Death, flowers, garden, Grief, Uncategorized

Judgement in Grief, Part I: Cast off the Japanese Beetles

But I do believe what was in the dark will come to light.

Bereaved Parents, bereavement, Child loss, Death, Family, garden, Grief, kindness, Life, nature, Photos

From Out of the Darkness, You will Come

Often, from our darkest spaces, and our most vulnerable moments comes a light we can choose to cast on a small section of the world.

Bereaved Parents, bereavement, Death, Family, flowers, garden, Life, Loss, Photography, Photos

Always

I remember sitting at the breakfast table across from her laundry machine, and I'd watch the sunrise hit the lake as the ducks came near the wooden swing. You'd have to get up early enough because the ducks were gone by mid to late morning.

Bereaved Parents, Death, Poetry, Writing

Why the Angels Sing, a Poem

I know why the angels sing.

Child loss, children, Death, Family, Grief, Life, Loss, Photography

My Son’s Middle School Season

Seasons are not only those times of year when red, orange, and brown colors tinge leaves on the trees, but the changes we face for which we are never prepared.

Advocacy, bereavement, Death, Family, Grief, inspiration, Photography, Poetry, Writing

Our Commonality: A Poem for All Who’ve Lost

... we put away their treasures like the porcelain cocker spaniel they kept next to a vase with a necklace around its neck, and in which new sunflowers were placed every Saturday.

Death, Friends, inspiration, Life, Poetry, Writing

A Poem of Loss: Where We Walk

Friend, I know loss like the knowledge that snow seldom sticks to sidewalks where we walk, or it stays soft for as long as it takes a running back prodiogy to run for a touchdown. Touch down, I know you'd hoped his feet would touch down on the ground again, and hopes wanted are dreams… Continue reading A Poem of Loss: Where We Walk

Art, children, Communication, Death, Family, Grief, Life, Photography, Writing

The Switch, Bear Claw and a Fruit Cup

After all, life is not always filled with moments of fruit cups and bear claw tears.

Death, History, parenthood, Poetry, World War II, Writing

Hallie, Did You Know? (A Goodbye Poem for Marshall and Corrie)

Hallie, did you replay your last goodbye ...

Death, Family, Grief, Life, Loss, parenthood, parenting, Photography, Photos

Mommy, I Need to Water the Flowers

The work ahead of my family seems heavier than a load anyone wants to lift.It's a load my students this year would say, "This is too much work." It's the type of work previous students would say, "You doin' too much." Sometimes I think my past traumatic experiences are taken lightly. But, those ordeals made it… Continue reading Mommy, I Need to Water the Flowers