I have been blogging for almost 8 years, sharing intimate thoughts and experiences about myself, my healing journey [post-cancer], and the layered emotions experienced when parenting. My posts are carefully written to ensure that I maintain respect for myself, my family, my child, and my audience; and always with the perspective of how very grateful I am to be here,…
Crystal Joy
I am a dreamer. I am an artist. I am an adventure-seeker. I am a storyteller. I am a wife. I am a mommy. I am a cancer survivor. My name is Crystal Joy Hall. Share in my journey at crystaljoyhall.com.
It is a new year. One that is filled with boundless opportunities and pending hopes, dreams, and ambitions. Yet I have not had time to sit and reflect upon this new year, or the year that has passed us by. I have not had a quiet moment to think about myself. What do I hope for this year? What personal…
And just like that, it’s over. Christmas of 2023 has come and gone. And it saddens me. I cannot help but wonder Was this the last magical Christmas? Will our amazing LM still delight at the presence of Santa Claus or is this the final year of believing? Our child is 10 years old. A full decade. He is now…
The age of nine was significant (you can read more about it in my post The Age of Nine). We witnessed remarkable growth, several setbacks, and the beginnings of independence in our amazing LM. He became more aware of the world, specifically world problems. He carried a grave concern for children displaced from war, and he worried about the state…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. It is a time when we collectively raise awareness for breast cancer prevention, treatment, and research. In previous years, I would often use this time to write a post reflecting on my own experience with breast cancer in hopes to raise awareness among a younger audience of women. Why? I was 40 years old…
There is a precious moment of parenting that I am all to aware will soon come to an abrupt end – bedtime stories. Fortunately, for now, my LM still enjoys being read to. It calms his active mind and restless body, and readies him for the land of sleep. We read chapter books, picture books, comics, or kids graphic novels,…
It was a challenging summer. Not one filled with lazy days, small adventures, and relaxing moments. This summer proved to be unsettling. My summer began with my regular scans and blood work, as many of you know if you read my post This Space in this Moment, and I am very grateful to share that everything came back within normal…
So here I am. Sitting in the waiting room. One year has passed. Eight years since diagnosis. Scanxiety. It doesn’t get any easier. Time may distance you from the events that altered the course you thought your life was taking, but the scars, the scars never fade away. They are always visible, always present, always in the mind’s eye. Those…
I wish I could say that this has been a good month. It truly should be. It’s June! The skies are blue, the flowers are in bloom, summer is in the air, days are getting longer, and I just returned from a magnificent adventure across the pond and have wonderful new memories settling within my heart. I should feel carefree…
We are back!! It was 3 weeks ago today when we touched down at Heathrow Airport. Our departure wasn’t without some drama. Just 36 hours prior to leaving, Air Canada sent me a text message – our flight was cancelled. CANCELLED!! I stared at the words in complete disbelief. We have waited 8 years for this moment – this adventure…