Over the years I’ve grown a deep love and reverence for mothers. These three photos are the mothers in my life whom I love, honor, and cherish: my wife, my daughter and my mother. Here’s to them and all of you beautiful, irreplaceable mothers among us. .

Watching my dear wife become a mother and grandmother has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Then, to my great delight, watching my daughter become a mother has become an even deeper and more vibrant highlight of my life. A few years ago, my heart was broken and scattered across an infinite universe of sorrow. I’ve come to accept there are broken pieces of me that will never return. But, those little pieces of my love, however broken and scattered, are now points of light that glisten in the dark. And when I quiet my mind and soul, when I look upward and remember all that was, still is, and what may be - my soul heals a little. .

Just yesterday we welcomed our second grandchild into our family. Meet baby Foster. A new, beautiful point of light in my life. My heart is so full, I can’t stop crying.

I’ve been in Atlanta at a board meeting and then had the honor of speaking twice at a conference. I was asked to speak on Building Resilience Into Our Lives and then later to close the conference with “Where Do We Go When Life Changes.”

It was great to connect with old friends, and make many new ones. The speakers and panel discussions were amazing and included clinical psychologist, therapists, doctors, parents, siblings, and other industry professionals. Each of them had many useful things say about mental health and wellness. What I love the most was looking people in the eyes and listening to their stories. So many broken hearts yet so many incredible souls. My friend @jillybeancastle seriously needs to give a TED Talk. You are amazing, my friend.

Chris was asked to share two presentations at a conference aimed at mental health and wellness. The first address was about “how to build resilience into our lives”, and the second topic, “where do we go when life changes?” In the conference’s final keynote, Shris shared his concept of points of light and how, when we do the deep work of reflection, we can find gratitude for the past, peace in the present, and courage to face an unknown future.

There was always something healing about his tenderness. The echos of my son’s goodness still reverberate in the cathedral of my soul. Mitchie would have turned 20 today. I often wonder what he would be like if he were still here. I can paint a picture in my mind and my heart flutters and breaks, and somehow finds it’s way back together again. I know he’d be 20 today, but he will always be 10 in my heart. I miss my little boy but am grateful that we had him for almost 11 years.

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Grief and gratitude perform a delicate dance. At least for me, whenever I grieve, I’m either the observer or the dancer. Today is one of those days I’m trying to dance but stumbling over pebbles. I’m okay but I’m not okay. And that’s okay. That’s part of being human. #mitchellsjourney #babiesmadeofsand