ryan65970Feb 15 minWhen You Need to Hear it AgainWhen I was almost twenty years old, I was going through a personal crisis. I was a sophomore in college. Although I was on academic...
ryan65970Dec 10, 20215 minWhy Do We Cry in Dreams?I was up late last night reading. This morning I woke up early briefly and then went back into a heavy sleep for a couple of hours. Just...
ryan65970Nov 2, 20216 minThe Butterfly Chronicles Chapter 8: “The Final Chapter and New Beginning”After my mom’s passing, Hannah and the rest of us picked up the pieces and began to move forward. My mom was such a spiritual giant in...
ryan65970Nov 1, 20215 minThe Butterfly Chronicles: Chapter 7 "The Best Years"The summer of 2015 was both exciting and nerve-wracking. It was great to see Hannah get stronger. It was even more thrilling to see...
ryan65970Oct 26, 20215 minAm I Losing My Faith?I remember feeling the sense of pain for C.S. Lewis as I watched the film, Shadowlands, starring Anthony Hopkins. The movie depicts this...
ryan65970Oct 26, 20216 minIs it ok to Feel Angry about My Loss?Deeply negative emotions or reactions are common with grief. Losing someone that was so important to you can bring things out of you that...
ryan65970Aug 5, 20215 minThe Butterfly Chronicles: Chapter 6 "The First Miracles" (Read Chapter 1 here) It was nice to be home. Hannah was very weak at this point. She had to learn to walk and play violin again. She...
ryan65970Aug 5, 20215 minThe Butterfly Chronicles: Chapter 5 "The Darkest of Times"(See Chapter 1 Here) When Hannah was admitted to Nationwide Children’s in early March of 2015, the first priority was managing Hannah’s...
ryan65970Aug 5, 20213 minThe Butterfly Chronicles: Chapter 4 "Looking for Answers"(Read Chapter 1 here) While Hannah’s musical interests expanded, her physical challenges became more complicated. We visited many...
ryan65970Jul 9, 20212 minWhen Life Goes on (And You Aren't Ready)Although I had lost a couple of grandparents, I first noticed this aspect of losing loved ones when my mother died. She passed away too...
ryan65970May 20, 20214 minThe Butterfly Chronicles: Chapter 3: Fiddles in Heaven"She took us to so many places and made us all better people through her soulful music, quiet charisma, deep strength, and unwavering...
ryan65970Apr 29, 20213 minThe Butterfly Chronicles: Chapter 2 "Caterpillars and Butterflies"Read Chapter 1 First Pictured Above: Hannah holding an Atlantis Fritillary, July 2008 I did not know how to interpret my vision. The...
ryan65970Apr 23, 20213 minThe Butterfly Chronicles: Chapter 1 "The Vision"by Ryan S. The year was 2008. It was a typical warm West Virginia July afternoon. Bees were buzzing; weeds were wreaking havoc in my...
ryan65970Apr 14, 20216 minTo Love is To Hurtby Ryan S. If you want to really live, you must love. If you really love, you will hurt. Many of us have seen this quote by C. S. Lewis,...
ryan65970Apr 14, 20212 minMaking Way for Beautyby Kellie GS Sometimes a bit of pruning is necessary to make way for new life. I worked in the flower garden at my father-in-law’s home...