One week ago today Taylor submitted her last paper...on the same day our neighbor died. What a week. Let's NOT do it again. She slept until in until 10:30 am for the next two mornings, which is unheard of for a morning person like Taylor. I told her she's got 16 years of early rising to make up for :). Ecclesiates 3:13 "That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their...

Today we had a tour go through Heartfelt. I love tours. We have amazing hardworking employees. I have the opportunity to introduce every employee and brag about how everyone is cross trained and so very valuable. Tomorrow there are two, so it's a double blessing day. While introducing myself today, Mary, sneaked into the office. Last week she brought a new friend, who just moved to town, in for...

That was NOT the plan for the night. Last week's Grief Share was about the "Why's" people ask God, while other's demand answers. We discussed what the difference was (demanding is trying to control God). Taylor and I neither ask those questions to God so we found last week a little difficult to relate to. And then there was tonight... . Tonight the subject matter was guilt and anger. They were...

What a day...I'm so glad it's over. Grief Share said in week one to go to the doctor. Taylor was very obedient and went in early March. Ok, so I made that sound much better than it was. The cancer center said Archie was suppose to try and walk, even very slowly, when and if he could. Since our house is pretty small with just a narrow hallway, we tried to make it as easy as possible for him. A...

Day 2 and Taylor has allowed herself to drink out of her "Grace Alumni" coffee mug. Though she hasn't officially walked, she has completed every task and requirement, including her exit interview. She's contemplating when she will wear her college ring Archie and I got her in September, engraved with,"Congrats! Mom and Dad". As with everything else right now, bittersweet... . In our two week...

Last day of Taylor's final: DONE!!!! YEAH!!! How did we celebrate? We cleaned the yard for spring. Isn't that what everyone does to celebrate? Well, technically we did make a Menard's run for more cleaner and tubs, so we stopped for Taco Bell--that counts for going out for dinner, right? It's been a while.... . Every spring the landscaping has to be cleaned up, old growth pulled, weeds, and the...

...and breath.... . What a month. What a week. What a day. Taylor and I made plans to run out and get our few groceries we need tonight. That frees our weekend for her to finish her final paper, due in two days, and me to work on the house for graduation. The best laid plans... . I get home from work, shut off the van, step out and turn to pick up my purse. All normal, right? I turn around and...

Today I got home and started on the dishes. I hate to sit down only to get back up again, so usually I go until my mental list is checked off. Then and only then do I allow myself to collapse. I was cleaning up the counter when Taylor yells from the other room,"MOM! Prince DIED!!!" Prince, or technically the "Artist Formerly Known as Prince"--or did he go back to Prince.....? All confusing....

Today I am reversed. Ever have a day like that? Usually I process my day through writing and then lately I find the music that describes where I am or how I am feeling on this journey of grief. Today there were just not a lot of feelings...just...numbness, which is technically a feeling, or the lack there of. I digress... All I kept thinking about today is how if anything happens to me, what a...

...his face was wrenched with pain and then I woke up! That's how my morning started today, looking at the agony on Archie's face. I got home yesterday and the front bush/tree is beginning to bloom. Bright pink, HUGE blossoms, I have no idea what they are. Archie always complained that bush needed to be cut back. Last year I suggested we just make a larger box around the base so he wouldn't have...