Last December 21st was Mom and Dad’s 71st anniversary. In honor of the occasion, I combined a couple of excerpts from some of my previous writings. The first selection is from my book, A Long and Winding Road, RVing with Mom and Dad, and talks about the beginning of their love affair. The second is from an article titled Daddy’s Legacy that I wrote last July that tells about their last days together.

Mom and Dad met when they were 17 years old. They lived on adjoining farms in West Texas, went to the same church, went to the same school, and travelled in the same social circles. I love the story of the day their romance really got started.

By Linda Brendle

Hide and Seek is a favorite children’s game. “It” hides his eyes and counts while the others go and hide. When he reaches 50, he yells, “Ready or not, here I come.” Those few words evoke lots of emotions. If a child is not hidden, he feels panic as he realizes he is completely exposed. If she has hidden daringly close to base, she feels a thrill of fear and excitement as she anticipates a mad dash to the safety of home base. And if he has the PERFECT hiding place, he may be overcome with giggles, thinking that “It” has no chance of finding him. I don’t play Hide and Seek much anymore except with my grandchildren, but recently I’ve encountered many situations that yell “Ready or not, here I come.”

Mom’s in the hospital. She’s been there several times in the last couple of months. This time it looks like she’ll be there while, at least two more weeks. It’s been a rough few weeks, and yesterday we met with hospice.

By Debbie Simon

There is a great deal of fear that goes along with terminal illness and the questions come to the surface. "What happens after we die?" I worked for many years as a medical social worker with dying patients. They were usually the first to accept the truth. Often, the person with the illness, knows that their end is near. What I observed in many of them was an extreme fear of the actual process of "crossing over". Depending on religious beliefs and personal experience, that means different things to different people. I do know, however, that any visualizations that I did with the terminally ill, seemed to bring comfort and reassurance. The visualizations can be seen as a form of crossing over. When we close our eyes and "travel" somewhere inwardly, we can imagine that this is what it is like after we die. For many, the reality was peaceful and serene. I usually used a variation of the following visualization. The results were always different with each person. What a person sees is unique to their experience.

By Dr. Marie Marley

People with Alzheimer's disease can often become upset and agitated about things that happen to them. And when you, as the caregiver, witness your loved one's anguish, you may become distressed, too - sometimes more so than your loved one.

There is a secret, however, that can help reduce your stress when your loved one is upset. It's very simple. You just have to be aware that people with dementia live only in the present.

By Lucrezia Mangione

Imagine the following: Someone you love is dying and suffering. She is in Hospice care. The staff is great but you feel absolutely helpless. You and your family are exhausted and upset by the impending passing.

You are a hospice volunteer. You support the hospice staff, the family and their loved one in transition. You know your hospice patient. You are aware of her spiritual, religious beliefs. You're skilled at providing her chosen way of being comforted. But today, those comforts are not working.

By Nancy Brain

Unique Employment Opportunity: Once-In-A-Lifetime position for a talented caregiver. Need to be caring and compassionate at all times. Hours are all day, every day. Multitasking necessary. Pay is negligible and appreciation minimal. Duties will be exhausting, challenging, stress related and sometimes rewarding. Must be able to interact with all types of personalities as well as various family dynamics. Position needs to be filled immediately. No application necessary.

By Monica Phillips 

After the loss of a loved one, the subsequent New Year's Eve can be a particularly melancholy event. The happy and optimistic theme that normally accompanies this holiday is replaced with feelings of loneliness and uncertainly as to what the future may hold. One way to help lift the fog of sadness is to make a resolution to honor the memory of the departed in the coming New Year in ways that he or she would have appreciated. Some suggested activities may include:

By Sara Gilman

Holiday memories may not always be joyous… 

Thanksgiving had just passed and the holidays were fast approaching. Getting out all the boxes of decorations, the house looked like I was getting ready to move; chaos before beauty. In the midst of the unpacking, I received a phone call that my mother had been taken to the hospital. She had been ill, however we did not realize how serious it was. I had no idea when I left the house that day that when I returned I would have held my mother in her final breaths and said goodbye, as did my 2 sons, father, 4 brothers, 4 sister-in-laws, 9 nieces and nephews and many friends. Mom died on December 22.

By Lori Pederson

The holidays are upon us and it seems that many people have decided to simplify their holiday traditions this year. Instead of spending hours shopping and getting frustrated at the mall, they have decided to spend quality time with friends and family.

In the spirit of simplicity and kindness, we have compiled a list of 12 simple and memorable ways to support a grieving loved one this holiday season.

By Maureen Hunter

When grief deadens your shoulders with its weight there is one thing guaranteed to shift something, within and without and that is movement. Movement is motion, it propels us somewhere and it has flow, it has life.

By Maureen Hunter

Connecting with loved ones who are no longer with us is a vital part of   can establish and maintain connections but equally important is finding a meaningful place - a sacred space to do just that. There could be one or there could be many, but the 'right' space for you is the one that fits in with your lifestyle, your belief system and speaks to your heart with a simple aaahhh, this is it. 

"To feel deeply rooted in our True nature … therein is found the treasure of a contented heart." - Candace Conradi

At some point everyone wonders about life’s meaning and purpose. Join Gentle Pine in a journey from its early years in a meadow to its life as a Christmas tree. Experience the love and wonder Gentle Pine discovers along the way as it yearns to know its purpose throughout its life…from early moments in a meadow sharing its branches with animal friends to the Christmas when it finds its way into the loving home of a family. Children of all ages will treasure the message of Gentle Pine and the gift it brings.