Am I in Paradise?
The other morning Nick woke up and began singing as usual. I am always intrigued as to what he begins to sing. Morning songs have a theme. This time, he didn’t start at the beginning, “Oh think twice, it’s just another day...
Gratitude often comes after the event.
Over the last two days, I was reminded that sometimes it takes a while for my grateful heart to reappear after the crisis passes. This week began our annual season of thankfulness and gratitude, followed by the season of love. Each year I love...
My Definition of Crisis Changes!
My perspective concerning what constitutes a crisis can change in a moment. Because of where we live, we are often without electricity for hours at a time. Although this can seem like a hardship to bear, we really are comfortable. Arden has...
Life happens while you are making other plans.
Although immortalized in John Lennon’s song “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy),” this quote is attributed to Allen Saunders in 1957. It was certainly true in my life last Sunday. I was driving home from a wonderful writing...
Stressed is Desserts spelled backwards!
Lately my friends are talking to me about trying to reduce my stress. I have been using my own style of stress reducing activities for all of these years, but it seems that the professionals are now saying that sugar can actually cause a stress...
Sometimes I ask, is it worth it?
As a consequence of his Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, Nick’s mobility has decreased over time and he has experienced regression of many skills that he worked hard to master. So of course, because of this regression, his personal care needs have...
Today, nothing went according to plan.
Arden and I have a few days to tour around Florence before my conference starts on Wednesday. The weather has been great and both of us had a list of places we wanted to visit over these three days. Sunday we did everything we planned and it...
Take care of yourself!
It is a popular greeting in our culture when we are finishing a conversation with someone else. Take Care of yourself! Often we are sincere but sometimes it is just something that we politely say. This next week, Arden and I are taking this to...
Wait! Stop! I got on the wrong ride.
When I was a young mom, I was not naïve; I knew that life has it ups and downs. I expected a Merry-Go-Round, and got a Roller-Coaster. I thought that my life would go up and down, up and down, in gentle expected cycles of highs and lows. I...
Let the rushing water flow past!
Castle Bridge in Buncrana, County Donegal is impressive. It has stood crossing the Crana River near its mouth for 300 years this year. Brigid Rose Higgins, local Inishowen artist, has captured the solid strength and serene beauty of the bridge...
I want to be honest, but can I?
I watched a facebook video the other day that had gone viral. A brave young mother tearfully shared her feelings about her life caring for her child with autism. She said, “Some days it is not ok.” My heart swelled with pride and...
Sometimes I am sad.
There are days when my emotions bubble closer to the surface than other days. Stories that I hear are more poignant. Even if they are reports told on the TV by dispassionate newscasters. These stories prick my heart. This seems especially...