Whenever Jud was doing something where he fell or got injured, we regularly encouraged him to “get back on the horse” and do it again so that his memory of the circumstance was not just of the hard experience.  He was really good about trying things again, even if the previous incident carried painful or

So how do you include a brother, who now lives in heaven, in the 2nd birthday celebrations of his little sister? I don’t know, but I made an effort to do so yesterday. It is uncommon for me to take Jessie along when I visit Judson’s gravesite, but I made an exception for her b-day

Jessie is turning TWO on the 19th of this month!!! We had a little party at a local park yesterday to celebrate her life in the company of some friends.  She had a fantastic time playing at the playground, eating cupcakes, opening presents and then playing with her loot (she was certainly blessed with some

I have really made an effort to prepare myself, as much one can, for the wave of emotions that tend to hit on anniversaries surrounding Jud.  I don’t necessarily know how I might feel those days, but I have consciously thought about the possibility of their impact before the occasion, and tried to carve out

Here are some recent Jessie-isms: 1)  While eating peas at dinner, out of the blue Jessie declared, “Peas are like balls!” 2)  After I put Jessie down for a nap, I could hear her on the monitor saying, “Obey Minnie.  You need to obey,” to her stuffed Minnie Mouse that she had taken to bed

This morning I woke to Jessie’s little voice on the monitor crying, “I can’t get it!  I can’t get it!  I need help!  I want it, Mommy!  Help me, pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaase!  I want it!  I can’t get it!” I looked on the video monitor and saw her reaching her arm through the slats in her crib,

The other day I was, once again, crying alone in my car—really letting it out.  I happened to glance through my tear flooded eyes at the car on my right.  There were five men and women about my age who were heartily laughing together and appeared to be having a really great time. At first