When back to school season rolls around, my entire family is switching up routines and schedules. So…it makes sense to find the pockets of time where I’m going to insert my healthy me time.
Back to School, Back to You! Read More »
August 4th was the one year anniversary of my dad’s death. Rather than focusing on his last day, I am choosing to focus this post on the Saturday just prior to his passing, where we threw a party in the hospice room to celebrate his life. When I reflect on this memory, I feel so grateful that we had this opportunity to tell dad how much he meant to us, share memories, and prepare as a family to say good-bye. I know that many families have not had this opportunity.
How to truly celebrate a life Read More »
My family has two lake homes in Hubbard Lake, Michigan. For health reasons, my mom hasn’t been able to visit Michigan in a few years. My siblings and I were determined to get her there this year. We have dangled this trip in front of her as an incentive for her to take better care of her health and we wanted her to be around the extended family as many have not seen her since my dad’s memorial last fall. Thankfully, she was able to go. It took much preparation, and patience but I know in the end we are all glad we went.
Driving mom from Michigan to Georgia…it’s what you do. Read More »
Finding the time to take care of your own health with all the competing priorities of work, children, and an aging parent is near impossible. There is no lost time to be found in a ‘sandwiched’ life. I’ve experienced first-hand what happens to a mother’s life (and father’s too!) when you put yourself last on the priority list. My parent’s believed they gave us everything growing up – all our needs were met and many of our wants. But because they did not prioritize their own health on their daily to-do lists, their health paid the ultimate price. Starting in their 60’s the lack of attention they gave themselves caught up to them in countless hospital visits, numerous prescription drugs, and a compromised lifestyle that caused them to be dependent on others to help care for everyday activities like cooking, showering, and running errands. I believe that my dad would still be with us and he and my mom would be enjoying their golden years and retirement savings by traveling and having the energy to maximize each day. Witnessing these choices, led me to wanting a different lifestyle for myself and others.
Seven ways to pay your health first and still be a super caregiver Read More »
You just never know what the day will bring. Each one is a new adventure. Here’s a diary of what happened today:
5:55 am – Rise and shine! Got up after one snooze even though I wanted two…my dog Shadow was ready to get up so he jumped from the bed when I turned to snooze the second time. Got up since he’ll just bug me until I do. Put workout clothes on that I had set out night before. Swallowed morning prescriptions and vitamins. Gave hubby a quick smooch and headed downstairs.
A day in the life of a sandwich generation mom Read More »
2014 will always be remembered for me as a rough year. Both of my parents have been chronically ill for at least the past decade and there have been many ups and downs but in 2014 their lives started to spiral. In the spring of 2014, my mom has hospitalized with pneumonia and incubated due to breathing complications with her COPD and thankfully surprised us all when she bounced back. We truly thought we were going to lose her. It took weeks in a hospital and a rehab facility and lots of support and prayer. During these difficult months, my family was introduced to an amazing site called caringbridge.org.
The ONE resource you need to initiate the power of prayer Read More »
Growing up the month of June was all about my dad. He was the only one in my immediate family with a June birthday and we celebrated Father’s day, too. Needless to say, I’ve been thinking and talking about him a lot this week. This August it will be a year since his passing so we have almost made it through all the ‘firsts’ without him.
Honoring my Dad’s birthday Read More »
I love the story Trace Adkin’s song ‘Just Fishin’ tells the listener. It’s about a dad spending quality time with his daughter. She’s excited to go fishing but he is older and wiser and knows this experience is so much more than fishing.
Both of my teenagers are in travel sports. My 13 year old son plays travel baseball and my daughter plays for a sand volleyball club. With my husband and I both working full time and the extra family responsibilities I have with my mom, life is B U S Y.
The unexpected payback from expensive travel sports Read More »
For me music is a mood lifter.
It just takes a minute to set the mood. Usually when people talk about mood music they are referring to setting the mood for an elegant dinner party or an evening of romance. But, mood music is so much more than just dinner and ‘dessert’.
The right song can shake lack of confidence, put some sparkle in a ho-hum routine, shine light in the remains of a tough day, ignite a happy memory and remind me what I have to be thankful for.
How to lift your mood without a prescription Read More »
Once, when I was going through a difficult time and didn’t know what direction life would take me, I was told by an acquaintance who had been through a similar rough patch that if you worry and then suffer, you suffer twice. But, if you don’t worry (and just believe) and still suffer in some way, you would only suffer once.
I’m positive that attitude changes everything! Read More »