"You’re doing so good!" What a gift all around that your family and your brother's family are all there together. I once interviewed a young leader who was facing his own cancer and his mother's end of life, trying to frame his "leadership" in that season when so many of his peers were engrossed in launching careers. He said he realized his vocation was being called to "walk his mother home." Those words have stayed with me ever since, in the years I walked with my mom into the Light and now living with my 82 year old dad, experiencing interdependence in a new and "final" way. I wish you so much love and Light and heart peace! Thank you for sharing your journey. xoxox
I kept hearing 'commitment' as I was reading, lived commitment to love on the ground, and sending further taproots into underground networks that are as yet unseen but which will resurface, gradually, and then allatonce...
One of the gifts I've received, both from your friendship and your writing is getting to learn from the way you've lived out loud in your journey of being not only an (eager) caregiver but also a (sometimes more reluctant) recipient of care. That's to say, I know that you have a beautiful network close to home holding you as you care, care, care, but I hope you also know how far and wide and deep those networks go, in this moment and always. Sending love from approximately 2100 miles away.
Once again, you’ve written something that is so stunningly beautiful. Thank you for generously taking us along on this journey with your dad and family. You are right where you’re supposed to be, doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing, unanswered emails and all. ❤️
SO much love to you. Glad you and your brother are doing what you're doing, glad your spouses are all in — and glad your parents are in. My parents were NOT. Neither one of them would admit they were dying, would let us say goodbye, any of that (we were also forbidden to hold funerals or memorials).... Fortunately both I and my sister were nearby for both of them when we were needed, but all these years later those experiences remain a lesson mostly about how NOT to do things.... Cheers to you guys. Wishing you all the strength and love I am sure you will provide for one another....
That sounds very painful, Nancy. Thank you for sharing this. It means a lot to me because I want to create a space that allows for a range of reactions and experiences. Mine is just mine. Sending you healing light.
Courtney you and your family have always amazed me. Thank you for always sharing things that we can relate too. It is a hard to become the caregiver for those we have always relied on. My parents just left my house and I am pretty sure it will be the last time they will ever visit here as the flight was physically to much for them. Keep up the good work and we are thinking of you all.
So beautiful Courtney! I love you and your brother’s partnership for your parents. And the Google doc!! What a treasure. Your children will be so blessed by this time and by your generous and intentional modeling of a life well lived.
Oh, Courtney! What a big change for all of you. I'm so glad you are all so deeply and clearly in this together. Sending you lots of love through this transition to a new village and holding all y'all in the Light.
Thank you dear, Parker. Really wish we could sit and have a long chat. I went to the local Unitarian Universalist Church with my dad upon arrival and the sermon was filled with Howard Thurman and language I have learned from you about the "sound of the genuine." Felt like you were with me.
Ah my dear Courtney, what a bone-rattling change you're undertaking, but it's so great that your whole family and your brother's are "all in." What a wonder! So much of the time, care falls to one sibling, and out of that can come so many toxic emotions: guilt, resentment, etc.
But you are building a new beloved community,taking all you learned in your last one and bringing along all your values of care, compassion, empathy, interdependence. Your daughters will be changed by your example....and only for the better.
Your glimpses IN, Courtney. Blessed. Blessings. To me. Finding—-and unwinding—-love and toothbrushes—-grace and grit. Oh-so-chosen brave presence IN life. . LOVE to you as you embrace what matters most—-in the fluxy uncertainty (for us all—-really—only you see and know) of Life Herself. Yellow ‘55 Chevy and all. Adoring you from this side of the Rockies. Xo
"You’re doing so good!" What a gift all around that your family and your brother's family are all there together. I once interviewed a young leader who was facing his own cancer and his mother's end of life, trying to frame his "leadership" in that season when so many of his peers were engrossed in launching careers. He said he realized his vocation was being called to "walk his mother home." Those words have stayed with me ever since, in the years I walked with my mom into the Light and now living with my 82 year old dad, experiencing interdependence in a new and "final" way. I wish you so much love and Light and heart peace! Thank you for sharing your journey. xoxox
Thank you for this. So helpful to have this framing. And thank you for your modeling dear Shelly.
