Farewell sweet mother

Farewell sweet mother

Joan Esther Rodgers Nokes September 22, 1938 – December 26, 2019 Joan Esther Rodgers Nokes—beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend—spent her final days on this earth surrounded by her loved ones before peacefully slipping away in the early morning hours following Christmas. Joan’s mortal body may be laid to rest, but her legacy lives on….

The not-so-simple truth

The not-so-simple truth

Well, it’s official. Mom has moved into a care center, and her condo is on the market. That’s the simple truth of it. Of course, the reality is anything but simple. I walk into her unoccupied condo and am overcome by the stark, sad silence. I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task before…

Thank you notes – November 2019

Thank you notes – November 2019

Thank you Linda… …for the flowers and balloons on my birthday. It was such a pleasant surprise to find them in our hotel room after a long day. I have to say I won the in-law lottery with this family. Thank you Larry for sharing them with me. Thank you Mother Nature… …for the beautiful…

Thank you notes – September 2019

Thank you notes – September 2019

Thank you Gloria Falls… for a beautiful morning hike. It truly was glorious. Thank you once again EMI Health for the Wellness Challenge, which introduced me to so many amazing hikes close to home. Thank you Larry for joining me and snapping the requisite peace-sign pic. (That’s a requirement of the challenge.) Thank you Piper……

Encouraging words for caregivers

Encouraging words for caregivers

If you’ve ever been a caregiver, you know how challenging it can be. If you haven’t, it’s only a matter of time. There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver. Rosalyn…

Coping with grief after a sudden death

Coping with grief after a sudden death

I had just completed a glorious run on the trails around Hawkes Landing. The weather was perfect. The run felt solid. I had a whole weekend of rest and relaxation ahead of me. Life was good. I had no sense that anything was amiss, no premonition that my view of the world was about to…

Thank you notes – July 2019

Thank you notes – July 2019

It’s easy to get so caught up in the hustle of life that we forget to appreciate the small miracles that happen every day. I created the monthly Thank You Notes post to help me relive the happy moments, savor the gratitude, and share them with you. I hope they also inspire you to think about…

Thank you notes – June 2019

Thank you notes – June 2019

You knew it was coming! After a week in Mexico, I’m going to inundate you with photos. After all, a photo is worth a thousand words, right? And there is no way to put into words all of the things I am grateful for this month. My heart is full. From the first cup of…

Thank you notes – May 2019

Thank you notes – May 2019

It’s easy to get so caught up in the hustle of life that we forget to appreciate the small miracles that happen every day. I created the monthly Thank You Notes post to help me relive the happy moments, savor the gratitude, and share them with you. I hope they also inspire you to think about…

Thank you notes – April 2019

Thank you notes – April 2019

It’s easy to get so caught up in the hustle of life that we forget to appreciate the small miracles that happen every day. I created the monthly Thank You Notes post to help me relive the happy moments, savor the gratitude, and share them with you. I hope they also inspire you to think about…