Lauren Flake - Grief & Texas
Dear Mom, You weren’t supposed to leave me so soon. I’ve had to do everything without you. You weren’t supposed to leave me so soon. I’ve had a miscarriage. I’ve had two babies. And I’ve had two surgeries. I’ve watched my brother fight addiction. I’ve watched my dad remarry. And I’ve planned funerals. I’ve written […]
Creating a playlist of songs that will comfort people in their grief for my Where Did My Sweet Grandma Go? launch party really calmed my anxious heart. Music soothed my soul after losing my mother to early onset Alzheimer’s disease, and I enjoyed finding therapeutic, uplifting music that speaks of Heaven, God’s creation and eternal […]
For years, my husband and I wrestled with our presentation of Santa Claus to our young daughters. We watched well-meaning Christian friends decide to forgo the tradition altogether. We hesitated to follow suit because we cherish our childhood memories of St. Nick but we are careful not to use Santa to control our children’s behavior. […]
I hated Halloween as a kid. I detested haunted houses, creepy movies, or being scared in general. Dressing up in a costume my mom made and eating candy corn were the extent of my holiday celebrations each year. But I love celebrating Halloween with my kids. My elementary school-age daughters and I watch sweet but […]
It’s now been over a decade (and two daughters) since our miscarriage. My pregnancy loss was the first really difficult thing (besides my mom’s early onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis) that I experienced without her support. Yet, it made me feel closer to her because I knew she had walked that path. Not only did she have […]