Words Like Trees
Lessons Learned from Grief, Pt. 2
The lessons keep coming, this time with great hits like: You’re probably not a Goonie, you’re at least a little bit of a narcissist, old is gold, and C.S. Lewis is still pretty great.
If Cassie Could Sing
Where Can I Go? Where Can I Flee? Pt. 2
Cassie loved the sunshine. She also hated the dark. As I explored both beaches and caves in Mexico, I could only think of the way the Light of the World dealt with darkness—by embracing that darkness and loving despite it.
If Cassie Could Sing
Where Can I Go? Where Can I Flee? Pt. 1
She wanted to climb to the top of the pyramids and to see things leftover from a world forgotten. Egypt was just a little too far for her. She told me a number of times she would settle for the pyramids in Mexico. So, I knew exactly what I wanted to do in while in the Yucatan! While I wandered about the monuments the Maya left behind, I couldn’t help but wonder about the monuments my wife left behind.
If Cassie Could Sing
Where Can I Go? Where Can I Flee? Pt. 0
When I lost Cassie, I lost the feeling of being known by someone. Losing that leads to unexpected feelings of loneliness that I can’t quite express to other people. It can be isolating and overwhelming. Whenever Cassie would feel overwhelmed, she would look at me and say, “Let’s just run away to Mexico.” So when that feeling blindsided me last week, I decided to run away… to Mexico.
If Cassie Could Sing
Wild and Wonderful, Pt. 3
Between Cassie and I, one of our most memorable dates was going to St. Cloud Lakefront to watch the fireflies. And one of the things we were looking forward to most about summer in West Virginia was catching them with our nieces. Fireflies come with the reminder that there is hope in the darkness, even if they can’t dispel it.
If Cassie Could Sing
Wild and Wonderful, Pt. 2
Cassie’s relatives provide countless reminders of her, with all the little quirks they shared. But there is one person in particular who has an absurd amount of the same attributes Cassie had. She, like so many others, have helped me to rebuild something broken—an identity.
If Cassie Could Sing
Wild and Wonderful, Pt. 0
Cassie’s first trip with me to West Virginia was not very fun for her. She despised frigid air, cramped road trips and talking to near strangers through a stuffy nose. But she looked forward to sunshine, outdoor adventures and sharing life with kin. See, God made a promise: The world will keep spinning, winters will pass, summers will come and life will thrive again. I went to West Virginia with that same promise in mind.
If Cassie Could Sing
On Earth as in Ireland, Pt. 3
Part 0 (The Dream) — Part 1 (The Fog) — Part 2 (The Hike) — Part 3 (The Colors) — Part 4 ( The Flu) — Part 5 (The Flowers) — Part 6 (The Cathedrals) — Part 7 (The Rest) Everyone who ever lived with Cassie knew she dressed well, Read more…
If Cassie Could Sing
On Earth as in Ireland, Pt. 2
Part 0 (The Dream) — Part 1 (The Fog) — Part 2 (The Hike) — Part 3 (The Colors) — Part 4 ( The Flu) — Part 5 (The Flowers) — Part 6 (The Cathedrals) — Part 7 (The Rest) Cassie and I had this little ritual every time we Read more…
If Cassie Could Sing
On Earth as in Ireland, Pt. 1
Part 0 (The Dream) — Part 1 (The Fog) — Part 2 (The Hike) — Part 3 (The Colors) — Part 4 ( The Flu) — Part 5 (The Flowers) — Part 6 (The Cathedrals) — Part 7 (The Rest) When I first spoke to Cassie, she had just returned Read more…