We are all under one roof again. It feels good and right.

For eight days, we learned and navigated a system that was new for us. One we didn’t necessarily expect to use. A system intended to support and provide care. But can often also be intimidating, confusing, frustrating, maddening, broken.

So here are some things we didn’t know to help any who may face this in the future…

Current situation (keeping it real - we share the light and the heavy around here):

Jon and I are both going to Buffalo every day.

It’s 150 miles round trip each time.

And I am insisting we always drive separately.

We are safe.

I am posting this with permission to tell our collective story. We are sharing with the hope of being open about what we are experiencing because often this kind of circumstance is not shared for many different reasons, sometimes hidden under a cloud of shame.

But there is no shame in not being okay. There is no shame in asking for help.

Spent the afternoon at the hospital today. This time while waiting, the hallway was calling for some shenanigans!

A few weeks ago in our book club, we were asked to write out the names of people who nurture us. To look for traits and themes in these relationships.

One that stood out so clearly for me was how each of the people on my list show up. They show up for the good and they really show up well for the hard.