Helen Baldwin lives in Jefferson, North Carolina, with her husband, Randy plus their two dogs, a cat, and untold wild critters outside. Their firstborn’s family, including two delightful children, lives just down the road, so she enjoys lots of MomMom time. Helen and Randy have a rental cabin and bees, among numerous other endeavors, so they’ll never be bored. Life took a drastic twist in 1997 when their third baby, Jeffrey, was diagnosed with SMA type 1. Although their active stint with SMA was brief, Helen hopes that sharing and connecting experiences after Jeffrey’s death, usually with optimism, helps others endure the unpredictability of loss and recovery.Our baby Jeffrey, who was diagnosed with SMA in July 1997, made the most of his brief earthly stint. I’ve mentioned before that our SMA duty, which lasted mere weeks between Jeffrey’s diagnosis and his death, enabled us to experience prayer and faith in ways that words can’t describe.
It’s somehow already time for Thanksgiving, the designated day for us to give thanks for our blessings. Ideally, we should designate a few more days each year to doing that — like, say, the other 364 — but one day a year is better than none. I try to give…
I consider myself an optimist, at least most of the time. Life has hurled more than a few lemons our way over the years; thankfully, I like lemonade. In 1997, when my husband, Randy, lost his job mere weeks before our third baby’s due date, I felt like we’d been…
Incredibly, October is almost history. A month ago, our mountain county and others west of us here in North Carolina were left reeling from the surreal aftermath of Hurricane Helene, considered a once-in-a-thousand-year storm. Out of the proverbial ashes of incomprehensible destruction and heartbreak have risen untold examples of…
It’s closing in on three weeks since Hurricane Helene bullied her way into North Carolina. My husband, Randy, and I live in Ashe County, in the northwestern corner of the state, about 125 miles northeast of Asheville. Thankfully, the damage we incurred from the catastrophic…
I’ve often said that it’s probably a good thing we don’t have a crystal ball. While sometimes it might be beneficial to know what lies ahead, if I could choose a magical power, I’d opt for a wiggly nose like Samantha on “Bewitched.” That said, I can think of plenty…
I don’t get sick often. If I feel somewhat draggy, echinacea tea usually works like a charm. When our first two children, Matthew and Katie, were born, exhaustion prevailed. I was mothering and teaching kindergarteners with orthopedic and other conditions, and I was married to a…
It felt like fall all of last week here in the North Carolina mountains. Each year, crisp temperatures, crystal skies, and a hint of changing colors rejuvenate me, reminding me why fall is my favorite season. On the flip side, a mere taste of this spectacular time of year also…
Near the end of 1995, my husband, Randy, and I purchased an old farmhouse, situated on almost 15 acres with a little mountain. There was no trail up the mountain, but our optimistic (and younger) selves were determined to investigate what was on top. As we hiked up, we giddily…
We’ve lived almost 29 years in a rural area in the glorious mountains of North Carolina. Simply looking out the window is a favorite home pastime. There, both comedic wild critters and a reposeful setting beckon, and I’m never disappointed. One of my favorite treats is a full moon shining…
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