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If You Want to Make a Difference, Do the Unexpected
In the hustle & bustle of life, sometimes we feel like we don’t know if we are coming or going. When I lay my head down at night, I often reflect on, “did I make a difference today”. I’ll be the first to admit that more times than not, my truthful answer is “no”. I want to help others, I want to give back, I want to do so much but LIFE often gets in the way with my execution. Sometimes we think there is an expiration on when you can do a good deed or show a kind gesture. The truth is, it’s the one off’s that mean the…
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I Survived A Milestone
As Chairman for a nonprofit, I was given the opportunity to speak at the upcoming Countdown to Kindergarten event. As the even neared, it hit me that I should have attended this event with my 3rd child; however, I would be attending solo. When I arrived, I received several questionable looks as to why I was there. Inside, I wanted to tell them that I really should be there and that my daughter should know their child by name. Ironically, the kickoff to kindergarten was the same week that Ella was born “sleeping” and this year, she would have celebrated her 5th birthday. Sometimes milestones can kick you in the…
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When Your Best Deserves Better
Have you ever tried, tried, and tried in a relationship and feel like you take 2 steps forward & ten backwards? This can be a relationship with a family member, friend, or even a coworker. I frequently tell my son that at the end of the day, you can only control how you act & react to people & situations. You cannot change other people. That last part is still a struggle for me. I guess in reality, this is easier said than done. I’ve focused on some people being hard to love but in reality, I guess maybe I’m the hard one. I have picture perfect ideas of how people…
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No Excuses in the Present
We lost one of my favorite people in Chris’s family this month. Mac Pritchett was not only Chris’s uncle but he was our next door neighbor. When I worked in Martin, Uncle Mac frequently stopped by to visit and share a cup of coffee. Uncle Mac loved to share his photographs with his family and friends. I am blessed that his photographs are throughout my house and office. Uncle Mac had been in a few different healthcare facilities over the last few months and he was blessed to have lots of people frequently visit him. I’m embarrassed to say I never visited him because I was “too busy”. I thought…
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Be a BR
Sometimes you need a slight push to help you get out of a rut. I was in this very place with my blog. I have over 40 blogs started in “DRAFT” status but have taken a brief hiatus from my blog. I guess the new wore off or maybe I worried people thought all I posted was doom & gloom death stuff or maybe I felt I wasn’t being effective enough. Whatever the reason, I have been struggling and praying to God that if it’s his will for me to start back with my blog to help me find the words. It is so easy to doubt ourselves and talk…
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Ella Claire Pritchett
1 in 1,000 pregnancies result in a stillborn baby. Prior to 2014, I had little knowledge about stillborn babies. Where do I begin? I was 35 weeks pregnant with my third baby and on the the downhill stretch. My prior two pregnancies were picture perfect, healthy pregnancies that end with induction both times. This particular appointment was just a routine checkup. This particular appointment was a follow up appointment from the week before because my ankles had started swelling. A good friend went with me to the appointment and we were going to do a little shopping afterwards since it was a Friday afternoon. She let me out at the…
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Painting With a Purpose
Tonight I stepped out of my comfort zone in several ways. I put my big girls pants on and drove 1 hour by myself to attend a paint party with a group of strangers. The “Paint With a Purpose” event was designed for moms who have lost a baby. This great event was put on by an organization called Heaven’s Cradle which is a ministry based in Jackson, TN to support families who have lost a baby or child. We started with a blank canvas, selected our paint colors, and got to work using our hands to apply the paint to the canvas. We put our fingers in the paint…
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Ten Out of the Box “Happies”
People struggle with what to give someone who is grieving or going through a tough time. I have compiled 10 great out of the box “happies” that hopefully will help you the next time you are struggling with what to give someone to let them know you’re thinking of them. Out of the blue box- this is a really neat idea. Give someone a “box out of the blue to let you know we’re thinking about you” or “a box out of the blue to let you know we love you”. The idea here is everything in the box has to be blue- could be blue packaged gum, blue jello, blue…
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When the Rubber Meets the Road
When we were sent to the hospital to deliver our stillborn baby, I had nothing more than my purse and the clothes on my back. I had 3 very good friends who quickly came to my aide. Apparently all I asked for was a toothbrush. My friends are like me, they needed jobs to do; however, I wasn’t in a state to assign them. Luckily, they got creative and took charge for me. One friend went and got comfortable clothes from Target for Chris & myself. Two of my friends went to my house and got all the necessities- clothes, outfit for the baby (luckily I had just gotten that…
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Let Me Know if You Need Anything- Part 1
Death is something few want to talk about but ironically, we are all forced to talk about it at some point or points in our life. Let’s face it, if it were a comfortable conversation, then something would be wrong with us. Sometimes what we don’t understand is often the most awkward thing to deal with. Death is no different. When someone dies especially in a tragic situation, the next of kin literally have the breath taken out of them. In a tragic situation, you don’t have time to get things in order. Usually, you have little to no time to prepare. This is why the next of kin need…
