autism, children, Communication, Family, Life, Poetry

A Sibling Love Story: Poem for Corrie and Hayes

Hayes and Corrie in early May 2020. sticks in black water, the lake where my grandparents lived looked  black until you crept to the side and saw sticks with splintered stems.  i’ve heard love stories like that before. the story where a couple chooses the happiest moments for coffee mugs,  pillows, and twentieth anniversary albums.… Continue reading A Sibling Love Story: Poem for Corrie and Hayes

bereavement, Family, Holiday, inspiration, parenting, Poetry, Uncategorized, Writing

Unlit, A Corrie Poem

As a child, I wondered about the houses without wreaths, trees and lights and the reasons why ...

Family, Food, inspiration, Photography, Poetry, Uncategorized, Writing

Coffee and Cake (A Corrie Poem)

I dream of the airplane with blue wings, Corrie's cake, and coffee with cream.

Art, children, Communication, Family, Life, parenthood, Photography, Photos, Poetry, Writing

The Best Reason Why: John, His Service, and His Poem

Some loves experience more pies in the face than ballets and dreams sold to strangers on a holiday channel.

children, Family, inspiration, Life, parenthood, parenting, Poetry, Writing

A Corrie Poem: A Day

There will come a day, as days come and days fade, when i look at the walls after I walk through the double doors to pick up my son from his elementary school.

Advocacy, bereavement, Family, flowers, Grief, Holiday, inspiration, kindness, Photography, Photos, Poetry, Writing

Fill Up the Empty Chair for Thanksgiving

Some say empty chairs remain empty all around tables in remodeled kitchens with the island where someone's son ate breakfast. A bar stool sits empty. I arranged flowers this morning for Corrie's room, her spot at the table, and a centerpiece. "Remember me" is a common thought of some who read Bibles and then wonder… Continue reading Fill Up the Empty Chair for Thanksgiving

children, Family, inspiration, Life, parenting, Poetry, Writing

Will You Know her Name?

... when I hear Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata, it is the soundtrack playing inside of me for the loss of a legend: the light, the imp, and angel far from where I can see."

Art, children, Family, Joy, Life, parenthood, Photography, Photos, Poetry

Flipping the Nightmare: A Halloween in Reverse

“Mommy, sing me a song, and not about a raven or a nevermore. Sing about where we fly and about my new wings.”

children, Family, Life, parenthood, Photography, Photos, Poetry, Writing

The Greatest Purpose to Write

Just like my son, Corrie was a person you could not just walk away from

children, Family, inspiration, Life, Loss, parenting, Poetry, Writing

Ham Biscuits

Don't promise me when you know, I know, there are no guarantees that the mountain leaves will still cling to trees if we drive up this weekend. A weekend is a hope and a promise; a date when they promise to send you a check. Did you ever wait in a place for someone to… Continue reading Ham Biscuits