A year ago yesterday, I said my “unofficial” good bye to my grandma. The circumstances were a bit of a fluke. I had mindlessly forgotten my bag at my parents’ house after a chaotic Christmas day spent with family. I left my son’s hockey tournament to retrieve it with my daughter by my side. She
Our summer has been moving somewhere between the speed of a snail and a sloth. We intentionally set out to slow things down to a more relaxed and casual pace of life. This girl is loving every easy moment of it. For the past few summers, it has been best for us to have a
There will be hours upon hours of car rides our future. No matter, I am already looking back on this seemingly mundane time as a sweet memory of the way things used to be.
In order to honor their individuality and encourage them in the best way possible, my role as “Mom” looks different depending on which child I am parenting.
Despite all the different ways our lives have unfolded since graduation, those smiles and the love fueling them, are ever present. I don’t think there is a more convincing testament to the strength of our friendships.
I have accepted this into my life and let me tell you, it’s transformative. It helps keep a smile on my face and focus on my priorities and my people. This is not about ignoring injustice or letting people treat you poorly. It is about letting go of the little stuff.
My Grandma. Here we are today. Saying good-bye. My heart is broken. And although I am grateful for all the time we had together, I know I will spend the rest of my life missing her.
We should not spend this time rushing around to complete a checklist someone else created, but instead, finding what brings you, as a unique family unit, joy. Make a list of those things. Check each one off.
Reflection and expressing gratitude are two consistent elements of the Thanksgiving holiday while who and what we are thankful for may change through the years. The nostalgia of this time of year is quite compelling and as I think back about Thanksgivings past, I’m seeing my experiences in a new light with and a new found appreciation.
I am using my time and my little space on the internet to offer this peek into my unfiltered life and issue a reminder we all deserve:
If perfection is the goal, we are all failing.
