Greetings From Ember & Bloom Hi friend, Have you ever found yourself doodling while talking on the phone? Maybe you filled the corner of a page with circles, lines, or little patterns without even thinking about it. Most of us have done something like that. But have you ever wondered why? I've been thinking about that question lately, especially when it comes to grief. Because something I started doing simply for fun eventually became an important part of how I learned to live after losing...

Greetings From Ember & Bloom Hi friend, When someone asks how the family is doing, do you find yourself telling them about everyone else first? You may know how the kids are coping. You may know who needs a phone call, what paperwork is waiting, and which plans need to be made. But when the question finally turns to you, the answer can be harder to find. That has been on my mind this week. When you have spent so much time looking after others, it can feel strange to ask what you need. It can...

Greetings From Ember & Bloom Hi friend, Saturday was my 40th wedding anniversary. And today marks 41 years since Gary and I went on our first date. Forty-one years ago today, I was 18 years old and going on a blind date with a man I had never met. I was home by 10:00. My mother took one look at me and said, “Oh, I see you’re home early. It must have been a bad date.” I told her, “No, it wasn’t a bad date. I’m going to marry him.” And I did. Anniversaries are different now These two...