Pat and I officially survived the second holiday season without Mackenzie. While I don’t think many bereaved parents will be surprised about this, but perhaps others will, is that this holiday was infinitely harder than last year’s. It was much quieter, which I know is normal. In the real world, life goes on, every day…

Early Tuesday morning, I went to the doctor for the first time in a looonnngg time, part of my journey to take better care of myself. And when they weighed me, I realized that I have gained 5lbs. It was a struggle to choke that down, but I did, reinforced to myself that I know…

Yesterday I went to the mall, which is not something I have done much since Mackenzie died; that was our place to go look at books, eat treats, and just defrag from life’s realities. As I was getting ready to leave, this mom and her beautiful daughter were exiting a store. The little girl was…