Resiliency. This term has definitely increased in popularity. I love this word. I see such resiliency in my two daughters who are pictured here on top of Pike’s Peak! What does it mean to be resilient? In Psychology Today, Resilience is defined as “that ineffable quality that allows some people to be knocked down by…
This past Sunday afternoon, a beautiful 16 year old young lady named Hannah lost her life in a car accident. She lived in a community close to ours and in this past week, I have learned much about this young lady who was beautiful both inside and out. The text came through from one of…
As we begin 2018, I have been reflecting on my individual and family goals as so many others do once a new year begins. This process has been also interesting for me to reflect back on my goals throughout this grief journey and how some of my goals have remained the same and some have…
Imagine a little girl that you know that is approximately five years old. Think of the innocence of that little girl. Are you able to picture her? When I was approximately the age of that little girl, then I was sexually abused by a teenage boy in our neighborhood. I went from a little girl…
MiKayla turns 18!! What an exciting milestone in her life! This milestone I have been able to thankfully celebrate with all three of my children, and I am ever thankful for each one. I found out that I was pregnant with MiKayla when I was just completing my master’s program in administration. She was set…
For the girls and I, our Christmas and New Year celebration begins when Kylee comes home for semester break from her university. Kylee has completed the first semester of her junior year in college and continues to work hard to meet her goals. The first weekend that Kylee was home then we did our annual…
As we are in the midst of our busy holiday season, I have been thinking a lot about the holidays and special days and how these times are for those who are grieving and in pain. Often during the holidays, this is a time in our culture where others recognize that this is a difficult…
This past week, I had some time to connect with my sister, and I truly treasure the times that I am able to connect with her. She is in such a priceless season of life being a first time mom with her beautiful 11 month old daughter. My sister has always been wonderful with children,…
As the girls and I celebrated Thanksgiving 2017, there are so many things that our hearts are so grateful for. We had the blessing of being surrounded in complete love and joy by my husband’s family as our annual Thanksgiving traditions continue. Our family begin arriving on the Sunday before Thanksgiving with Nana and one…
On Thursday night, I had the privilege of speaking with a class of nursing students at our local community college. Each semester, I have the opportunity to share my experiences from being in an interracial marriage that lasted for 18 years until my husband was killed in a work related accident in August 2011. They…
