Samsmom: Life, Joy, Loss and Loving your Mitochondria

I came in hot today. I didn’t mean to. I had packed banana bread and a thermos of coffee to be shared with family at my Phews football game. I showed up at the game a little late but not overly late- I was on time (ish) for my standards.…

Oofta! This site has been neglected! My writing brain has been consumed with my side gig, writing for TWO local publications. It’s fun to see your name in print. And super fun when you get to write about the people you love. Nod to a Phew here. And nod to…

2023 was fun. I didn’t know it would be fun but the culmination of 365 days turned out to be pretty amazing. There are many quotes about it being never too late to invent, or reinvent yourself. This last year, I really tried to be serious about my writing. Not…

I love my side writing gig. It is a thrill to put community stories to print, especially when you get to write about Paralympian Zach Miller. Keep being awesome Zach!

Hi All! I had the honor of writing about one of my favorite nonprofits MaxMods, in a local publication. Here are the great things they are doing to bring the Holidays to everyone 🙂 You can donate at http://www.santaslittlehackers.com

As I have been called upon to deliver the Phews to multiple events, my character has come into question. Apparently, I drive too fast. I’ll take this. I’ll hand it back with the fact that everyone else drives too slow. Not you. You, dear reader are a great driver. But…

My family huddles well. Sadly, I believe it’s because of years of practice, but we do this well. We lean in, call in reinforcements (thank you!) and try, as best we can, to help each other out. It is here that I am always reminded of what family is- it…

Mitochondrial Awareness Week is coming to a close and I am late in posting. This is not to say this week, and this disease has not been on my mind. Like many times before, this stupid disease sits in the corner of my life, farting and belching, creating a stink,…

Something happens to the older sibling. We don’t ask for it. We don’t really anticipate it. But somewhere in our early life, someone plopped a squirmy, warm little cherub in our lap and said that this was our little sib and it was our job to make sure they made…

I disappeared in May. I disappear often, which can be a tad frustrating to my tribe. I emerge unpredictably like a rabid squirrel, looking around, wondering where everyone went, only to hear their reply. ‘We thought you had left.’ And I do leave, but I always come back in some…

Yesterday was Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day and I have complicated relationship. I love Moms. I love my Mom, I love my friends who are Moms, I love the people who have Mothered me along this road of life. This tribe of women has influenced me, held me on high, approached…

I’m a tad late to the party but I could not let today pass without wishing you all a Happy Rare Disease Day! A rare disease is a condition that impacts less than 1 and 2,000 of us. Did you know that between 3.5-5.9% of us have a confirmed, diagnosed,…

I once told a coworker I needed to marry a skier. She told me I was being superficial. “Marriages are based on more than that.” We no longer stay in touch. But I did, indeed, marry a skier. My favorite days with Hubs are on the mountains- it is my…

Ahhhhhhh. Happiest of Valentine’s Day dear tribe! On this day, I want you to know that I love you. Truly. In the words of great 80’s icon Howard Jones, ‘What is love anyway? Does anybody love anybody anyway?” I say yes, HoJo. Yes. Inspired by this song, I looked up…

I love New Years. I love Vision Boards. I sit on the floor surrounded by old magazines, a pair of scissors, puffy paints, glitter, glue stick and stickers and create a vision for your next year. I know. Super Cheese. I spent three hours today Vision-Boarding my next 365 days.…

I do love Thanksgiving. I love hosting Thanksgiving, gathering around a meal, the challenge of a massive bird, a holiday that has only one objective…. dinner….so you better get it right. My Thanksgiving is never perfect, there is always one dish that goes awry and the meal is always late.…

Hey Dear Tribe: This weekend finds me at a Writer’s Retreat. Here’s a little something that has been brewing: The Heart, the fearless worker. The committed soldier with one job. Keep it going. Work the pump From the first sign of life to the very last beat. The heart carries…

I had a ridiculously fun weekend. I danced way too much for my poor new knee. I sang loud and off-tune. I gave my nephews sloppy kisses. And I found myself back in the beautiful mountains so close to my home. It was a joyous weekend. Ridiculous Joy is a…

This is a great song by the Pixies if you have a chance to listen. It’s been a while since I have posted. A new knee and six weeks of rehab since I have posted. And where is my mind? It’s better….but I have learned quite a lot about myself…

13 years ago my life looked very different- it was the Summer of 2009, Samantha was on day 14 at Children’s Hospital and I was trying, very, very hard to train for the Courage Classic. I would ride from the hospital. I took the elevator from the 8th floor in…

Privileged, empowered, white, upper middle class, 50ish female. This is me. You could call me a Karen…although I hate that term and feel bad for my friends named Karen. It could have easily been a Heather meme instead. “OMG she is such a Heather.” Because I kinda am. But I…

My article around a local brewer was just published. I’m really not a beer drinker but this was fun to write. Clearer text is below the article. Lets meet for a beer! What is Kyle Brewing in Candelas? Colorado is known for its stunning natural beauty, sunny days, active families,…

*Dear Reader- this post is about a good day! But it is also contains sensitive content around birth and death…..proceed with caution. Today was a really fun day. Our hockey team won the Cup! You can’t win a cup and not have a parade. So today half a million of…

