Sacred Transitions in the Season of Hope

Welcome to my upgraded website, Memoir Writer’s Journey. I will continue to blog about memoir writing and all things related and look forward to welcoming you around my kitchen table. It seems fitting that my new website would launch during the Easter season when Spring announces its presence through longer days, new buds and signs of new life bursting from every corner. It is also the season of hope and renewal, a symbol of new beginnings. As a Roman Catholic, I join all Christians in celebrating triumph over the cross through the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior,Jesus Christ. This  three-minute video, One Solitary Life by Simple Truths strikes at the core of what I believe. I’ve always relied on my faith in God during times of trial and...

Posted by on Apr 9, 2012 in Gratitude, Hope Matters, The Grieving Process, The Joy of the Resurrection Story, Writing to Heal | 34 comments

Advent~ Finding Solace in the Season of Hope

This post was inspired by Linda K Thomas’ (Spiritual Memoirs 101) invitation to participate in an Advent Writing Project sponsored by Charity Singleton  of Wide Open Spaces for The High Calling:   ” It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus open doors of hope.” Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Seek That Which Is Above, 1986   For as long as I can remember, I’ve watched the priest light the candles on the wreath before Mass during the four weeks before Christmas. In my Roman Catholic tradition, as in other Christian denominations, this commemorates  the season of Advent when we anticipate the joyful arrival of our Savior on Christmas Eve. Throughout the years,intertwined with all the other...

Posted by on Dec 6, 2011 in Advent Writing Project, Faith, Hope Matters, The Grieving Process | 14 comments

“Finding Hope in the Midst of Grief”~Guest Post by Victoria Noe

” Friendships multiply joys and divide griefs.” H.G Bohn I am pleased to feature my friend and colleague, Viki Noe, as my guest blogger this week. Viki and I met in Dan Blank’s Build Your Author Platform Course last year. She has a very important mission and message and I know you will be inspired by her story. Victoria Noe abandoned successful careers in fundraising and educational sales to write her first book, “‘It’s Not Like They’re Family’: Mourning Our Friends, Celebrating Their Lives”. She has been recently published in Windy City Times and the Chicago Tribune, and hopes to have her book finished and sold by the end of the year. Her background is in musical theatre, and she is the default family...

Posted by on Oct 11, 2011 in Dealing with the Anger, Death of a Friend, Hope Matters, Letting Go, The Grieving Process | 18 comments

On the Wings of a Snow White Dove..

” WHAT A FATHER SAYS TO HIS CHILDREN IS NOT HEARD BY THE WORLD; BUT IT WILL BE HEARD BY POSTERITY.” Jean Paul Richter After eleven days of hovering between a coma and varying states of awareness, my beloved father was finally called “Home” to his Heavenly reward on Saturday,November 27,2010 at 5:25 AM.  His funeral was a celebration of his remarkable life. Family and friends traveled from all over to bid their final farewell. He was buried with military honors on Wednesday,December 1,2010. Four white racing pigeons (used in Disney movies) as beautiful and sleek as white doves were released at the front door of the mausoleum we were forced to retreat to for protection from the driving sleet that leashed its fury on us at the burial...

Posted by on Dec 2, 2010 in Faith, life cycle, The Grieving Process | 22 comments

Thanksgiving Blessings

” ALL THE ART OF LIVING LIES IN A FINE MINGLING OF LETTING GO AND HOLDING ON.” Havelock Ellis I have been  sitting at my father’s bedside for the past week, rubbing his swollen arm and telling him how much I love him. His skin is pink and soft and feels warm against my hand. I hold his hand and stroke his fingers. His nails are smooth and trimmed as they always have been. The wrinkles are ironed out by the swelling. These are the hands that guided me through tenth grade geometry , through setting up a personal budget ; the hands that held mine as we walked down the aisle and danced the Father-Daughter dance at my wedding. Now they lay still on the pillows that are placed under his arms. It is Thanksgiving Day and my father is dying, slowly...

Posted by on Nov 25, 2010 in The Grieving Process | 16 comments