Matthew
FAMILY LIVING, Five Years Ago We Lost a Son
I have been thinking a lot about the London cabbie who drove us home from the hospital after Matthew died. We didn’t need to talk. He didn’t need to ask what had happened. He watched us and he knew. He wouldn’t accept money from us once back at our London flat. He was sober, he …
FAMILY LIVING, 911
Just months after Matthew died, we moved our family from London back to NYC. The company put us in corporate housing near Grand Central while we looked for an apartment for our family. After spending a day by myself on the Upper East Side, I came home with a dozen pictures of available apartments to …
RUNNING WITH ANGELS, Utah
Upon our move to Utah, our family was invited to participate in the annual Running With Angels 5K at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi, Utah. The race is run in memory of children who have passed away, and is hosted by Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital, and Pamela Hansen, who featured Matthew’s story on her blog this past Spring. As a …
FAMILY LIVING, Thanksgiving Trees
The children were adorable. And hilarious. This Thanksgiving Day project took A LOT of thought, on their part. Apparently we are not as comfortable listing things we are grateful for as we are listing things we want for Christmas. But, once they got started, their trees filled up brilliantly! WHAT IF YOU WOKE UP …
WELLS BEACH, Maine
We stayed in a small flat above an old yellow shingled surf shop. A couple surfers, too worn out to hit the waves themselves anymore, from the look of it, set up shop here 15 years ago – living the dream! They rent out the attic to help subsidize the dream. And it is everything …
FAMILY LIVING, Trailing Clouds of Glory
The children came to the hospital yesterday for a visit. They’re so big compared to her. They are growing up. And seeing this, made me feel melancholy, even on such a blessed day. E couldn’t keep her hands off the baby. And, when L took a turn, she climbed into the hospital bed with me. …
BEYNAC-ET-CAZENAC, France
I could be a morning person in France. Upon further thought, it may be possible that the morning hours present any place at the height of their own beauty. Beynac-et-Cazenac. This medieval mountain-top village is where we stayed in a cottage with Uncle Barry and Aunt Brittany, settled not 20 feet from the outer wall of the Beynac Castle, …
BEATRIX POTTER HOUSE, Lake District, England
The Beatrix Potter House, ‘Hilltop‘, located in the Lake District, is indeed found atop a large hill. I wanted to rent bikes to explore the heralded north country. And the family indulged me for a day. Auntie joined us. Three adult bikes, one child tag-along, and a trailer for the boys. ‘Have you ever fancied the view from the …
FAMILY LIVING, Walking With a Dreamer
We dream big. Is it better to dream big, and then do big while the children are young and pliable, OR when they are older and more likely to remember the experience? This is not a moral dilemma. Probably just a preference. I suppose we all do a little of both. E had a half-day today, so …
Ireland
Primary school let out for one week. The children attributed it to Halloween. The borough attributed it to half-term. Either way, we packed up our backpacks and flew the family to Ireland. In E’s words, as she closed our day with prayer, I am off to “dream of all the things we can do and …