When Everything Changes: A Reflection on Love, Loss, and Starting Over
It’s hard to believe how much life can shift in less than two years. When you’re a caregiver, time doesn't just fly—it ricochets, carrying with it both heartbreak and healing, uncertainty and unexpected joy. Today, I’m finally sitting down to share a few of the biggest changes that have shaped our world lately, in hopes that if you’re walking through change yourself, you’ll feel just a little less alone.
Saying Goodbye to Reese
Let’s start with the toughest, with tears streaming down my face. We said goodbye to Reese—not just our family dog, but our emotional support and dedicated service dog, our steady heartbeat through the chaos. Like Hazel The Wonder Dog, Reese was more than a companion. She was our comfort and our anchor; the silent strength in the background when I felt like I had nothing left to give. Losing her cracked us wide open … again.
Learning to Love Moose
Then came Moose. This big, lovable goofball burst into our lives with energy, curiosity, and a stubborn streak that rivals mine. I’ll be honest—my heart wasn’t ready. I wanted Reese back. I wanted comfort, not a new chapter. But Moose has this uncanny way of forcing us to stay in the present. He’s teaching me patience, laughter, and the power of second (third, fourth, etc.) chances. Falling in love with him has been a slow burn... but it’s happening. As many times as I want to send him back to where he came from, I realize it quite a long jaunt back to Sweden (yes, born and bred in Sweden) with his little blue passport in his nap sack.
Through Moose, we have a connection to Hazel in those big ‘ol brown eyes and a genealogy chart. Can you believe they’re related? Moose’s grandfather was Hazel’s brother.
The Big Move to Texas
And then we did something that goes against every “don’t make major changes” guideline in the caregiver handbook—we moved. Texas called to us for many reasons, but mostly for support. For sunshine, warmth, and a reset. Yes, it’s been a transition, and no, it hasn’t been easy. But looking back now, I see it for what it is: a bold act of self-preservation. A choice to grow in the face of grief and uncertainty.
We’ve stepped into cowboy hats and boots, yes ma’am, and y’all. The beef is “to die for” and we’re way too excited to hit the In-and-Out often and equally thrilled to see Portillo’s coming to our community this fall!
There’s So Much More to Come
Through all of it, I’m learning to hold space for both the sorrow and the joy. I’m learning that caregivers aren’t just managing others’ lives—we’re reinventing our own every single day. If you’re in a season of change, I see you. I am you.
And this is just the beginning. There’s so much more to come—more stories, more learning, more love, and yes, probably more chaos too. But we’re still standing, still hoping, and still moving forward, one beautifully imperfect day at a time.
With love and solidarity,
Sonya