This weekend wasn’t extraordinary because of one big event.
It was extraordinary because of a collection of small moments that, woven together, reminded me that joy has a way of finding us even when we’re grieving.
It began with Shabbat morning services, grounding me in faith and community.
Then came an unexpected gift: Maggie’s ceramic paw print arrived ahead of schedule. Holding it in my hands brought tears to my eyes, but it also brought comfort. One tiny paw print… one enormous reminder that love leaves an imprint that never fades.
The weekend continued with simple pleasures. A visit to a farm, watching an entertaining dog show that made us smile, even Sadie. Wandering through lavender and fresh strawberries fields, and enjoying a wagon ride. Nothing life-changing. Yet every one of those moments invited me to pause, breathe, and simply be present.
There was precious time spent with the people I love most (minus Hannah who was away for the weekend).
We cheered Jacob on at his baseball game as he knocked not one, but two home runs out of the park. As a mom, there are few things sweeter than watching your child, even at 28 years old do something they love while you cheer from the sidelines.
And then we celebrated his birthday, another reminder of how quickly time passes and how grateful I am for every chance we have to gather around a table, laugh, and make memories together.
Looking back, I realized something.
Joy doesn’t always arrive with fireworks or life-changing milestones.
Sometimes it arrives quietly.
In a prayer.
In a paw print.
In the scent of lavender.
In fresh strawberries.
In the laughter shared on a wagon ride.
In cheering on the ones you love.
In birthday candles.
In simply being together.
I’ve learned that grief and joy are not opposites. They coexist. One doesn’t cancel out the other.
Losing Maggie has left an ache that two weeks later is still leaving me breathless every day. But this weekend reminded me that while grief walks beside me, joy still reaches for my hand.
Maybe that’s what healing really looks like, not moving on, but learning to notice the micro-moments that gently remind us life can be beautiful.
And when we string enough of those moments together…
They become something extraordinary.
YouAreEnough 