This past week felt like a tapestry woven from all the things that make life full —family, friendship, celebration, and those small in-between moments that stay with you long after the day is done.

I’ve spent the last month preparing for my son and daughter-in-law’s Lord of the Rings-themed baby shower. The Shire meets pool party took over my house, my inner creativity, and, really, my heart. But before the decorating whirlwind began, I took off for a different kind of adventure.

My daughter and I took the train to New York to meet my “adopted” son for a day in the city. We wandered through Times Square, had dinner, and saw Oh Mary! with Maya Rudolph — a night full of laughter and that joy comes from being with people you know enjoy the same types of stories you do. The next morning, we had a beautiful breakfast on the rooftop, the kind that feels unhurried and perfect as you talk about life. Then we rode the train home, tired in a good way.

From there, the week kept unfolding. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law arrived, and we all went to dinner with my son, daughter-in-law, daughter, and husband in historic Leesburg – a town full of so much history, including ours around the table. We capped the night with soft-serve ice cream.

The next day was busy with decorating, everyone pitching in and bringing my vision for the shower, grilling out, and having a fun family game night full of laughter.

And then came the big day — the pool party baby shower to welcome our first grandchild, a little person we already love so much. Friends and family from every chapter of the happy couples’ lives arrived. Watching them, surrounded by their people who have shaped who they are today, moved me more than I expected. It was a true beginning to many new stories. The babies in their arms, the camaraderie, the way they continue to show up for each other – reaffirmed for me how important friendship is to the family story. They are the ones who walk beside you as you grow, who are part of all your celebrations, who help you carry the hard days and make the good ones even better.

I am so happy for my sons and my daughters (including the in-laws and adopted ones) as they build the lives they want for themselves. Today, I feel peaceful. They are starting their next chapters in the ways that feel right to them, and they are happy — which is all I have ever wanted for them.

Weeks like this remind me why I write. To capture these emotions on page—the pride of watching your children step into their lives, the shared meals, the joy of friendships that last decades, the quiet moments that make you appreciate all that you have.

When I write, I hope that readers feel something in the words. I hope they sense the warmth of a crowded table, the tenderness of the family evolving, the comfort of knowing that love shows up in all forms, and we are able to share our true selves without judgment. In every story I write, I want to feel that a connection is made, whether it’s fiction or history.

And if even one person feels that, then I’ve accomplished my goal.