Season's Greetings

Season’s greetings from mild-weathered Minneapolis, which seems to be the only place in the U.S. where climate change is producing LESS volatile weather patterns. We were blessed with another mild summer and a long, pleasant autumn. We will see if the pattern continues in 2016.

Our 2015 had a somber beginning with the January passing of James’ Grampa Orwig. He was an ever-flowing river of physical, moral, and intellectual vitality, and we were blessed to have been able to enjoy some of his 95 years with him. His passing came months after his 2nd daughter Elizabeth concluded her long battle with MS. Grampa’s memorial service in June in Kentucky was a wonderful opportunity for the extended family to gather, celebrate, support, and grow together again. 

Our summer was marked with multiple adventures. In Kentucky we hiked Indian Fort Mountain with family, then hiked 9 subterranean miles in Mammoth Cave National Park. We enjoyed great weather for our week in Michigan, but our BIG adventure was driving to Maine to explore Acadia National Park for two days with Kurt, Catherine, and Rachel Schmidt. The long drive east included passing through Toronto and more significant stops in Montreal and Quebec City. Acadia was an understated delight, seeing the sights, climbing the granite, tasting the treats, and communing with the Schmidts. The route home included rural roads in New Hampshire, watching the Perseid Meteor Shower in Killington, VT, and visiting Joanna, Michael, and Sophia Daeschner in Rochester, NY.  If the climax of the return voyage was our visit to Niagara Falls, then the denouement was the night at the waterpark in Ohio. The 11-day odyssey marked the first time any of us had driven from our home to one of the coasts, and it was a powerful experience to stand atop Cadillac Mountain, surveying the Atlantic, before pointing our vehicle West for the voyage home.

Sixth-grader Katie collected many new experiences this year. Early in the year she had a role in a local theater production, then had her first (mind-blowing) opportunity to ski in the Rocky Mountains. Katie took golf lessons during the summer, developing a nice swing in the process. This fall she started middle school (loves it) and ran on the cross-country team (wow!). Add in 2 weeks at Camp Miniwanca during the summer and Katie had a year full of adventures and growth!

Second-grader Preston has been flexing his academic and athletic muscles, showing an aptitude for learning in both arenas. His league sports are baseball, soccer, and (for the first time) basketball, with skiing, golf, and tennis filling spare time. His reading level has been impressive this year, as has his growth as a swimmer (special thanks to Grandad, Cousin Neil and the hotel pool in Kentucky!).  

Jackie's increasing interest in public policy drove much of her activity during the year. She is administrating several social media accounts (including her own) and has built some stature within the progressive networks in Minnesota. She also decided to re-enter the workforce and accepted a non-profit role as Director of Communications for EVOLVE Adoption & Family Services.

James turned 40 and was talked into playing in several soccer matches with old teammates despite retiring from the game 5 years ago. It was fun, but his body didn’t seem to enjoy the experience as much as he did. He reveled in the family summer adventures before experiencing some professional upheaval as Ecolab cut back on innovation plans. While his period as a free agent has been a period of intense learning, networking, and exploration, even the luster of less-frequent face-shaving is wearing off. With a job offer on the table at the time of this writing, James is confident he’ll be sinking his teeth into new professional challenges soon. He’ll also be finalizing our plans for a trip to the Grand Canyon this summer!  

We wish you a joyous holiday season and a 2016 full of faith, wonder, and contentment. 

Blessings of peace to you and yours ~ The Craig Family

     

The Holidays are Going to Hurt

Because love does not end with death, we feel pain. Pain and grief are a natural part of life: a sane response to the physical loss of losing someone we love. The pain makes perfect sense and the holidays are going to hurt. 

Grieving is a very personal experience and there is no "normal" timeframe for grieving. It's important to allow ourselves time to process feelings naturally. The reality of pain cares nothing for order or stages, even though it's commonly referred to as stages of grief. Loss is painful and messy. Please do not use stages to dictate if you are "grieving correctly" or not.

When coping with sudden death or lengthy grieving, expect to feel depressed. Those feelings may wax and wane over time and are normal responses to extremely stressful situations, they are not personal flaws. Many find solace in developing a network of supportive friends and companions. However, if we continually avoid support and disconnect or isolate ourselves, we may be heading towards major depression. 

Important Note: If you have previously struggled with depression, the death of someone close to you may bring depression to the foreground. Complicated grief can be so persistent and complex that it lasts for years. Anytime you experience thoughts of suicide, or become unable to complete basic daily routines, please seek professional help. 

Is there a way to make the holidays work?

People who love us are going to want to create a special holiday; however, often what others think is needed can be overwhelming. We need to give ourselves permission to say, "No." It's important to check in with ourselves often and if leaving a gathering is helpful, we can simply leave. 

Support one another.

Empathy and compassion may help reduce suffering by opening us to the healing and growth personal connections can bring. It's important for us to honor the pain we are experiencing. Hear each other. Don't try to fix. Let each other cry and be in the moment with each other. 

Blessings of peace to you and yours - 

Jackie