On our recent spring break trip, we went back to the east coast to visit family. However, we were surprised with an unforeseen weather event – snow in April! My California son was throughly delighted at the sight and experience. He was sad when it melted just a few hours later (as spring snow often…
I can’t believe that we hadn’t discovered it earlier. I should have known both my children were water bugs. Both had their 5th birthday at a pool/water play area. How did I not realize they were ready for big water parks! This summer, during our trip to the east coast, we hit up two water…
Baptisms are beautiful events. While never overtly religious, I was raised Catholic and do believe that there is a higher order that helps drive our lives. Religion is a beautiful way to celebrate that higher order, and seeing a child welcomed into that religion is always a special event, where you see the innocent life…
In May, at 39 weeks pregnant, my sister finally went into labor, and gave birth to my darling niece. Born in the early morning, at 6 pounds, 5 ounces, she was the bundle of joy all could not wait to hold and shower with love. Of course, living on the opposite coast I had…
Late in life love – it was something I didn’t believe in. I never had any examples of it in my extended family as I was growing up. My grandmother who got separated from her boyfriend, moved in with us when she was 50 and never dated or married again. I thought that was the…
Cheerleading doesn’t get a lot of respect. People don’t know the work that goes into it. The hours spent on flexibility and strength training to get those jumps right, to do those incredible lifts, to throw someone in the air, and make sure they are caught safely. The hours spent working so that routine looks…
As I flew back from New Jersey after my sister’s wedding, this time solo with the two kids (husband stayed behind to go on a business trip), I wearily got all our luggage and the two kids on the bus. With my daughter asleep in my arms, my son sat next to me and said:…
It looks like 2015 will be the year of the wedding. All my travel plans this year center around weddings and anniversaries. However, while the other events I had fair warning, this January wedding came as a bit of a surprise. My father and mother, who have been separated for many years, had finally decided…
My trip to New Jersey was not planned, it’s only intended purpose was to say good-bye to my friend. My wonderful sister drove home so she could attend the services with me and support me on the difficult day. But, at some point realized we were both in town and it was 1 week before…
As I write this, I’m in an airport, waiting to board my flight back east. I bought my tickets yesterday, knowing this day would come but never wanting to believe it. Some regular readers may have noticed comments from On Beyond Cancer. She regularly followed me and I followed her. But what you may not…