One Year

This past weekend was the one-year mark since Mom died. Hard to believe it has been a year already. It has flown by, and so much about 'life' looks differently than it did last year at this time.

Many have asked my siblings and I how we're doing. As my sister had said to someone, 'we did our work all along the way [throughout the dying process], every step of the way, so we're doing well.' And I agree. Sure we have had to adjust to a year of 'firsts'--holidays, birthdays, graduations and other events --without Mom present, but it has been okay. There wasn't a lot of unfinished emotional business when Mom died. After providing 'round-the-clock care and grieving throughout the weeks/months leading up to her death, exhaustion, depletion, and fatigue have been the greatest affects that each of us has had to recover from during this last year.

I'm thankful to reach this one year mark. Life feels like it can move forward now with renewed energy and hope. I'm thankful to be moving forward.