On one level I'm doing quite well these days: eating, sleeping, going for walks, talking every day with one or sometimes all three of my sisters, connecting with friends, paying bills, taking care of the household, easing back into writing and speaking, taking on a new contract as an editor. But sometimes the grief over … Continue reading Our Grief Doesn’t Stop During Advent
During these last months of remembering, mourning, and finding a new way forward, I have found some comfort in responding personally to each message and each kindness. I've been pacing myself with this, and I'm not nearly done yet, so I also wanted to say a huge THANK YOU here to all those who have: … Continue reading On Finding a New Way Forward
Years ago when my father died suddenly of a heart attack, his loss was unexpected and enormous, and I felt as if my entire world had shifted on its axis. I remember wondering, how can everyone and everything else go on as normal? How could the sky still be clear and cloudless? How could students … Continue reading In Deep Grief and Deep Gratitude
On Saturday, February 19, 2022, my husband had been in the hospital for three weeks dealing with complications from his cancer, but he was feeling better and asked for some wonton soup. "Great idea," said his doctor. "Wonderful," said his dietician. So I brought my husband the wonton soup he asked for, and spooned some … Continue reading Safely Home With God
For 2021, my word of the year was "healing." I prayed for healing for my husband, healing for myself, healing for all those suffering from illness, injustice, and other trauma, healing for creation labouring in this time of global warming and climate change. In this last year, I've learned a lot about healing as an … Continue reading Three Lessons in Healing
When I read the long list of author acknowledgments and the many stories in Living Connected: An Introvert's Guide to Friendship by Afton Rorvik (New Hope Publishers, 2021), my first response was "Wow, this author is definitely living connected! How does she do that as an introvert?" Full disclosure, Afton and I are part of … Continue reading Living Connected in a Disgruntled and Disconnected World
For 2020, my word of the year was journey, and I thought of it mainly in terms of my journey more deeply into the writing life. I was about to complete my first year as resident author with a liturgical worship community, and looking forward to developing further partnerships with other churches where I might … Continue reading We Long for Healing
This week I received a free calendar in the mail along with this note: I've never once felt the need to urge you to throw away something I sent you. But this year, PLEASE, throw away your 2020 calendar. Let's do our part to put this year behind us. In many ways it's been a … Continue reading The Top 10 of 2020 from April Yamasaki
April Yamasaki 