I believe my dad used to take great pleasure in annoying me each morning by talking to me. I would grunt back “Good Morning” on my way out of the house to go for a run, my morning coffee.

But in recent years as I’ve added four dogs to life, I’ve learned that if you have a dog, you must get used to talking to people. Or as Frank, the man whose 1961 Chevy Impala we used for my recent photo shoot said, “To have a car like this, you have to be a friendly person willing to talk to…

I recently read this poem, I added my personal feelings as well...

Dear Lord I wish to say thank you for bringing me through to this day...

and thank you for making it possible for me to still be able to pray.

And thank you lord for giving me the strength to open my eyes and live each day through,

and thank you for being there at my worst time of grief and sorrow, so I can pray...thank you.

I also want to say thank you for filling my heart with love of…

I recently read this poem, I added my personal feelings as well...

Dear Lord I wish to say thank you for bringing me through to this day...

and thank you for making it possible for me to still be able to pray.

And thank you lord for giving me the strength to open my eyes and live each day through,

and thank you for being there at my worst time of grief and sorrow, so I can pray...thank you.

I also want to say thank you for filling my heart with love of…

It sneaks up on us at the most unexpected times. It doesn’t take much to send us there: an inappropriate comment, too much to do and no energy to do it, someone cutting in line ahead of you or walking off with your drink at Starbucks. Your day is going smoothly and suddenly, a curve ball. You begin to get tense, feel your emotions welling up. The stress begins to build and you wish you…

Overwhelmed with stress after her mother’s death, a reader wondered if it was okay to email her friends to let them know her mother died. A caring friend felt it was fine and offered to do the emailing. This helpful gesture relieved the bereaved daughter of a tough task.

Anyone who has had to cope with a loved one’s illness or death is well aware of the added stress in keeping family members and friends informed. The flashing message light on the answering machine becomes…

Richard Dale Troxel passed away on July 5th. 2011 in Geneva Sitzerland. Services are pending. To be held in Bakersfield. He will be deeply missed by all of his family members & numerous friends. Rick was a loving son, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, cousin & friend. May you rest in peace Rick, you will never be forgotten. Your music will always keep you alive. Gifted pianist, & songwriter.

Love Dennis & Lorrie Grisham

I wrote this poem during the grieving of my Mother's death.  Within this poem was God's answer to my question.

                 THE MASTER'S PLAN

Mom softly called me on the phone one day

Come go with me, help me prepare for my going away.

We quietly picked her casket, dusty rose and pink

Her makeup she wanted done by Johnny her godson.

She asked me to type her program - the Order of Service plan

The songs to be sung, the scripture to be…

July 9 marks the ten-year anniversary of the release of my first book, Do They Have Bad Days in Heaven? Surviving the Suicide Loss of a Sibling. I still remember waiting for the UPS truck that day with the delivery of several boxes of books. Then sitting on the steps of my back porch, a copy in hand, worried that the font on the pages was too big rather than enjoying what I’d worked seven years to produce finally in published form thanks to Jack Bolton of Bolton Press…

Tim’s first favorite Beatles song was “Yellow Submarine”.  The cartoonish imagery of the song, pre-dating the 1968 movie, was easy to follow with Ringo Starr’s monotone vocals.  My 1994 Camry had a tape deck and I bought the Beatles “1” album and when I would play it when we went on trips to the mall,…

The 1st ring of the phone every July 5th was always you....I stared at the phone today not wanting to answer it as I knew in my heart it was not going to be you.Funny last night as I lay in bed 2 stars were shining so bright I had to get up and look I have never seen stars out my bedroom window before. Today at work my girlfriend gave me a gift from the heart.. A star named after you. HIP 3873 in the Constellation of Canis Minor.

It says "Shine on Brett. Your warmth & Golden Heart…

Among the many decisions to make when a loved one has died is one that is full of potential missteps, unintentional omissions and political ramifications within the family: who should be included as survivors in the published obituary?

Not too long ago, obituary mentions were generally limited to next of kin and blood relatives. These days obit protocol is going the way of the rest of the world and what’s acceptable: pretty much anything goes.

A…

When I became a cop, I learned to face the chance of my mortality coming to an end.  We learned in the police academy about criminology and from that victimology, first aid, patrol situations, comradeship, and death.  We just never learned what to do when it is our own child.  There isn’t really any course…

Everyone wants to be happy. In fact the Declaration of Independence gives Americans the right to pursue happiness. It is not guaranteed, but we can chart our own path to joy. At times when life becomes overwhelming, we may feel stressed and unable to rise to the level of cheerful delight. However we all know people that no matter the circumstances always seem to have a smile on their face and a joie de vivre. How do they get there? How can we achieve this same satisfaction …

Hello;

Can anyone please tell me how to add photo's to your page? and how many photo's can you have?…

On July 4^th, 2009, Tim and I wanted to watch the fireworks.  Every year, the City of Philadelphia has a large free concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.  There was a time that there would be simultaneous fireworks from the Delaware River and from behind the Museum of Art.  I had worked details on July 4^th celebrations for a number of years when I…

Updated Obituary for Robin Robertson

       Its 7 am, I don't want to get up, I don't want this to be real! Today is the day that we will lay Robin to rest, finalize our goodbye's,  and move on with our day to day…