It was three years ago today that my mom died. It’s been a pretty full time. Throw in all the missing, sweet remembering, anger, acceptance and a bunch of impossibly unfair questions like, “Why did you leave me?”, and there’s been a sizable emotional roller coaster looping around. Mostly, though, these years have been full of […]
I Need a Life Coach
Having this blog allows me to do some really, really neat things. Things I would never otherwise do. Like sweat it out in hot yoga, get the most awesome family pics we’ve ever had taken, and plan fabulous blogging conferences. It’s fun, it stretches me, and challenges me to be my best person. I love […]
The Need for Delightful
****This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sara Lee® to help promote their new 45 Calories and Delightful bread.**** I’ve told this story in bits and pieces before, but it’s an important one, so bear with me. About two and a half years ago, my mother died. My dear grandma had just […]
Fighting for the Memories
There are many days, usually the ones littered with playdough-covered floors and emphatic toddler temper tantrums, that I sometimes think I want to forget. But the truth is, I would never really wish this. Memories, whatever they are, are incredibly precious. They remind us of all the love and connections in our life and more logistically […]
Need to Know
Two years ago Sunday my mother exited this earth. I’d be a fool to not recognize all the growing I’ve done in this time and all the ways my family has been blessed despite this heartbreak, but…I MISS HER. I make up fantasies about her, making her into something she never had a chance to […]
Beautiful Things
Several months ago, something weird happened. Very weird. I started to care about myself. It wasn’t a sudden, overwhelming recognition that Meredith, outside of sippy cup provider and snotty nose wiper, existed, but it was more a dull thud of a reminder that some part of her was still hanging around somewhere. The thud grew […]
The Cookie Jar Parable
In this world, it can be a little tricky to meet people you connect with. Finding those kindred spirits? What a rare gift. I can’t say how blessed I feel that my path crossed with Stephanie Giese, the powerhouse behind Binkies and Briefcases, a while back through this blogging world. Steph is a breath of fresh […]
The Bud Vase
There is no shortage of rituals that began around here after my mom died last year. There is The Bracelet, which I filled you in on before. There is the fact that I keep Yankee in business by having this bizarre need to burn a candle whenever I am home for longer than a millisecond. […]
Cancer and Me with Wendy Nielsen
Every once in a while, you come across a blogger who absolutely rips your heart out with her own amazing heart. Right now, I’m in awe of Wendy Nielsen. This gal is The Whole Package. See, Wendy survived breast cancer. And then she decided not only to share her story with others, but to purposefully use […]
The Bracelet 2
A while ago I wrote a post called The Bracelet. That one kind of ripped my heart out and spat it back because it was so poignant, so real, so…honest. I am a private gal and this one chipped a little too close to the vest, but…I liked it. It was healing. I wrote […]
