TRAGEDY STRIKES-THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS Five years ago tragedy struck our family… A tragedy that I still can’t comprehend… A tragedy that will never go away… On February 1st, 2014, Korin Lijah Williams, daughter to Keith, step-daughter to me, sister to Kira, and mother to Kayva, and would be Auntie to niece MacKinley, was taken from this world at 18-years-old. As I sit, composing this post, I search for the perfect words,[...]

 5 Years Ago... Today is the 5 year anniversary of the death of my step-daughter, Korin. This will be a short post, I just really need the opportunity to share a few thoughts, not dwell on the past. The past 5 years have been FULL of challenges and triumphs and although I think we've come to a place in our lives where we can settle into the situation, I cannot[...]

complete | kəmˈplēt | adjective having all the necessary or appropriate parts: a complete list of courses offered by the college | no wardrobe is complete this year without clothes. entire; full: I only managed one complete term at school. having run its full course; finished: the restoration of the chapel is complete. As 2017 comes to an end, my husband, Keith, and I have spent the last several weeks[...]

As I sit here the day before Thanksgiving thinking about the daunting task of food prep before me, I reflect on a conversation I had last night with a dear friend.  We were chatting about the holiday and he asked me what I was cooking for Thanksgiving. After rattling off the huge list of food I was planning to make for my small little family, he looked and me and[...]

In one of my first blogs, I wrote about how much my life had changed over the years and how, following several tragic circumstances,  I finally had time to breathe and make time to focus on myself. Almost two years later, I am back to the drawing board, life has changed again and finding time to breathe is a challenge. Prior to turning 40, I hadn't had many opportunities to[...]

Exactly three years ago... My step-daughter, Korin Lijah Williams, passed away at only eighteen-years-old. Last year, on the two-year anniversary of her death, I wrote a post  reflecting on the tragedy. This year, I decided to pay tribute to her in a different way. Kayva Lanae.. Korin left behind a legacy, a gift to the world, and a special piece of herself. Her daughter, Kayva Lanae Williams, was only 9-months-old when[...]

One of the best things about being a teacher is WINTER BREAK...TWO full weeks off in the middle of the year...it's almost impossible to find words that explain how much this means to teachers. Winter break means you're half-way to summer...the only thing better than winter break is SUMMER BREAK. I was looking forward to THIS winter break more than I have any others, at least in the last few[...]

Last week I sat in court with my husband and listened to a judge deliver the final ruling in the murder case of my step-daughter. It was just over two-months ago that we sat in the same courtroom and listened to the her murderer plead guilty. At that time, I wrote  880 Days Until Justice Will Be Served? explaining some of the details and the conditions of his plea. It made sense[...]

On February 1, 2014 my step-daughter was murdered. Shot in the heart by the father of her daughter in an attempted robbery.  Although he provided many accounts of what happened that night, he has admitted that he pulled the trigger and was responsible for her death. We have waited years for him to stand trial, a trial that was scheduled to begin in only a few weeks. The Original Charges I[...]

Just not always a GOOD reason... I don't mean to sound pessimistic but I cringe every time I hear it, someone just trying to be supportive, trying to make me feel better, trying to help explain away the unexplainable... "Everything happens for a reason."  As if simply saying it puts a positive spin on the situation. "Why yes", I want to reply. "Things do happen for a reason but sometimes[...]