Tag: Family Relationships
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On Turning 50: Discoveries and Delights about God, Myself, and the World
Big birthdays provide opportunities to celebrate and reflect. In honor of turning fifty on Monday, I thought it would be fun to share with you my list of 50 discoveries and delights as I reflect on my life at this point. May they bring a smile to your face, and perhaps, a nod or two…
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Best of: Big Bend Revisited
In my first post of 2020, I mentioned that I have been writing in this space for almost ten years. I first called the blog AlwaysOrange, but in recent years changed the name to aliciabrummeler.com. While I don’t have plans to stop blogging, I thought it would be memorable throughout 2020 to mark this milestone…
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Unexpected December
Nothing about the past two weeks has gone the way I imagined. Two weeks ago, my husband Brad complained of back pain. As his pain worsened in the ensuing days and he found himself unable to walk, to stand, and eventually, to sit comfortably, we knew this was different than previous times when he experienced…
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Caregiving For All Seasons
These days, my role as a caregiver looks different than it did ten years ago. I have two young-adult children who can basically fend for themselves. But, I can still recall with vivid detail the season of life where my caregiving duties were in much more demand. From chauffeuring my kids to games and practices,…
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A Review: Scattering Ashes
Over the summer my mom became a published author. She also turned 73 in August. Perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that my mom, my dad, and me all have books coming out this year. A lovely turn of events to be sure! Scattering Ashes: A Sister’s Journey with her Gay Brother is a…
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5 Favorites about Cruising
I feel a tad sheepish writing this post. Last week at this time I was in Grand Turk, enjoying white sand, sunshine, blue skies, and warm temperatures, such a contrast from the snow/slush combination outside my door. I also realize how lavish this sounds. Another cruise? Two years in a row? Does it help if…
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Rituals: Snicky-Snack Sundays
Before moving to Stony Brook, another favorite mealtime ritual for our family was “Snicky-Snack Sundays.” I think Anna was the one to coin this term. Growing up in a home where my dad often preached or taught on Sundays, our evening meal wasn’t really “dinner” in the official sense. My mom, known for her delicious…
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Car Trips and Read-Alouds
Need a way to survive long car trips? Read aloud a good story. Case in point: Brad, Anna, and I returned last week from a visit with family in the Midwest. How did we survive 13 hours in the car each way? We read. (Unfortunately, Jacob missed out on the good book and our trip…
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May Thoughts
It’s that time of year again. Another school year draws to a close and the deadlines, responsibilities, and commitments loom large. It’s a time where if don’t write something in my calendar, it can be easily forgotten. It is also a time of celebration. Living in a boarding community where the students become like extended…
Alicia Brummeler 