Above the blue and windy sea
When I come home to you, San Francisco
Your golden sun will shine for me


What is there not to love about this most beautiful of cities by the bay?

A few years before my dad died, he would often wax poetic about this city which he loved very much. “If there is one place you must see before you die. it has to be San Francisco.” Eerie when I think about it now.

I’ve been blessed to be able to return to this city several times, and yet, each visit brings with it new blessings and gifts, and I fall in love all over again.

This year, was extra special because I had the privilege of reading my children’s book, “Heaven’s Butterfly” to the students of Bessie Carmichael Elementary School in downtown San Francisco and at the St. Charles Catholic School in the Mission district. I know now that there is no coincidence in the fact that one of those days, was my dad’s death anniversary. Everything just fell into place.

San Francisco will always be my favorite city, next to home. I look forward to seeing her once more in His time.

When I look back on the road that lead me to Dallas, I can’t help but think of the many Good Fridays I had to live through and the Easter Sundays that God always provided me with afterwards.

I spent a quiet Easter week-end in Mt. Pleasant, Texas - a small, simple community, two and a half hours away from Dallas by car. In the company of good friends, M and P, a young couple building a life together here by themselves - away from family - I feel so close to the Lord who brought me here to this day, and this point in my life.

I’ve tried many things over the last decade or so, but none of them feels as right, as what I am attempting to accomplish on my stay here. I am here in Dallas to study and work on my certification to becoming a specialist in death, grief and bereavement studies and counseling. One of my closest girlfriends asked me “Why that? That’s such a difficult job to do?!” I was reminded of what Sir Edmund Hillary ( the first man to conquer Mt. Everest) once said - “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” And we fight each and every battle through the power of God’s amazing grace - there’s just no other way to do it.

Grief is a reality, an experience of loss can often overcome us if we do not have the right resources or support. I’ve seen it in my own life - when I lost my best friend at age 10, my grandmother when I was 12, my dad,all too suddenly when I was 16, and my 4-year old son when I was 33, and a fourth child to an ectopic pregnancy three years ago. I’ve seen it too in the lives of countless other individuals and families. So why do I choose to go on this path? For the simple reason that it is there, it is real and because I want to help people navigate that difficult road and make them believe that there is hope and possibly, an even more productive and deeper life after a loss. The Lord has provided me with His comfort and grace and I am confident that He will enable me and equip me with what I need to continue with this work and this ministry. The fact that I am here today, when six months ago, this was but a pipe dream, is a testament to His faithfulness, provisions and goodness, all the time, and an affirmation that at this point in my life’s journey, this is exactly where he wants me to be.

How this grief journey of mine has evolved is the wonderful work of His hands - from Migi’s Corner, to teach. How He has encouraged me, changed and molded me over the last few years, is beyond my understanding. I’ve been through hell and back in the last decade, not just once but several times - through many losses - not only through death, but in work, relationships, broken friendships and many other challenges. But no matter how many times I fell and grieved, He was always there to pick me up each time and oh how He has blessed me! It is the same kind of blessing and comfort now that I wish to pass on to others who are going, or will go through major life transitions. I remain steadfast in Him and remain in His flow, because I know from experience that His grace alone is sufficient if we are open to it, and how He has made everything in my life beautiful, in His time.

“Trust in the Lord, with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” - Proverbs 3:5-6

Arrived here this evening, in this most beautiful of cities by the bay.
I shall spend the night here before flying off to Dallas in the morning which marks the beginning of my big adventure. I’m still up, at close to midnight, but I need to get my shut-eye very soon.

My father always loved to talk about how beautiful San Francisco is, and rightly so.
Everytime I am here, I am blown away by its beauty and that is why I keep returning. It’s a blessing to be here, even for a night. But, I’ll be back real soon. For now, I’m headed to the Lone Star state for a little rest and some serious studying. Another adventure at mid-life begins. This time, it is in pursuit of something that I seriously want to do in the second half of life. I am here today because of God’s abounding grace, and buouyed by the prayers and support of many dear friends who believe in the dream and in what I do and hope to do.

I’m back to regular programming on this blog so join me on the journey and stay tuned!