Thresholds of Life

12/06/2025

12/06/2025

💙 Grief doesn’t pause for the holidays, and that’s okay.
This season can bring both hope and pain, love and longing. As you move through the days ahead, be gentle with yourself and honor what your heart carries. 🕯️
If you’re seeking comfort or guidance this season, our grief resources are here for you: https://www.springgrove.org/resources/

12/04/2025

This December, please stay soft ✨

12/02/2025

i know that light went somewhere ✨

🩵 from my new poetry book— As a Waterfall 🩵

11/25/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Eybi9bB8V/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Say their name and speak of them often - bringing up memories with others who loved the person you miss can take a load off of your shoulders as well as those around you. They miss your person too 💞

11/24/2025

I was grateful to receive this testimonial from this gentleman’s family. The eulogies they gave were beautiful and spoke of an amazing man. Thank you to Samantha at McEvoy-Sheilds and her colleagues as well for their professionalism and warmth.

“Patti was recently the Celebrant at my Father-in-law’s Celebration of Life and we could not be more pleased. At our first meeting she listened attentively to our description of him, our stories about his life and what he meant to us. She helped us to create a memorial service that would truly honour him best. She designed a draft of what our service would look like and diligently followed all of our requests and suggestions. She helped to make a celebration that was tailor made for us and captured the essence of someone who our family deeply loved. During the ceremony, we were so appreciative of her warm and respectful delivery and her gentle guidance. We had several people come up to us afterwards and said ours had been “the best celebration of life that they had ever been to.” Patti helped to make that happen.”

10/25/2025

10/25/2025

10/21/2025

I still speak to you, you know.

I still say, “good morning,” when I wake up and open the curtains. Sometimes I say it aloud and sometimes I whisper it to myself.
But I still say it.

I still say, “hey you,” when I walk past your chair or your photograph. Sometimes I say it with tears in my eyes and sometimes I have a smile on my face.
But I still say it.

I still say, “what should we have for dinner?” when I get home in the evening or when I open the fridge to see what food we have in. Sometimes I say it even though I know what I want to cook, and sometimes I’m hoping you’ll give me some inspiration.
Either way, I still say it.

I still say, “it’s our song!” when it plays on the radio.
I still say, “remember this?” when I find something I’d forgotten about.
I still say, “what do you think?” when I’m trying on an outfit.

I still say, “isn’t it a lovely day?” and “guess who I saw!” and “what shall we watch?” and “goodnight”
and “I miss you.”

And I still say, “I love you.”
Whenever I see your photo. Whenever it’s a lovely day.
Whenever I miss you.
Sometimes I say it aloud, sometimes in a whisper to myself; sometimes with tears in my eyes and sometimes with a smile on my face.

But always, either way,

I love you.

And I still say it.

*****

Becky Hemsley 2024
Stunning artwork by Jolene Lai

Someone asked me to share this poem this week - it's from my book of grief and loss poetry: I Missed You Quietly Today https://amzn.to/46Qxmdt
(affiliate link)

08/28/2025

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN4uF8MDOru/?igsh=a3B2bjc0d2FxcGdr

08/25/2025

I really can’t love this one enough. What a beautiful description of how grief doesn’t have to lock you in.

💜HC