Last week I caught the Vid…the Rona….the big ol’ assy virus I have been trying to avoid for 2 1/2 years. I have to admit, I became a bit judgy in those 2.5 years. Friends would fall to the Vid and I would politely remind them that Vegas is a…

I have taken on a super fun side gig! I am writing for Neighbors of Northwest Arvada. June brought Father’s Day and a chance to interview my Pops and fellow (new!) Arvada resident. Content isn’t available online but you can read the text of my interview below. Happy June! Happy…

I found myself at Orange Theory yesterday evening. My best workouts are somewhat anger enriched. And last night I needed to sweat out some demons out in my head. I pounced on the bike and started riding to the music. Orange Theory plays really great, sometimes a tad ragey music.…

Ah…..Happy Mother’s Day dear tribe. If you have followed me through the years, you know that Mother’s Day is somewhat problematic for me. In fact I kinda hate it. But I am happy to report that (so far) this Mother’s Day has been with love, laughter and sans tears. For…

Hello Dear Readers! I now have a fun side gig as the Content Coordinator for a local magazine- here is the latest article around Motherhood. Happy Mother’s Day Lovely Tribe! Connections Beyond Motherhood:  Sunday, May 8th marks Mother’s Day, a time when we celebrate the person that has been with…

My nephew is trying out for swim team. Today we practiced our strokes in the pool- I’m not sure who is more excited…..I think I could love being a Swim Aunt. As we walked towards the locker room, I looked at the signs, Men, Women, Family Dressing Area. “Are you…

Sittin’ in the morning sun Yeah, I’ll be sittin’ till the evenin’ comes Watching the ships roll in And then I’ll watch them roll away again I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay Wastin’ time

I can count on one hand the times when I have truly have not understood the plan that God has designed for myself or my Loves. That is not to say there are other times when I have been sad, angry or distraught.  But shattered and unable to make sense,…

My sweet tribe is suffering an unimaginable loss. A loss of such magnitude that stories are shared on the news: graphic images coupled with newscasters speaking in high rapid tones to convey the urgency of this magnitude. With every story shared about this loss, we shake our heads, shed another…

I am making cookies tonight for my friend’s dad. I mix the butter, sugar, flour with a spoon. In frustration, toss the spoon in the sink and dive in with my fingers. I feel the dough in my hands. Knead, turn, mix, knead, turn, mix It calms my restless head,…

I get attached to my body parts- as flawed and imperfect as they may be, they are mine and mine alone. The bone on bone knee to your left? You can call him Rusty. If you spend any time with me, especially doing anything active like……walking? You notice Rusty, you…

My Mama and my Uncle are transcribing my Great Grandma Burbank’s journals. Today they sent 1941 and I am intrigued. Grandma Burbank is my Granny’s Mama- my Granny who just passed this summer. We grew up with stories about how very, very poor the Burbank side of the family was;…

I’ve always enjoyed being a tad unique, marching to the beat of a different drum, channeling my inner Heather. Today is Rare Disease Day- a globally-coordinated movement focused on rare diseases and the 300 million people impacted globally by these conditions. As much as I’ve liked being my unique person,…

Yesterday was 2-22-2022. And if you were in second grade, you were in grade 2 on 2-22-2022. One of my nephews got to celebrate being in grade 2 yesterday. His school did some special activities unique to the day and his grade. One was ‘what will your life be like…

I’ve been thinking about these delights quite a lot lately. What qualifies as a delight? There are quick shots of delight- they dance onyour tongue like dark chocolate. And then there are delights that brew in your head. They are not immediate-it is not instant. Perhaps a process that sooner…

I talk often about how much I love you all. The GIFT I absolutely feel in having amazing people in my life. It is a gift. YOU are a delight. We are older. The fragility of life and our time on this earth has become more relevant. A month after…

I am trying to move more. Time of Covid, working from home shuffling 20 steps from my bedroom to my study, to sit for hours…. and hours…. Is not healthy. And I know I’m better, I’m clearer, I’m happier when I move. I KNOW that. Recently the American Heart Association…

Mitochondrial disease is a horrible diagnosis- it is progressive, heartbreaking and all around just awful. But in the midst of the awfulness, some amazing people come into your life. One of these amazing Humans is my friend Calvin. I have known Cal for 15 years. Tomorrow this amazing human turns…

This really isn’t Junior and I. But maybe it’s our alter egos. Junior out on the prairie, we’re riding along having just rescued a calf separated from his mother……The sun setting between his cute little horsey ears. Today I volunteered my Therapeutic Riding Center as a horse lead. Junior is…

This is Young Heather with my Hottie Mama, my Gran and my Great Grandma Burbank (aka Grandma B). Four generations of women who have lead amazingly different lives. I am so proud of these strong women before me who helped pave a path for my own journey. In preserving that…

I’ve been thinking about these delights quite a lot lately. What qualifies as a delight? There are quick shots of delight- they dance on your tongue like dark chocolate. And then there are delights that brew in your head. They are not immediate- it is not instant. Perhaps a process…