time) she would stop what she was doing and would give me her full attention. In a time…
