Finding Joy in the Echoes of Love

There’s a quiet depth to this time of year for me. June 16 will mark one year since my mom, Diana—lovingly known as “Daisy”—made her transition, just one day after Father’s Day this year.

As I’ve shared with you all, my dad, Bill, made his transition almost two years ago, and now, with both on the other side, this season stirs something even more tender and sacred within me. I find myself thinking about the memories that mean so much to me. 

As many know, my mom was one of my best friends and we did so many things together. Among them were our trips to Frankenmuth, Michigan. This was a special place my mom and I visited regularly. We’d wander through town, always stopping at the fudge shop, sharing sweet moments and laughter I’ll never forget. It wasn’t about extravagance—it was about connection, presence, and joy.

With joy, we shared free chicken dinners at Zehnder's of Frankenmuth, on our respective birthdays - enjoying the good food and good company. Those memories are a little bittersweet now, but I try to keep them alive. I show up. I reflect. I smile through the tears. That’s part of the healing.

Recently, while sifting through their belongings I found an old purse (pictured here in the newsletter), and to my great surprise, the actual tickets from my mom’s first date with my dad (January 1961!) were in it. That moment caught my breath. It reminded me that love leaves a trail, and if we pay attention, those little traces show up just when we need them most.

As I move through Father’s day, I know that I will go look at the daisies blooming in my backyard—and think about my mom, “Daisy” and my dad, Bill.  Those little flowers feel like a quiet hello from their spirits.  A gentle reminder that love still grows here.

If you’re grieving someone you love, I hope you’ll find the strength to return to the places and traditions that hold meaning. Go back. Taste the sweetness. Reflect. Cry. Laugh. And maybe invite someone new into that space. It won’t be the same—but it can still be beautiful.

Because in the echoes of love, we keep finding our way forward.

My heart to all of yours,

Donna