“Last night, I put up my Christmas tree and cried. It happens every year. For many, many years, I thought I hated Christmas. I’ve come to realize I don’t it. I hate the pressure of trying to hide my grief, for the comfort of others.”

‘Stop being sad, Heather. People would kill to have what you have.’ You cannot push grief away. It’s going to show it’s face, one way or another.’: Woman reminds us ‘joy and grief can co-exist, even during Christmas’

‘My mom went all out. I remember thinking how random it seemed. She tried so hard, wanting to make this nice dinner for us. We made fun of her for it.’
“I feel bad about it to this day. What we brushed off as her ditsy-ness was actually the first signs of the disease. I hate myself for the way I acted that day. I feel so bad and so guilty. It kills me.”

‘You know what I don’t remember about my childhood Christmases? I don’t remember anything being especially decorated.’: Woman’s best Christmas memories aren’t ‘picture perfect’
“I don’t remember Pottery Barn centerpieces or monogrammed stockings. I don’t remember Pinterest-worthy trees or anything that would make one declare, ‘That is so precious. I must Instagram it immediately.’ That all might have been there. But if it was, I don’t remember.”

‘My neighbors change these skeletons every day for Halloween. I think I finally need to share them.’: Woman documents neighbors’ amazing Halloween efforts
“I started to snap photos to compare all of them. My neighbors’ names are Bob and Bill. They were so excited.”

Teacher’s insanely awesome Black History Month decorations go viral
“I wanted to do something special for my students to inspire them… also while drawing attention to the arts in school.”