Disclosure I received products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.
Since I was 15 I live in a small town where most of my family lived as well. My mom lived only 11 miles from where we lived. My parents divorced some years ago, however my mom and my family would spend every holiday together. She would come over on Christmas Eve and spend the night so we could all wake up together and watch the kids open presents. She came by my house at least 5 times week for coffee or just to say Hi. And she always was there on the kids birthdays which they loved, because she always had the best gifts or treats with her.
January 30, 2010 we made a big move to where my dad lived. We had visited about 7 times in the past, and always loved it. We were ready for change and felt it would be a great place for us. I was scared of change, but knew this move was going to be ok, because at least I had my husband, kids and my dad who lived about 15 minutes from us.
The first thing we did was celebrate my dads retirement. It was such a great time and he was so happy to have me close by again.
Dads retirement party.
My mom missed us dearly, and it had been about a year since we moved. She started making plans to come see us in February. Once she told us that, I went Christmas shopping and made sure the house was in order. I was so excited I could not wait, and we also wanted to spend Christmas with her even if it would have already passed by the time she arrived.
8 days before she was due to arrive I got a phone call at about 2:00 pm. from the bartender of the restaurant she cooked at, and lived above. He said I have some bad news. That’s when I found out my mom had suddenly died from a heart attack 8 days before she was suppose to be here to visit. I didn’t believe it. She was fine, I just talked to her the day before. I kept pacing the house. There was just no way this was true. I made phone calls to family, and found out they were already their at her house, and confirmed it to be true. Then it hit me, and my world came crashing down at once. The kids were right here. How was I going to tell them? They could already tell something terrible was wrong.
I was in the middle of laundry and figuring out what to make for dinner. Plus I had tons of work to do with my job. I completely lost it. I could not do anything, I was a mess. I have no idea still to this day if we ate that day and who made dinner or what happened that night.
The next day I left to take care of everything with my mom. My husband stayed home, took care of the kids and house. I have no idea how, all I know is that they did a lot of eating out. No one wanted to cook. I know I couldn’t, once I got back. I could barley get my self to leave my room. I was no help to anyone. I was not the mom my kids needed, I could not be the wife my husband needed. I could not function. I could not work, cook, clean or anything. My mom was gone and never coming back. The last time I saw her we all went out to dinner as a family the night before we moved. As we left the restaurant after our meal she was crying so hard and hugging us all, and didn’t want us to leave.
At my moms memorial.
I never realized how hard the next few months would be, let alone the next 5 years. The last 5 years not only did I lose my mom, but a woman named Darlene I looked at as my 2nd mom died 8 months after my mom, also of a heart attache. Then my sister Tami died of of disease a year later.
My Sister Tami and I.
Just when I thought it could not get any worse a year later I lost my father to lung cancer, and my brother Mike a year after my father to liver cancer. Then this past January our very close family John friend died suddenly. I will not get into any more detail about them all. It’s just to difficult.
My Dad and my oldest son a several years ago.
At hospice with my father.
My dad and brother Mike.
The beautiful family I have lost in the past 5 years.
The past 5 years have been the hardest years of my entire life. If someone came to help me cook, clean, take car of the kids and everything else that would have been such a wonderful blessing. However sometimes we just have to get threw these difficult times which can only make us stronger. That indeed it has.
However you don’t have to get threw everything alone, ShareCrate can help. ShareCrate can help you with the cooking which sometimes can be the hardest when going through things like this.
ShareCrate is a care package gift service designed specifically for these kinds of important “life moments.” ShareCrate allows you to share your love through food with a friend or family member who is experiencing an important life moment, from a death in the family, new baby, new job, a messy divorce, ect. It’s the perfect gift for when you want to share your love but your parents, friends, and family simply live too far away for you to drop off a homemade meal. All Dream Dinners ShareCrate meals are carefully hand packed in a Styrofoam cooler with dry ice and are delivered via FedEx.
How ShareCrates works is simple, first you pick the crate you would like to send. There are 3 amazing complete homemade meals with easy to follow instructions cards that take very little time in 2 sizes. One has 3 meals that will feed 2-3 people, and the other has 3 meals that will feed 5-6 people.
One of the meals Creamy Chicken Florentine Tortellini which was my favorite of all 3 was super easy to cook. It goes straight from the freezer to the oven. It tasted homemade, with lots of flavor and the whole family enjoy it.
The two additional meals both Sesame Glazed Meatballs with Jasmine Rice and Chicken with Honey, Garlic & Orange with Oven Roasted Broccoli and Rice are to be placed in the refrigerator to thaw and prepare, as needed during the week. Each dinner comes with all the ingredients needed to get a wholesome meal on the table.
