Flying the Plane While Building It

October 28, 2026

Learning, growing and pressing myself to my limit are all experiences I have welcomed. My best self wasn’t always present…. but all in all I have been grateful for the opportunities. In fact bold enough to want share and write about them. Even though there are lots of clear explanations of why this season is different I am surprised by my frustration. Almost disappointed at myself – isn’t this who I am? Messy, gritty, and toxically positive? And there is one reason above them all for my angst: this is Shannon’s childhood. … More Flying the Plane While Building It

I Married for Love And I Stayed for Life – Honoring July 2026

July 30, 2026

Dear Danny, The first July you are not here…. the first July I have not spent with you in my life in 21 years…. the July our marriage turned 16 years old…. July 2026. There is so much I want to say… so much I can’t seem to say…. and a huge amount of disappointment … More I Married for Love And I Stayed for Life – Honoring July 2026

Everything We Both Needed to Learn We Got in Kindergarten

May 24, 2026

School had offered that Shannon take all of December to be home. She could work through Dan’s passing and process the grief. Christmas break was coming and to us adults it all made sense. Shannon had other plans. Shan and I had our goodbye visit with Danny in person and her reverence at 5 was … More Everything We Both Needed to Learn We Got in Kindergarten

Daniel Martin Bessette, Beloved Husband and Father

March 5, 2026

On December 6 at 4:02 Daniel Martin Bessette’s life here on earth ended. For our 21 years together this was the one thing that could not happen. During our journey we prepared for this moment at two disctinct situations before. We feared it…. we chose it… …we ran from it….we wondered about it… at times … More Daniel Martin Bessette, Beloved Husband and Father

Pilgrims of Hope

October 22, 2025

October, fourth quarter, it is the last call for 2025. Standing in this moment right now feels like a true journey has taken place. Often the sentiment around this time of year is, how did that happen? Where did the year go? To me time will always be elusive- It will always surprise me, It … More Pilgrims of Hope

Live Little

September 2, 2025

The soundtrack from Greatest Showman has spoken deeply to me over the years. The idea of choosing the hard…. imaging what is possible… seeking and striving for your dreams, even if they don’t match anyone else’s or what others think is possible. I thought these messages were my purpose. I believed if I could keep … More Live Little

Welcome Kindergarten!

August 29, 2025

And just like that the 2025-2026 school year started and Shannon is in Kindergarten baby( bonus points if you know that reference🙃)! In many ways that feeling “how did that happen?” is present. And yet I am also finding myself very much enjoying this season and grateful it’s arrived. A summary on motherhood for me: … More Welcome Kindergarten!

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

And today the fog lifted and I recognized the truth: I am in pain and grief and struggle because right now it looks like all we have is what we had and there won’t be anymore new. Since our ICU experience my body has felt as if it is being chased by a saber tooth … More July 17, 2025

The Gift of Time

July 7, 2025

Tuesday June 10 Danny woke up in ICU when he had gone to sleep in his regular hospital room. The conversation moved fast and the need for “decisions to be made” being repeated often. A bad infection had take hold and based on the lack of response to antibiotics in recent treatments, the medical team … More The Gift of Time