Let’s do the Time Warp again!
Welcome to the twenty-seventh installment of my blog hop/writing exercise called Time Warp Tuesday!
For those not familiar with Time Warp Tuesdays, which I host on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, here is the background of how and why I came up with the idea. If you are here to participate and link up, you can do so with the Linky Tools at the end of this post (or if you have any difficulty, you can share the link to your post in the comment section).
The gist of Time Warp Tuesday is to revisit and share some of our favorite blog entries from our archives and reflect on our journeys since we wrote them.
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The theme for this month’s Time Warp Tuesday is: Change
The new year is often a time for new beginnings and changes in our lives. Choose a post from your archives in which you wrote about change. Maybe you wrote about a change that you chose to make or one that happened without warning or intention. Then write a new post on your blog about why you chose the post that you did and what has happened in your life since.
Participants can write about whatever you want in your new blog entries. However, for those who might have needed some help and inspiration to get started, here are some questions to consider:
Why did you pick this post? Has your perspective changed since the day you wrote your original post? Do you think you would still feel the same way if you were writing your post today? What have you learned about yourself, your family and your life since you wrote your original post?
Note: If you have an idea for a future Time Warp topic, theme and/or writing prompt, please feel free to share it in the comment section or send me an email. If I choose to use your idea, I will give you credit and link to your blog that week.
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Time Warp Tuesday: Change
Last week, on January 2nd, was the fifth anniversary of “D-Day” for our family. It was the day we got Molly’s diagnosis and her first prognosis, which unfortunately got worse over time and also became more vague, due to the rarity of her condition and how early it was discovered. Because our baby girl was diagnosed at about 14 weeks gestation, which was extremely unusual, our doctors and specialists found themselves calling around the world to try to find out what had happened with remotely similar cases and how they were treated. They truly didn’t know what might happen with her or how long she could survive in her condition, though they were clear that things did not look good and it was unlikely she would survive to her birth or much past that, if she died live that long.
The post that I chose to revisit this month is from January 7th, 2008 (five years ago yesterday). I wrote it after we had a few days to let the reality of Molly’s diagnosis and prognosis set in:
I chose this because I came across it while looking for a more directly “change” related post to use for today. But I kept coming back to this one and how surreal it is for me realize that it has been five years now since I carried Molly. It is bittersweet to return to that time, through this post and others I wrote back then, in which I shared about how we were making so many important and truly life changing decisions that impacted all of our children, including: our unborn daughter Molly, our then four year-old living son Sean and ultimately (though we didn’t know it at the time) our future daughter/rainbow baby Abby.
There are so many different kinds of change. Some changes we choose to make in our lives, such as trying to follow through on New Years Resolutions. Other changes happen to us, and we don’t have a choice in that sense. But we still have the opportunity to choose how we will deal with our circumstances and what we will learn from our journey through difficult and uncertain times in our lives.
Looking back on how we handled our journey with our baby girl Molly, I am proud of how we dealt with our circumstances and how we have continued to honor her life and memory since she was born and died. I believe that Bob, our living children and I are better, kinder, more sensitive and compassionate people for having Molly in our lives and now always in our hearts.
I always find it interesting revisiting these posts via Time Warp Tuesday, especially older ones like this one. Back then I often made references to things that were going on at the time, such as the 2008 presidential campaign. The Democratic primary was not over yet and at the time I was leaning towards voting for Hillary Clinton. So five years later I can see that Barack Obama not only won the Democratic primary and the election in 2008, he also won re-election in 2012. I am still a big fan of the TV show Dancing with the Stars that I mention having a dream about being on in this post. I also appreciate the references I made to going to see the Disney movie Enchanted twice when I was pregnant with Molly. Because of when I first saw Enchanted, the movie and soundtrack (both of which I love) remind me of our baby girl, especially the song So Close.
Thank you for reading and for doing the Time Warp with me this month! I look forward to your feedback about this post, as well as reading and commenting on all of yours.
