The Dream

The Dream That Started It All: How The Story We Leave™ Found Its beginning

When my husband died, my world shifted forever.  I found myself drifting through a fog of grief — unsure of what life would look like without him, unsure of what I would look like without him.

But the night he passed, he came to me in a dream.

In the dream we were sitting in the back of a building that sort of looked like a chapel on the inside, but a warehouse on the outside. I knew we were in the town where we had met in northern California. There was a third person standing listening, but I didn't know who he was. I assumed he was the person in charge of the building.

In this dream, my husband was with me — not sick, not suffering — but calm and certain. He spoke to me in a voice that felt both familiar and reassuring, telling me what my life would look like without him and explaining about all the things I would go on to do.

When I woke, I couldn't recall exactly what he said, but I knew I would carry what he told me  — the love we shared and the memories we created — and somehow help others preserve and honor their own memories. I knew that my pain could be transformed somehow into something meaningful, something that would outlive both of us.

I was changed.

In the six months that followed I threw myself into editing and publishing my husband's manuscript of a story he had written years before. I learned all I could of the process and was successful in publishing it for his family and friends, just as I had promised.

I began slowly realizing — THAT DREAM had planted the very seed that grew into The Story We Leave™.

Why I Share This Dream

I share this dream because it’s the beating heart of this project. It reminds me every day why I keep going — even when I’m not sure or even when I doubt myself, it reminds me that this is bigger than me.

I realize there are many people who choose not to believe dreams are 'telling dreams.'  Well, I've been having them since I was a teenager. When they come true I have no choice but to believe.

Turning Pain into Purpose

My hope is that TSWL becomes part of your story — that it gives you the same sense of peace and purpose that my husband’s words gave me in that dream.

Because when we write, when we share, when we leave behind our stories — we live on.

What This Means for You

Every page, every prompt, every journal I’ve created since that dream has been guided by that vision. When you sit down with a TSWL journal, you aren’t just writing. You’re weaving your life into a gift — for your children, your grandchildren, and even those you may never meet.

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October, 2026

Well, I made a mistake and deleted my prior blog posts. Don't you wish we could do that sometimes with our life experiences? LOL!

It's October and I truly enjoy fall weather. Many millions do, right?

So far, October has thrown me a bit of a curveball! I’m dealing with vertigo and hearing issues while also caring for my dog after surgery. I’m doing my best to keep life moving at a slower pace, but I’ll admit, it hasn’t been easy.

And just like that, the holiday season is approaching. Sometimes it feels like a speeding train, doesn’t it? Before we know it, we’re caught up in the rush of shopping, planning, and trying to make everything special for everyone else.

What are your plans for the upcoming holidays?

This year, consider giving the gift of memories. A journal from The Story We Leave™ makes a meaningful gift for someone you love, offering a place to capture stories, preserve memories, and share the pieces of life that matter most.

And don’t forget about yourself! ❤️ You deserve a little time to reflect on your own story, too.

Give the gift of a story. Give the gift of memories. Or give yourself permission to slow down and write your own.

Visit www.thestoryweleave.com to explore our journals and books.