Blessed in This Mess

Are you just plain tired as we move into fall? That’s the vibe I’m getting from listener feedback, and I’m right there with you! Today’s episode is short and sweet. It’s a reflection on rest in the broader sense…physical, emotional, spiritual. I’m offering a few thoughts about the kind of rest that refreshes and renews…so important for all of us. I’ve even got a great new TobyMac release to share,...

Janet Zeigler is an expert in advocacy for people living in skilled and residential care settings. Her life journey includes nursing school, critical care nursing, and simultaneously caring for her small children and for her mother as she battled Alzheimer’s disease. Her experiences led her to her current role as a private duty nurse, serving clients in a variety of residential care settings. I ha...

On August 6 I traveled to Peoria, IL, to address participants in a JDRF Community Rally. A number of families in attendance were adjusting to a new Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Others had been living with the condition for years. I was asked to talk about “Building a Support Network,” the topic Ashley Coker and I discussed in Episode 14. Along with our son, Noah, I shared three salient points about...

Ashley Coker is my guest for this episode. Like me, Ashley is a mom in the Type 1 diabetes world. Ashley’s son was diagnosed in November 2020, at the height of the pandemic.  She is sharing valuable perspective about responding to an unexpected diagnosis, taking on the role of family caregiver, and finding resources, in person and online, to support her in her new role. I asked Ashley to be a...

A year ago, on July 19, 2021, Mama transitioned from this life to the next. She was nearly 90 years old and had lived an incredible life. This episode pays tribute to her journey, which included more than 20 years as a family caregiver and more than six years as a care receiver. I’ve included three important lessons she lived through her example, and they were so wise! In full transparency, I’ve a...

It has been an amazing six months encouraging and supporting family caregivers through my website, social media and the Blessed in This Mess podcast! Seems an appropriate time to reflect on where we’ve been and consider where we’re headed. Today I’m sharing my Five Golden Nuggets, my pick of the important lessons I’ve learned since the podcast debuted in January. You have taught me so much through...

This is a rewind of Episode 8, “Finding Peace After Caregiving Ends,” strategically shared in the week before Father’s Day. Today I’m speaking to the hearts of listeners who have lost fathers, husbands, grandfathers, uncles, or someone special who’s been like a father. This is a deeper dive into a more emotional subject that is messy to think about and messier still to put into words. “What do I d...

Last week I spoke on Zoom to Margaret in England, as we chatted about my upcoming online talk to employees of a global technology company. It seems the need for support for family caregivers crosses oceans and time zones. We have so much in common, regardless of geography. After scanning my website and listening to a few episodes of this podcast, Margaret wanted me to be sure include some dialogue...

This episode focuses on an element of emotional health I believe is a game changer, practicing gratitude, even when caregiving is messy. I share a story about a pair of inexpensive sunglasses that remind me of famous actress, Elizabeth Taylor. She was often photographed wearing large, round, dark lenses with black frames. I inherited a similar pair after my mom passed, and the lenses make the worl...

This episode is strategically timed to run prior to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day 2022, after so many of us have lost loved ones in the pandemic years. Several listeners have asked me to address this topic, because they are struggling with it. This is a deeper dive into a more emotional subject that is messy to think about and messier still to put into words. “What do I do now that my caregiving d...

My guest in this episode is Noah Schlosser, my adult son, who’s lived with Type 1 diabetes since he was a little guy. Noah believes that finding reasons to celebrate things big and small makes you a more positive person, even if parts of your life bring daily challenges. Frankly, as his caregiver, a celebration mindset, whenever possible, has been a Godsend for me, too, both as I’ve supported Noah...

This topic is a breath of fresh air for family caregivers and care receivers. I share a favorite audio clip from the Disney movie, Mary Poppins , highlighting the importance of finding the fun “in every job that must be done.” Author Courtney Ellis suggests we should all be more open to what she calls “the joy and freedom of play.” Even in the messiness of family caregiving, I couldn’t agree more...

In the last several episodes, I’ve talked about the stress inherent in family caregiving. This episode really focuses on relieving that stress using simple breathing techniques to calm the mind and body. Amy Denney, a light therapy stress specialist with certifications in Holy Yoga and trauma-sensitive Holy Yoga, is my guest. She shares her perspective on the value in meditation and deep breathing...

Meditation and deep breathing are powerful tools to help reduce the negative impact of stress on family caregivers. In this episode, I share some common stress triggers for family caregivers, and ask you to think about your stressors and how your body is responding to them. I cover the definition of meditation and explain the many benefits of calming the mind and body in this way. Episode 5 will f...

February is Heart Health Month, and this episode is designed to educate and encourage family caregivers to take care of their cardiovascular health. This is our first look at an issue in the physical wellness portion of our simple wellness wheel. I share a story about my grandmother and my mom, who suffered from cardiovascular issues after experiencing stress over many years as a caregiver. The st...

Welcome! In this first episode, I share my five simple truths about family caregivers, which helps set the stage for future episodes. These truths shed light on how caregiving for family can feel simultaneously like both the right thing to do and one of the hardest things you’ve ever done. Check out the show notes below for links to resources used to prepare this episode. I've also added key takea...

In this episode prior to Valentine’s Day, I explore love in a fresh way, as we consider four little words that are really the core of family caregiving, “I am with you.” I share a story from 2015, when my mom fell in her independent living apartment and laid on the floor for hours, believing that my presence with her was more important than calling for help without me. I offer examples of so many...

If you are caring for a loved one - a child, spouse, parent, grandparent, or someone who is like family - with complex medical issues, a chronic illness, or disability, this new podcast is for you! Family caregiving can be messy, but there are blessings to be found, even in the mess. Meet Lori Schlosser, a family caregiver for both a son diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and a parent who experienced...