Please feel free to comment even if you didn’t write your own Time Warp Tuesday post. It is not too late to participate if you are interested, click here for the details.
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The topic for the next Time Warp Tuesday (on February 12th) is: Heart
Note: Special thanks to Lori, from Lavender Luz (formerly known as Write Mind Open Heart), who suggested this topic! If you have an idea for a future Time Warp topic, theme and/or writing prompt, please feel free to share it in the comment section or send me an email. If I choose to use your idea, I will give you credit and link to your blog that week.
February is a month that often calls to mind heart and love related things. According to Lori: “‘Heart’ can mean so many things. It’s at the core (from the Latin for heart) of our physical being. It’ the seat of courage (another -cor- derivative. It’s our physical, emotional and spiritual center. Have you ever written about heart, and if so, in what sense?” Choose a post from your archives in which you wrote about heart or something related to it? Then write a new post on your blog about why you chose the post that you did and what has happened in your life since.
Participants can write about whatever you want in your new blog entries. However, for those who might need some help and inspiration to get started, here are some questions to consider:
Why did you pick this post? Has your perspective changed since the day you wrote your original post? Do you think you would still feel the same way if you were writing your post today? What have you learned about yourself, your family and your life since you wrote your original post?
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For those new to Time Warp Tuesday, here is a quick recap of how it works:
1) Browse through your old blog entries to find one that fits the topic for the given month. The topic is shared at the end of the previous month’s “Time Warp Tuesday” post here on my blog (see above for next week’s topic).
2) Write a new blog post in which you introduce, link to and then reflect on your journey since you wrote the older blog post and put it up on your blog on Tuesday. Please include this link https://bereavedandblessed.com/projects-regular-series/time-warp-tuesdays/ in your blog entry, so your readers can find their way to my post with the list of other participants, in case they would like to read more or participate themselves.
3) Share the link to your new post here on Tuesday and then visit, read and comment on the other blogs.
4) After you have done all of these things, you are welcome to grab the code for the Time Warp Tuesday button by clicking here and put it on your blog. The link will take you to a Google Doc where you can copy the code. If your browser does not allow access to your computer’s clipboard, you can use Ctrl-C for Copy and Ctrl-V for Paste, or use your browser’s Edit menu.
5) Check back here on the 2nd Tuesday of the month to find out the new topic, theme or question for the next Time Warp Tuesday (I welcome your ideas and suggestions) and then return to Step 1 of this recap to participate. Please let me know if you have any questions and I hope to see you back here next month: Tuesday, February 12th (the 2nd Tuesday of the month), when we’ll “do the time warp again!”
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Thank you again for reading, commenting and participating in my Time Warp Tuesday blog hop. Link up below and click through to visit others who are doing the Time Warp! (If you have any trouble with Linky Tools, please share the link to your blog entry in the comment section. Also, please don’t forget to comment on my post here, as I do not have a link to this (my own) post below, but I would still really appreciate your feedback. xoxo
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I didn’t know you were a fan of “Dancing With the Stars” – my high school BFF has worked on that show since it began! I love Enchanted too, especially the song where she gets the “woodland animals” to help her clean and they end up being rats and cockroaches because it’s NYC.
Jjiraffe recently posted..How to Dress: The Handbag
Yes, I am and that is so cool! Have you ever gotten to be in the audience? That would be awesome! That is a cute scene in Enchanted. One of my favorite parts is the “How Does She Know?” song when they end in this great Flash Mob-like dance routine in Central Park!
Kathy recently posted..Winter Shed 2013
I am playing along this week but your linky doesn’t seem to be working (I have the same issue with my hops when I use linky tools and schedule in advance).
I am so sorry for your loss….
It is so much fun reading through old posts and finding references to work (or your personal) events at the time…. such a great way to keep memories alive
Hilary recently posted..Time Warp – Changes
Welcome to Time Warp Tuesday Hilary! Thanks for the heads up about my linky. I just fixed it.
