My First Christmas Without Alex
I was up early on Christmas morning—not because of excitement, but because of uncertainty. I didn’t know how the day[…]
When a Memory Brings Him Back — and Takes Him Away Again
I came across a video from December 2012 of Alex and Jason playing in the kitchen. They were just being[…]
Holding Gratitude and Grief at the Same Time
On Tuesday night, we ordered Chinese food for dinner. Nothing fancy—just one of those simple, comforting meals you go to[…]
Navigating Christmas With a Broken Heart: Grief, Love, and the Weight of Wanting to Make It Special
Christmas used to feel simple. It used to arrive wrapped in familiar colors—soft lights, warm gatherings, the quiet magic that[…]
The Quiet Truth Benedict Cumberbatch Articulated About Loss
I found profound truth in a Benedict Cumberbatch quote: Grief is the echo of a profound connection. It is the[…]
When you hate who you’ve become
The weekend I’d been dreading—the first birthday without Alex—has passed. It came and went with the heavy, overwhelming reality I[…]
“The Day My Grief Answered Back”
This past week has brought with it a series of strange and unexplainable experiences. Mondays are always tough—it’s the day[…]
Reliving the Grief of Loss, The Deep Blue Good-bye: Finding Peace in Alex’s Ocean
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that can prepare you for releasing your child’s ashes somewhere. The weight of that final[…]
There Are No Rules to Joy: Lessons from the Ocean
Friday mornings are a familiar rhythm—early wake-up calls, a quiet walk to our favorite coffee spot, and a sense of[…]
From 2:45 AM to Paradise: The Long Road to Waikiki
The alarm clock has never been a friend, but hearing it blare at 2:45 AM—a time only pilots and bakers[…]