While I was writing a letter to Brandon this last week, I found I was still in the throws of grieving and missing my three children who are absent from our home. As I wrote him, some much needed understanding started to fall into place for me. I realized the beauty of the process of life for the first time sense Mariela died. It felt so refreshing to feel the spirit prick my heart and give me some help to cross the bridge to a new level of understanding and acceptance. I have prayed during almost every quiet moment since Rebekah left, for acceptance of this new phase of my life. I have thrown 100 percent of my heart into raising my children. After Rebekah left, her absence on top of Brandon and Mariela's was just too much to bare. I realized how vulnerable I was caring so much for my children. I wanted to withdraw that vulnerability
Honoring Family with Family this July 4th
(AP Photo/Kamenko Pajic) Honoring Family with Family this July 4th Happy 4th of July from my family to yours! My Independence Day plans are traditional: tossing burgers and hotdogs on the grill, surrounded by laughing family and friends. We will watch the fireworks together at night and get to bed after a great day. But for my plans to be truly patriotic, I need to do more than hang an American-flag-printed banner over the picnic table. I need to reflect, remember and honor those who have and are currently serving in our country’s armed forces. Our troops fiercely fight for our freedoms each day. Many of us can only imagine what it is like to be deployed, to go months or even years without seeing those we love most in this world. For many, it is hard to grasp how these people feel. To better understand their experiences, I looked online for the stories of those serving this country. I came across “Stories of Service,” an enlightening series of short videos...