As children & grandchildren, we personally have experienced many variations of how our parents and grandparents have grown old. I’m sure you have a similar list.

On September 11, 2001, I woke up for my first day of work at a new job and headed out the door with my 4 year old and 1 ½ year old in tow. Little did I know how the day would unfold.

This week I’m a squatter. Not the illegal kind. I didn’t steal a space and claim it to be my own. But I am settling in and living in a space that doesn’t belong to me. 

I really believe that our legacy is so much more than our monetary value; although, for the sake of our families, that is a beautiful and wonderful gift to give. 

Have you ever noticed that we always talk about the quality of someone’s life after they pass on with the phrase, “a life well lived”.

Do you know what it is like to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders? We throw that phrase around rarely internalizing what it actually means. Let me create a picture of it for us. 

I’ve seen a lot of broken hearts this week. And folks struggling with deep sadness over broken relationships, loss of loved ones, physical separation, unfulfilled dreams, and a country divided against itself. 

Does Easter feel broken this year? Well, it is. Why? Because we are confined. And our regular patterns and traditions are impacted.

Have you ever experienced grief? You are right now. We’ve all lost our ability to be with people we love. And at best, we see them but can’t hug them and be near them

Before our family even considers thinking about Christmas and all of the celebration and emotion that goes into it, we observe what has become one of our family’s most important holidays, Pennsylvania whitetail deer season.

Today, I’m sitting here avoiding something. I’ve been avoiding it for a couple of weeks now.

Let’s talk turkey. Not the actual fowl roasting in the oven this week, but about Thanksgiving. Let’s get real and honest about this family tradition. 

Is there one place in your home where most of your memories are made? For us, it’s our kitchen. It has been this way for as long as I can remember. Even the most trivial memories are made here. 

Without many words this week, I wanted to share something that I have been thinking about almost every day over the last month. 

When we hear the word holiday, often our minds start diving into the “what”.  What new entree will wow my family? What is the most meaningful gift that I can buy my parents? What new shiny object will the kids want? 

How have your last few weeks been? For me, I have been very aware of life’s dramatic extremes.

Is there any sibling rivalry in your house? All of us experience it at some point. We’re either ultra competitive or we are just simply living with people who are so like us while being so unlike us at the same time.

Did you ever find yourself stuck at a place where you are wondering what’s most important? I’m in the middle of one of these moments right now.

Have you ever gone seven months without running water in your kitchen? We did and it’s totally my fault.