Merry Christmas from our house to yours!!
Birthdays of My Dad and My Father
December 20, 2014
Facing Fear, Family, My Journey with God, Personal Growth, Recovery, Trauma childhood trauma, Christmas Memories, emotional strength, Facing Adversity, facing fear, Family, forgiving dad, Forgiving My Father, healing, Letting Go, Mental Health, recovery, Spiritual Journey, Transformation 13 Comments
Dad’s birthday is today; gone now nearly 5 years, he would be turning 92.
He hated Christmas. Apparently his birthday was forgotten every year in the midst of Christmas preparations when he was growing up. The pain of being forgotten never seemed to leave him. He would not allow us to put up a tree until his birthday had passed, and even then did so grudgingly.
I know now Dad’s Christmas experience is only a tiny window into his life story. More
The Power of Connection
January 12, 2014
Facing Fear, My Journey with God, Personal Growth Christmas Memories, emotional strength, facing fear, finding freedom, gratitude, healing, personal growth, Transformation, truth 47 Comments
My heart is a bit lighter these days, all because a stranger connected with me.
Thank you, Alice!
A few days before Christmas, I went to a local store searching for some new jeans. A helpful clerk named Alice was able to help me find some that fit well, and I even found a bonus purchase of a dress for half price.
We chatted about all things Christmas, and I went home with my purchases. I looked at the receipt and did a double take; the charge for the dress wasn’t anywhere to be found. I wanted to wear it to an up-coming party, but also knew I needed to return to the store and pay for it. I decided to just save the tag and bring it in with my receipt.
I wore the dress to one party, then another. The days slipped by and I kept procrastinating about returning to the store. I didn’t really want to go back.
The Old Violin
December 5, 2013
Family, My Journey with God, Personal Growth, Recovery, Trauma abuse survivor, Christmas Memories, emotional strength, Facing Adversity, facing fear, Family, finding freedom, Forgiveness, getting help, gratitude, healing, Mental Health, personal growth, recovery, Transformation, truth 40 Comments
While joyful and exciting, the holidays can also be a difficult time of year.
There were many Christmases I bounced between having fun and enjoying the season with my husband and kids while struggling with deep-seated depression.
My lack of family-of-origin connection during the holidays magnified feelings of rejection and worthlessness; especially related to my dad. A sweet and tender story about an old violin touched me many years ago during an especially difficult time of depression. Though not a cure, it was balm to the soul.
If feelings of loneliness, worthlessness or rejection plague you during the holidays I offer you this story. I hope it reminds you that you are indeed worthy and loved.
The Old Violin
~Myra Brooks Welch
‘Twas battered and scarred, And the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while to waste his time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile. More
Merry Christmas!
December 23, 2012
Personal Growth, Recovery Christmas Memories, Family, finding freedom, healing, motherhood, parenting, personal growth, recovery, Transformation 28 Comments
2012 Our Daughter’s Wedding!
Sending you Merry Christmas wishes…from my house to yours!
Family memories make the best Christmas cards. I am so blessed to have this wonderful, growing family to make beautiful memories with.
We enjoy sending (and receiving!) photo Christmas cards, and our refrigerator is plastered with them all year long! I thought it would be fun to share a few of our holiday cards with you.
I hope you enjoy this journey through some of our Christmas’ past; please leave a comment about some of your favorite Christmas cards or family memories! More