Thank you for kind words.
I agree it is fun to read through old posts and see where we were at in our lives at the time and how far we have come.
So glad you decided to do the Time Warp with us this month! Heading over to read and comment on your old and new posts now. 🙂
Kathy recently posted..Breathtaking Notes
I love what you say here about choice … that change happens in life, whether expected or not, and that being empowered is choosing how to deal with those circumstances, or with the changes. It’s a Buddhist way of thinking … to be the water, to move with the earth, instead of fighting against it. And I think that Buddhists would agree that doing so makes us more loving, compassionate people.
Thanks for bringing us back to this place, Kathy.
Justine recently posted..Allergy-Friendly Guest Post at Natural and Free today!
You are welcome and thank you, as always, for your kind words Justine and for reading my old and new posts related to “change.” I really appreciate how you can take something I write and go further with it, connecting it to Buddhist ways of thinking and such. Though I am a practicing Catholic (a progressive and open-minded one), there is so much I have learned about Buddhism that speaks to me.
Looking forward to reading your Time Warp posts later today. I really enjoyed your guest post at Natural and Free!
Kathy recently posted..Rewind 2012
“..we still have the opportunity to choose how we will deal with our circumstances and what we will learn from our journey through difficult and uncertain times in our lives.” This. So this.
I’m proud of you as well. You are an inspiration to me.
April recently posted..The Monday Snapshot
Thank you so much April! You are an inspiration to me too. It was such a nice surprise to see that you were doing the Time Warp again with us this month! 🙂
Kathy recently posted..Happy New Year!
I, too, am proud of how you dealt with your circumstances continue to honor Molly’s memory.
I met someone yesterday who showed me a book by Henri Nouwen. I thumbed through it and landed on a part about Wounded Healers. Of course, I immediately though of you. Because of posts like this.
Lori Lavender Luz recently posted..Appellation Trail
Thank you Lori. It means a lot to know that when you landed on a part about Wounded Healers in the book that you thought of me. I am glad that you appreciate these kinds of posts that I write. Thanks again for being such a loyal friend and Time Warp Tuesday supporter! xoxo
Kathy recently posted..Time Warp Tuesday: Change
“Looking back on how we handled our journey with our baby girl Molly, I am proud of how we dealt with our circumstances and how we have continued to honor her life and memory since she was born and died. I believe that Bob, our living children and I are better, kinder, more sensitive and compassionate people for having Molly in our lives and now always in our hearts.”
Can I get an Amen!! You should be proud of how you handled such a devasting loss. Your kindness and compassion are evident, even to those of us who “know” you somewhat virtually.
I like that you are able to put a positive spin when you think of the impact Molly has had on your and your families lives. I agree, we would give anything to have our babies but I agree, that it makes us and our children kinder and more compassionate than others their age.
Again, I am encouraged on my journey through your grace and strength. I can’t thank you enough for how this has helped me in mine. Honored to know you, just honored.
Amen! Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words and validation Amy. I am so glad that you are encouraged by my journey and you are so very welcome. I feel honored to know you too. Thanks again for doing the Time Warp with us this month. Change turned out to be a very powerful and moving topic across all of our posts.
Kathy recently posted..BlogHer Book Club: The Willpower Instinct
This post is beautiful, and thanks for sharing the one about Molly’s diagnosis. What a ‘change’ for your family that would impact the rest of your lives! I find it really profound that you were finding silver linings just five days later, and, of course now everyone can see your activity in the blogging world and your local community as an enormous silver lining for all the families you’ve helped get through the death of a dear child.
missohkay recently posted..The hourglass
Thank you missohkay. Your kind words and validation mean so much. I do believe in silver linings and appreciate what you see as some of those related to the life and death of our baby girl Molly.
Kathy recently posted..Winter Shed: Week One
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