Life in the A-Zone

Holding Grief and Finding Joy During the Holidays

The holidays can be complicated—especially for those who are grieving, caregiving, or missing someone they love.

In this episode of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy shares a tender Christmas story from the heart of her Alzheimer’s caregiving journey with her mother. This episode gently holds space for both the grief we carry and the moments of light, laughter, and unexpected joy that still find us.

This episode also marks a soft launch of Life in the A-Zone, the memoir that grew from these stories and lived experiences. What began as a podcast has now become a book—created to offer comfort, connection, and hope to caregivers and families walking this journey.

Peggy also created the Pink Cloud Moments - A Sacred Space Journal for Caregivers, a gentle companion for the holidays and beyond. Designed as a sacred space to pause, reflect, and take care of yourself, the journal offers simple prompts and moments of stillness during a season that can feel overwhelming.

If the holidays feel heavy this year, you are not alone. Take what you need from this episode, and leave the rest.

*A gentle listen—and a loving reminder to care for yourself while caring for others.

You can find Life in the A-Zone—along with the Pink Cloud Moments Caregiver Journal—on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart.com.

 

#alzheimersawareness #AgingParents #holidaygrief #holidayblues #griefsupport 
#FamilyCaregiver #grief #dementia #caregivers #mindfulness #mentalhealth #selfcare

 

Journaling for Caregivers: A Sacred Beginning to Our First Caregiving Support Group

In this heartfelt episode of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy welcomes back artist and journal designer Jackie Begue to reflect on a meaningful milestone: being invited to speak at the very first meeting of a new caregiver support group that has chosen to use the Pink Cloud Moments™ Caregiving Journal as part of their weekly gatherings.

Peggy and Jackie share how this special evening came together—beginning with a thoughtful referral from author Karen McCord (Only Rainbows: The Carley McCord Story)—and how it led them into a room full of caregivers ready to connect, reflect, and support one another.

Together, they walk listeners through the night:

✨ How journaling helps caregivers process emotions, release stress, and gain clarity
✨ The journal prompts that opened the door to honest and healing conversations
✨ Caregivers sharing their challenges, gratitude, and small victories
✨ Peggy’s reading of what a true Pink Cloud Moment is
✨ The uplifting Angel Art Project designed to bring lightness and creativity after the emotional sharing
✨ The healing power of community, storytelling, and showing up for ourselves and one another

If you’re a caregiver—or love someone who is—this episode offers comfort, encouragement, and a gentle reminder that you are not alone.

Interested in bringing a journaling workshop or caregiver event to your own group?
Visit: PeggySweeneyMcDonald.com | Lifeinthea-zone.com | JackieBegue.com
Instagram: @PeggySweeneyMc | @PinkCloudMoments | @lifeintheazonepodcast | @jackiebegueart 

#Caregiving
#CaregiverSupport
#caregiving
#pinkcloudmomentsjournal
#CaregiverCommunity
#JournalingForHealing
#CaregiverJournaling
#PinkCloudMoments
#LifeInTheAZone
#AlzheimersCaregiver
#DementiaCaregiving
#Journaling
#SelfCareForCaregivers
#HealingJourney
#AngelArtProject
#CreativeHealing
#SupportGroup
#CompassionateCare
#PeggySweeneyMcDonald
#JackieBegueArt

 

Divine Angelic Inspiration - A Conversation with Artist Katherine Martin

In this episode, I sit down with artist and co-creator Katherine Martin to talk about the journey of bringing the Pink Cloud Moments: Divine Angelic Inspiration Journal to life. Katherine shares how her angel artwork began as a personal practice of healing and blossomed into a source of comfort and inspiration for others. Together, we explore the concepts of the Angel of Inspiration, the Angel of Surrender, and the Angels of Creativity, and discuss how “naming your own angel” and finding pink cloud moments can serve as powerful tools for resilience and renewal. We also share the behind-the-scenes story of how this journal came together with designer Jackie Begue and why creativity, spirituality, and journaling can open sacred space for divine connection and hope.

 

#LifeInTheAZone #PinkCloudMoments #DivineAngelicInspiration #AngelArt #CaregiverSupport #SpiritualJournaling #AlzheimersJourney #CreativityAndHealing #PodcastCommunity #FaithAndHope #Spirituality #self-care #mindfulness #angels #angeldivination #angelicinspiration #journals #journalingforhealing #grief #bookevents #selfpublishing #journalgifts 

Rebooting, Resilience and Creating - A Conversation with Artist Jackie Begue

 

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with my friend, artist Jackie Begue, to talk about rebooting, resilience, and the creative spark that can emerge from life’s unexpected turns.

We share the story of her beautiful “Resilience” artwork of waterlilies — and how it inspired me to invite her to illustrate and collaborate on my Pink Cloud Moments™ Sacred Space Journal for Caregivers, launching September 19th on Amazon. Along the way, we reflect on the past few years of travel, moving home to Louisiana, personal growth, and rebooting after challenging seasons. Plus, we chat about the exciting projects ahead with my memoir Life in the A-Zone and new guided journals.

It’s a behind-the-scenes look at friendship, art, and the courage to keep creating no matter where life takes you.

#Resilience #Creativity #PinkCloudMoments #LifeInTheAZone #Memoir #Journals #Artist #JackieBegue #Caregiving #ArtInspiration #Journaling #selfcare #Grief #Caregivers #Alzheimers #Dementia #Cancer #Family #Friendship #Art

 

 

 

Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 20: A Sherry Sky

Peggy and her sister Shannan rush back from Washington D.C. when her mother takes a turn for the worse. Miraculously, they are able to be by her side with the family as she took her last breath. The sky glowed pink hours before she passed and whenever family or friends see a pink sky, they will remember it is a Sherry Sky.

 

 

#Alzheimers #Alzheimersjourney #caregiver #grief #dementia #personalstories #mentalhealth #storytelling #podcastseries #caretaker #familydisease #healingthroughstories #adultchildren #mother/daughter #loveandloss #Louisiana #southernfamily

Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 19: The Last Anniversary

Peggy and her three sisters plan a 62nd-anniversary party for their parents at the Memory Care facility after their Mother is placed on Hospice Care. Alzheimer's may have taken his wife's health and her zest for life, but it was important to their father to celebrate their lifetime of love. 

Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 18: Everything Will Be Alright

Peggy spends the night with her mother at the memory care facility and in a moment of peace, her mother tells her everything will be alright. Peggy realizes her mother's struggle with Alzheimer's is slowly coming to an end. 

Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 17: Don't Forget How Good You Are

Peggy's mother is barely speaking these days as she grows weaker from Alzheimer's. However, in a special moment of clarity at the Memory Care facility, she shares a beautiful and heartwarming life lesson.

Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 16: Hospital Madness

Peggy takes her mother to the hospital and everything changes as she is placed on palliative care. Alzheimer's is winning the battle and Peggy surrenders to the bleak reality.

 

Life in the A-Zone (Alzheimer's) - Episode 15: The Baby Dolls

As her mother settles into her new life at an Alzheimer's Memory Care facility, Peggy and her father begin to adjust to an empty house without her. The Alzheimer's struggle at home is gone, but so is her mother's love and spirit.