My Marvelous Journey

Thanksgiving is here, Christmas is not far behind, and 2018 is coming to a fast close. As we get ready to greet family and friends and celebrate the holidays, I wanted to take a few minutes to wish everyone a very happy holiday season. As many of you know, the last few months have been incredibly difficult since Erik’s accident. We all miss him more than any words I can express here. Yet, in spite of the deep loss that I feel, there are many things I have to be grateful for

My sister, Emily, wrote this beautiful poem in memory of my son Erik. I loved it and wanted to share it with you. #ErikHoxie #mothersgrief #grief #families #lossofachild #emotions #death #children #life

Erik was only twenty, a life just begun. He loved his family, his friends, and having fun. He was not perfect, but none of us are. He found independence, buying his first car. Erik had plans and dreams, like most young men. He shared them with me, again and again. One fateful day, a mother's worst fear. On the phone his friend screamed, "QUICK, COME HERE!" I arrived at the scene, Erik's car crushed and shattered. Breathless and scared, my mind was scattered. Blue and red ligh

These last few days have been very difficult. I don’t know why but I have been extremely emotional this week. Grief has a funny way of sneaking up on you at the oddest of times. For me, it happens when I am washing the dishes, walking the dogs or simply driving to work. Regular routine tasks become tear filled chores. It hasn’t even been a month since my son, Erik, left us, yet my pain and sorrow have only deepened. Sometimes I feel like I am moving around in a fog, just

Have you been watching the news this week? Are you outraged by the new zero tolerance immigration policy? It breaks my heart to see the images of children locked up like prisoners. It is disturbing to hear the audio that was released earlier this week by ProPublica. If you are not bothered by any of this, perhaps you should read something else. Personally, I have a hard time listening to that audio without losing my composure. (Photo: Rebecca Plevin, Palm Springs Dessert

Summer is almost over. My youngest son has already started school. He is an eighth grader now and so far, he seems pretty excited about it. Over the summer I took him and his cousin to the University of Central Florida for a college campus tour. They were both looking forward to the trip and all of the things the college had to offer. Now, they are both only thirteen, and have plenty of time before having to choose a college, yet they are both ambitious and talking about w

Sometimes I wonder if I am doing a good job raising my kids. I try to teach them manners such as don’t talk with your mouth full or remembering to say please and thank you. I remind them to do their chores and help them with their homework. It seems as if I am constantly reminding them over and over again the same things. We have dinner together almost every night. I always ask how their day was or what they learned in school that day. I think this is the most important

We all make plans, have hopes and dreams and promise ourselves that someday this or that will happen. But, in reality, for most of us, those ideas remain idle dreams and unfulfilled promises. I can’t tell you how many of those dreams faded away while I was married. We often talked of going places and doing things, but seldom did those dreams materialize. Much of this was due to my ex’s drug addiction, sadly a problem that he never sought help for. Once we were divorced, I