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Angels and Butterflies On May 30th, 2015, I woke up with a single, foreign

On May 30th, 2015, I woke up with a single, foreign thought running through my mind: “This is the first day of my life learning to live without my mom.”

Mom had died the night before at 10:50 pm. For the previous few weeks, she had traveled her end-of-life journey in her apartment at one end of our home.

We were so blessed to experience this sacred time in this way. Mom peaceful and comfortable in her own bed and me getting to care for her with the support of my wonderful husband and fabulous...

Packing Up Christmas With Christmas behind us and New Year’s ahead, many

With Christmas behind us and New Year’s ahead, many are eager to start packing up the decorations that have been both beautiful and yet thrown off the routine.

In the midst of the trimmings and celebrations has also been the need to attend to the things we normally do, but it can be a challenge to keep up what’s normal in the midst of the holiday mess.

So, those of us who love order - and you know who you are - may be itching to pull out all the bins and boxes which hold the holiday stuff.

While...

Why Imperfect Family Caregiving Is Such a Treasure As I was growing up, my

As I was growing up, my mom and dad certainly wanted me to do well.

They gave me incredible support and encouragement, always reminding me they were proud of me.

However, within that context, they emphasized it wasn’t the outcome that mattered most, but the effort I applied.

“Sue, it’s not whether you succeed that matters to us,” they’d say. “Just that you give your best effort in whatever you do.”

Maybe that’s not an exact quote, but it’s pretty close.

That sentiment supported my self-esteem then...

16 Disability Travel Tips to Help Make Your Holiday Trip a Success For

For many, disability travel can be a challenge at any time of the year. This may be especially true during the holidays, when so many are hitting the proverbial road in one way or another to see family and friends.

For those living with some type of disability—as well as their caregivers—embarking on such a trip can present some unique challenges.

Fortunately, there are certain tips you can follow to help make your holiday trip a success.

Types of disabilities

According to the U.S. Centers for...

Holiday Grief. The First Year-and Sometimes Every Year-Is Hard. The

The first-year-of-everything without a loved one is hard, and that can be especially true during the holidays.

After my mom died in 2015, I had a tough time. Much tougher than I’d anticipated.

And the first Christmas? I couldn’t face a single decoration.

When the rug is pulled out

Mom and I had talked a lot about death and dying. She was tired of dealing with her physical challenges and eager to go Home to her Savior. We were both blessed to get to do everything the way we’d hoped at the end of...