Julie McClay – Page 2 – Red Tent Living

Complicated Space

By: redtentwomen September 28, 2023September 15, 2023

Monthly Themes, relationshipscancer, family dynamics, Grief, Julie McClay, Losing a parentLeave a Comment

As the “local daughter,” once Mom’s diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic cancer was confirmed, I toggled between showing up and removing myself from the space as much as possible so that her other children could get what they wanted and needed from her dying process. Out-of-town siblings and their families visited often. Mom’s sisters and brother…

The Beginning of the End

By: redtentwomen August 29, 2023July 27, 2023

Monthly Themes, relationshipscancer, Death of a Parent, Julie McClay, loss of a parent, Mother, Sickness, Terminal Illness8 Comments

Goodbye begins July 27, 2020, with a text. The doctor just called with the scan results, and it’s not good. Can you come over? My brand-new 14-year-old is in the middle of blowing out twisty rainbow candles on an ice cream birthday cake. It is homemade by a sister and looks delicious. We finish singing…

Season’s Call

By: redtentwomen March 14, 2019March 12, 2019

Day to Day, FaithChanging Seasons, Freedom, Growth, Julie McClay, Spring3 Comments

I exit an evening exercise class to daylight. Contrasted with the darkness of prior weeks, the streaks of pink in the sky invite me to hope. I feel a brightening in my spirit. The light always returns! This season, my soul mirrors the winter weather pattern of the valley where I live. One day all…

My Place

By: redtentwomen October 18, 2018October 17, 2018

LiteratureBeing myself, Julie McClay, Poetry4 Comments

Wherever I am That is my place I belong and bring goodness and life to the space I don’t have to ask For permission to be I can step up and show up with all that is me To exit or enter Each is my choice I also determine the use of my voice I…

Familiar

By: redtentwomen September 21, 2018September 30, 2018

Faith, relationshipsAdult Children, Change, Julie McClay, Memory and Kindness, Raising Children5 Comments

This season feels familiar. I find myself repeating these words often. When this happens, I have learned to take notice. It is the start of a new school year. The four children who live at home range in age from 15-10. These are my (not so) littles who are now the ages of the “bigs”…

Season of Stories

By: redtentwomen July 4, 2018July 3, 2018

Day to Day, relationshipsJulie McClay, Recovery, Restoring Relationships with Parents, Storytelling13 Comments

I began engaging my parents in storywork by asking about the menu notebook created by my dad. That cloth-bound, 70’s style, denim-blue, three-ring binder filled with a month’s worth of menus was a distinct childhood memory.

All The Words

By: redtentwomen June 7, 2018June 10, 2018

Day to Day, Intentional Living, relationshipsGift of Writing, Journaling, Julie McClay, Own Your Gifting, Personal Growth, Speak Your Truth, Writing9 Comments

Your story was so well-written! I smiled. It felt good to have my writing affirmed following the pain of sharing the words with my training group. The hard processing part was over, and we were relaxed, preparing to leave for lunch. I laughed and replied lightheartedly, I’m a good writer!