I have a family blog, where I keep more of those memories. This is the birth story I wrote for on there, about Therese's birth 9 years ago today! I've edited it a bit for here. This story came to my mind recently because her birthday was coming up, of course. But also in light of my own thoughts about death, with this current world crisis happening.  I know I'm not high risk, but...I also know that you never know. During Therese's birth I felt the closest to death I've ever been! I don't know if it was REAL but the thoughts and feelings sure were REAL. So, for those of you who love a birth story (like I do!), here you go: Therese Marie's Birth Story As I seem to recall, Matthew told Greta's birth story on our family blog. This postpartum period I have more of my wits about me and would love to tell the story of Therese's birth myself. It all started last Saturday with a fitful sleep that woke me with contractions at about 5:20 am. I ...

Today many of us will see portraits of happy families, all dressed up for Easter. I commend you, given the current state of the world, for carrying on in light of the restrictions. For carrying on the joy in light of the restrictions! It IS, I think, the most joyous day of the Christian calendar.  But just like anything we see on social media, these images can be a trigger to some. I've never much liked Easter. As a holiday.  Gaspppppppppppp!!! Well you know, compared to other holidays. Sure I have those memories as a kid of decorating eggs, getting a basket, going on a hunt through my house with my sister, and then usually at my Grandparents' place too, with all my cousins. My cousins and I would wait upstairs while the "Easter Bunny" got everything ready, and then we'd run around outside trying to find the most of those little shiny wrapped eggs.  I always preferred the jelly beans, though. We also did the thing, the dress up thing. And, when I...

I'd love to give this one a fancy title, but here in this blogger land I'm realizing the titles that are more explicit...well they lead to more reads. If I were to give it another title I might call it: Love After Divorce but see, I wasn't technically officially divorced yet. I was just separated. And: Love After Separation doesn't really sound all that great. See, really what it was, was: My Second Worst Break Up and so much more. If you read here at all you may remember that I met someone on my very second post-marriage date. And here I will call that someone PE. PE I've written another story about, a story that's a little more emotional, a little more juicy, a little more revealing...to publish under my pseudonym someday! With my other stories. That you may or may not ever get to read. This story for here , though, for you , like the juicier one, begins 4 years and a bit ago. On a dating site. I'd only met one other person from a dating si...