I kept hearing 'commitment' as I was reading, lived commitment to love on the ground, and sending further taproots into underground networks that are as yet unseen but which will resurface, gradually, and then allatonce...
Love this, thank you. Commitment is a word I want to reclaim and re-imagine. Thank you for that.
One of the gifts I've received, both from your friendship and your writing is getting to learn from the way you've lived out loud in your journey of being not only an (eager) caregiver but also a (sometimes more reluctant) recipient of care. That's to say, I know that you have a beautiful network close to home holding you as you care, care, care, but I hope you also know how far and wide and deep those networks go, in this moment and always. Sending love from approximately 2100 miles away.
Ah, thanks sweet Bucks. I feel it.
Once again, you’ve written something that is so stunningly beautiful. Thank you for generously taking us along on this journey with your dad and family. You are right where you’re supposed to be, doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing, unanswered emails and all. ❤️
SO much love to you. Glad you and your brother are doing what you're doing, glad your spouses are all in — and glad your parents are in. My parents were NOT. Neither one of them would admit they were dying, would let us say goodbye, any of that (we were also forbidden to hold funerals or memorials).... Fortunately both I and my sister were nearby for both of them when we were needed, but all these years later those experiences remain a lesson mostly about how NOT to do things.... Cheers to you guys. Wishing you all the strength and love I am sure you will provide for one another....
That sounds very painful, Nancy. Thank you for sharing this. It means a lot to me because I want to create a space that allows for a range of reactions and experiences. Mine is just mine. Sending you healing light.
Courtney you and your family have always amazed me. Thank you for always sharing things that we can relate too. It is a hard to become the caregiver for those we have always relied on. My parents just left my house and I am pretty sure it will be the last time they will ever visit here as the flight was physically to much for them. Keep up the good work and we are thinking of you all.
Jeremy! So amazing to see your name here. Thanks for walking along with me.
So beautiful Courtney! I love you and your brother’s partnership for your parents. And the Google doc!! What a treasure. Your children will be so blessed by this time and by your generous and intentional modeling of a life well lived.
Thank you Cheryl! Obviously it was a bittersweet choice, as you know well.
Oh, Courtney! What a big change for all of you. I'm so glad you are all so deeply and clearly in this together. Sending you lots of love through this transition to a new village and holding all y'all in the Light.
Sending all of you Light and Love as you embark on the next meaningful and challenging passage of a life you have always lived faithfully and well...
Thank you dear, Parker. Really wish we could sit and have a long chat. I went to the local Unitarian Universalist Church with my dad upon arrival and the sermon was filled with Howard Thurman and language I have learned from you about the "sound of the genuine." Felt like you were with me.
Ah my dear Courtney, what a bone-rattling change you're undertaking, but it's so great that your whole family and your brother's are "all in." What a wonder! So much of the time, care falls to one sibling, and out of that can come so many toxic emotions: guilt, resentment, etc.
But you are building a new beloved community,taking all you learned in your last one and bringing along all your values of care, compassion, empathy, interdependence. Your daughters will be changed by your example....and only for the better.
"Hard and rich." Indeed.
Sending love.
Thank you for: "You are building a new beloved community." I will carry that with me.
Sending you wishes for strength and wisdom and patience in your time of transition.
Thank you for sharing your life with us.
It's wonderful to have a forum to talk out loud about what matters most - not things, prestige, or power but love and kindness and helping others.
I so aspire to make this a space like that. Thanks for reflecting that back, Terry dear!
This is just so beautiful. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this.
Your glimpses IN, Courtney. Blessed. Blessings. To me. Finding—-and unwinding—-love and toothbrushes—-grace and grit. Oh-so-chosen brave presence IN life. . LOVE to you as you embrace what matters most—-in the fluxy uncertainty (for us all—-really—only you see and know) of Life Herself. Yellow ‘55 Chevy and all. Adoring you from this side of the Rockies. Xo
Fluxy uncertainty! What a phrase. Sending love Lynn.
Received with JOY, Courtney. We are/it takes the village! xo
Courtney - this is a beautiful and amazing thing that your family is doing. I’m without words. Love to you all.
Thank you dear Karen. He is still the sweet man you remember.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️