Sesame Glazed Meatballs with Jasmine Rice was another delightful meal again the whole family ate and enjoyed. This meal was easy to make as well. It was ready in about 25 minutes.
All I had to do was dump the rice in boil water and cover. Then add the meatballs to a pan with the sauce and cook for 15 to 20 minutes. With just stirring occasionally and dinner was done in no time.
The last meal is this yummy Chicken with Honey, Garlic & Orange with Oven Roasted Broccoli and Rice. Again was really easy to make with recipe cards to follow just like the others. Dinner was complete in 25 minutes, and I didn’t have to stand over the stove for an hour or chop vegetables.
The meals you purchase for someone will be sent directly to thier door. ShareCarte can feel like a life savior for many.
I highly recommend ShareCrate as a great way to give back this holiday season. This is perfect for loved ones in a time of need. Your loved ones will surely appreciate a break from the kitchen when going through trying times. This is great for anyone especially those that have just had a baby, lost a loved one, going through a divorce, and more. ShareCrate is all about how you share your love with food and take care of the people who are most important to you.
You can purchase and send a ShareCrate online at lovingwithfood.com.
Be sure to connect with ShareCrate on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
I am so sorry for everything that you’ve been through in the past 5 years. I can’t even imagine dealing with all of that in such a short amount of time. Share create sounds like it helps when people really need it the most.
They sure do. Thank you.
I’m so sorry to hear about all of this. But I am glad that you’ve gotten through and become a stronger person because of it all. ShareCrate sounds like an amazing idea! Kudos to you. Happy holidays!
Thank you so much for your kind words.
I”m so sorry for your loss. Christmas is always a hard time. Sharecrate sounds like a wonderful idea!
Thank you hon.
I am so sorry for your loses. What truly difficult circumstances. It is beautiful how fondly you remember each of your family members. Those memories will never fade. This service is wonderful for those dealing with great lose.
Thank you so much Ali.
Where did your mom live in PA and where did you live in NY? I also lived in New York for a bit but right on the border. We were also about 11 miles from my husband’s parents. I lived in Lindley, NY and his parents lived in Elkland, PA.
I live in Endicott, NY my Mom lived in Choconut Pa and worked at the Choconut Inn as the cook at the time.
I am big believer that everyone should be able to eat a hot health meal. This is a great service and something monthly that I could get behind.
I’m sorry about everything you have had to endure. The share crate sounds really good.
Thank you hun.
ShareCrate sounds amazing for occasions like this for sure. When you are going through hard times and you are not yourself having meals that are prepared or easy to prepare is something that can really come in handy. These meals sound delicious and I would so love to try the Sesame Glazed Meatballs with Jasmine Rice. Yummy!!! Thanks for sharing your story and this awesome food service.
I’m so sorry for all your loss. This is such a great idea. I think it would be a great idea for new parents.
Thank you.
That was a tough five years with so many painful losses. I’m sure it made you a lot stronger too. It’s also nice that there is ShareCrate to help people in their basic needs.
I am so sorry to hear about your losses over the past few years. I know that at this time of the year we all tend to reflect on our loved ones that we have lost through the years. My husband lost his father three years ago this coming week. I am sure that will be a tough week for him.
What a fantastic idea, I was thinking of sending something like this to a friend after she gives birth so I am bookmarking this for later!
First of all, I’m so sorry for your many losses. What a tough 5 years 🙁 This is really great, we’ve had some recent deaths in my friend and family circle this year and this would have been a really great service to use at the time!
Thank you so much. 🙂
This service sounds like such a sweet idea. Sometimes it can be hard to know what to get someone who needs a little help. This would be the perfect solution.
Your mom would be so proud of you. She will always be with you. Share-A-Crate sounds like a lifesaver and I will keep them in mind when myself, family and friends encounter difficult times in the future.
Thank you very much.
those dishes looks delish. and thanks for sharing this story.
I am sorry for all the loss you have had, it is never easy to lose anyone and that is a lot of loved ones. Christmas can be a special time but be so hard at the same time.
Thank you very much.
So sorry for all your losses! My mom died of a heart attack the day before Mother’s Day. It was completely unexpected and this will be my first Christmas without her. ShareCrate is a wonderful way to let loved ones know you are thinking about them by providing tasty meals during their time of sorrow.
Thank you and so sorry to hear of your loss. Holidays can be hard, but just know each year gets a little easier.
Christmas is always a reminder of how much I miss my mom. She was born on Christmas day and it was always so special for all of us. Always hardest on those of us left behind. Remember all the wonder times.
This is a very great idea. So good of you to share this.