A Spring of Joy

Today I threw away several pair of fuzzy socks, remnants of a box of comfort a friend sent me over eleven years ago when I began chemo for the first time. I’m not sure why I’m sharing this. I guess because I never thought throwing away socks would bring an ache to my heart—-an ache…

The past couple weeks have passed in a bleary haze of either pain medication, nightmarish dreams or tears. I am struggling to put to words the answer to the kind questions y’all ask—“How are you? What have you learned? What do you need? What is the plan for treatment?” A week before my surgery, I…

Every week our church sends out an All About Sunday email to help us prepare for the upcoming service. It includes a brief synopsis of the sermon as well as links to various pieces of helpful information. I make a playlist of the songs we will be singing, and I blare it every Sunday morning…

Recently, my oldest overheard my tears as I cried in my room. He came immediately. He does that these days, my Ash, arm around me, bending his head to my shoulder. “Mom?” That’s all he has to say. I know the fear in his voice. I shook my head and laughed sheepishly. No, I wasn’t…

Recently I stood next to my Bear during communion at church. We had just sung together of the risen Christ, how unwavering our hope is. Seeing the tears pooling, he leaned over, put his arm around me and tucked my head under his chin (how is he tall enough to do that?). We began the…