BlogRoll

I love my blog friends.  Even those I've never met. They inspire me to create something beautiful and interesting. Or they encourage me to grow and be different. They also are just lovely, lovely people that I'm blessed to call my friends.

 Writing Friends
repurposed

Cooking Friends
Joy the Baker
Against the Grain--Alex Thomopoulos

Designing Friends
Centsationalgirl.com
CopyCatChic

Teaching Friends
The Daring Librarian

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Once Upon a November

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Today is November 7, a day that will always represent one of the most defining moments in my family's life. Fourteen years in Heaven. It was roughly 1:15 in the afternoon when Brian gave his last breath on Earth. It was a Monday, and that afternoon and for many years to come, I found myself begging and praying to God:  Please don’t let anything happen to me. I need to be healthy, strong, and alive for my boys, at least until they live on their own. Please, please, please don’t let me get sick.  As I reflect on that time, I know how traumatized I was, allowing my fear to own me. At some point, the feeling and prayers became less frantic because I learned to tuck the fear away. I guess I had hoped it would just disappear.  This year, as most of you know, has been a journey for my whole family. We have worked together to face challenges, and, yes, we have all grown. But the fear that I so carefully stuffed into the deepest part of my heart? Well, it never did disappear and has been i
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