Today marks 18 years since I became Mrs Ryan; since I laughed my way into a happy marriage as the Priest placed “odds” on our…
Another year has passed without my beloved husband and my heart aches from his absence these 14 years. Yes, the pain is softer now. But…
Way back in 2013, my parents took small rose plants to the cemetery for Memorial Day. There were two sets of roses (one white, one…
Today marks 17 years since I became Mrs Ryan. And despite the absence of Mr Ryan, I like to mark this day as it was…
It’s now been 13 years since my beloved husband, Paul, died suddenly and unexpectedly. It’s a strange feeling, being this far from the immediate grief…
Today, I am 48 years old. And today hurts. Not because I’m 48, but rather because I am now officially older than my late husband.…
I have enjoyed a nice, relaxing Christmas in Cle Elum with my parents. And I have to say, it’s been wonderful, although not a typical…
Today should be a big celebration to mark my husband’s 60th birthday. But, as with too many years before, he is not here to celebrate;…
I have a new job; one that I have dreamt of for more than 20 years. Yes, as of this week, I am a Lecturer*…
Today marks 20 years since I first arrived in Scotland for “just one year” as a study abroad student. At the time, I never expected…
Today is not my birthday. But it does mark the day that I am older. Oh, sure, every day is a day that we are…
Today is my “would be” 16th wedding anniversary. Yes, it has been 16 years since I laughed at the altar in my hometown church and…
Another year has gone by without my husband by my side. After 12 years of this horrible widow life, I have come to know what…
Today is my 47th birthday and to celebrate, I ran 47 furlongs! Which I know seems weird, but I like to have a bit of…
This morning was one of those days. It was one of those days when I woke up and I wasn’t a widow. I woke up…
Over the past two months, I have gone back through every single one of the 1,400+ posts here on my blog, as part of the…
Today would have been my 15th wedding anniversary. And in this very strange time of social distancing and self-isolation, I find myself missing Paul even…
Today marks 11 years since my beloved husband, Paul, passed away so unexpectedly. His death has impacted my life more than I ever could have…
It has been 10 years since JustFrances.com entered the blogosphere, so I thought it was time for a reflective post to mark the milestone. After all, the average…
On my way to the Death Café a couple of weeks ago, I wandered through a couple of old kirkyards at the base of the Edinburgh Castle.…