Blog

I know, it’s an interesting title.

I almost used, “Talking about dying in the woods,” but in that context, you can see how word order and comma placement make a big difference.

And yes, some may consider me a bit odd.

After all, not many people sit in their bathrobes and talk about Jesus.

And not many people carry a stool into the woods to sit and talk about dying.

But that was what I did a few years ago.

And actually, it wasn’t just one stool, but two: one for me and one for the tripod for my...

An old trauma nurse, I’m familiar with the urgency instilled into the “Golden Hour“ - the sixty minutes that immediately follow a traumatic injury. When appropriate treatment is provided within this critical time frame, patients usually have better outcomes overall.

Along those same lines, in my years as both a hospice nurse and family caregiver, I’ve seen the significant difference in quality of life individuals often experience during what I refer to as the Golden Season at end of life. ...

“I have an idea,” I said to my mom. “Let’s swap Bibles. You highlight verses in mine that are important to you, and I’ll do the same in yours.”

Since Mom loved to spend time in the Word, had spent 20 years as a teacher, was always up for an adventure, and knew what I was trying to create, she jumped in with both feet.

I can’t begin to express what it means to be able to read those highlights now. While everything she highlighted in her own Bible is a treasure, those highlights in mine feel like...

I’m both a former hospice nurse and a former family caregiver, so raising awareness about the benefits of hospice and palliative care is a passion of mine — which is why I continue to write and share about these topics in a variety of ways.

When my mom’s health started a steep decline toward the end of her life, hospice wasn’t yet an option for a variety of reasons. Though I was able to provide most of her care, she still needed to see a doctor on a regular basis. With her mobility a growing...

It’s a question I’ve asked myself a lot throughout my life, especially in light of my years as a hospice nurse.

Of course, the answer is different for everyone and evolves as we move through shifting seasons.

No one can decide what matters most to me except me.

And no one can decide what matters most to you except you.

A powerful tool

Asking and answering this critical question is a powerful tool to help us do all kinds of important things - like set priorities, make decisions, and give ourselves...

Organize the Essentials.

If that title sounds a little familiar, it’s because that’s the name Mom gave my company many years ago.

It was 2008, and I’d had an itch to start my own business for some time, but didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do.

When I learned that professional organizing was actually a thing, I jumped in with both feet, since organizing stuff is something I love to do.

With visions of the shoeboxes full of medicine bottles in total disarray that I’d encountered over the years...

If you find yourself unexpectedly weeping during your tax preparation, it may be more than your financial woes.

Something I hadn’t considered when I was struggling after my mom’s death was that her taxes would still need to be filed the following year.

So, just a few months after I’d survived my first Christmas without her, I found myself knee-deep in all the receipts that were often-painful reminders of our journey the year before.

Dates brought back vivid memories of how Mom was doing during...

I wrote this post many years ago and want to share it again here. Because my feelings on the topic have only intensified since then.

My plunge into the language of family caregiving began when I spotted a post on Twitter (now X) many years ago.

When caregiving expert Debra Hallisey wrote an article to express her concern about how the “parenting our parents” reference is an all-too-common phrase, I chimed in to agree and add a cringe-worthy phrase of my own: the “burden of family caregiving.”

...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...