Dear readers,
These are the hardest words I will ever have to write. My husband, Tim Ketchum, died suddenly last week of what was first thought to be an abdominal aneurysm. Doctors now think he may have had a genetic connective tissue disorder that weakened the structure of his aorta.
He was my partner in every sense of the word. He was my best friend, my confidante, my safe place. And oh, he was such an amazing father. He shared the burden of raising our three children with gusto, being present in a way that most dads will never be.
Everyone who ever met Tim loved him. Even people who only met him in passing were charmed by him. Warm, compassionate, loving, thoughtful. And funny as hell! I fell in love with him because he made me laugh. And even as life became more complicated and serious, we never lost that connection, that goofiness and silliness that made every situation easier to bear.
I feel compelled to share here because I am not quite sure what the future looks like. Certainly for the near term, I will be scaling back my time on All Day I Dream About Food so I can focus on my family and my grief. You will still see posts and recipes from me, but I don’t quite know with what frequency. I will be taking the easy route, updating older posts and sharing simple recipes. I have a backlog of some already that I can share over the next few weeks. I also have help with my social media and I am every so grateful to Stephanie, who has taken over my Facebook page completely for now.
Then again, I may decide to lose myself in the process of baking and create some amazing keto cakes. I honestly don’t know what I want or what I need right now. But I ask that you give me grace for not answering your questions in a timely fashion.
How you can help
I am so fortunate to have created an amazing community of readers and followers, some of whom have been with me for over a decade. I know many of you will want to help in some way. And I am grateful for your thoughts and your kindness.
The best thing you can do is keep coming to my website, reading my posts (both new and old), and sharing my posts on social media. Share to groups, share with friends, and pin my recipes to your Pinterest boards. This website has been my family’s source of income for many years now and views will generate much needed ad revenue. I know that ads can be cumbersome, but I ask that you take time to scroll through each post a little bit.
Another great way to help me is to purchase my cookbooks. In particular, pre-order my upcoming book, The Protein Advantage. I will not have much time to promote it now, but it’s something I worked so hard on. I would love to see it succeed and pre-orders make a huge difference to the overall sales of the book. It helps retailers decide how many copies they want to keep on their shelves. And I can assure you, it’s a book worthy of your time.
Thank you for reading. If you are a spiritual person, please send up some thoughts for the wonderful Tim Ketchum. He was a light in the world and touched so many people. I can say confidently that if you had met him, you would have loved him.
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
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Oh my heart breaks for you and your precious children. I will continue lifting up you and your family to God’s throne of grace for His peace, comfort, and direction through this most devastating loss. Asking the Holy Spirit to continue coming alongside you to hold you up when you don’t have the strength yourself as our Lord God keeps His loving arms around you and your children
🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
I am so very sorry, Carolyn. Jim Carrey once said: Grief is not just an emotion—it’s an unraveling, a space where something once lived but is now gone. It carves through you, leaving a hollow ache where love once resided.
In the beginning, it feels unbearable, like a wound that will never close. But over time, the raw edges begin to mend. The pain softens, but the imprint remains—a quiet reminder of what once was. The truth is, you never truly “move on.” You move with it. The love you had does not disappear; it transforms. It lingers in the echoes of laughter, in the warmth of old memories, in the silent moments where you still reach for what is no longer there. And that’s okay.
Grief is not a burden to be hidden. It is not a weakness to be ashamed of. It is the deepest proof that love existed, that something beautiful once touched your life. So let yourself feel it. Let yourself mourn. Let yourself remember.
There is no timeline, no “right” way to grieve. Some days will be heavy, and some will feel lighter. Some moments will bring unexpected waves of sadness, while others will fill you with gratitude for the love you were lucky enough to experience.
Honor your grief, for it is sacred. It is a testament to the depth of your heart. And in time, through the pain, you will find healing—not because you have forgotten, but because you have learned how to carry both love and loss together.
❤️
Prayers for you and your family. Thank you sharing with us. I will continue us to use your delicious recip and visit your website.. Your recipes have made my type 1 carb loving daughter’s life better. I look forward to the new cookbook as we try to eat more protein.
My heart goes out to you and your children. I have been following your blog since 2015 and some of my favorites have been about your travel adventures with Tim. Thank you for having the courage to share. Be easy on yourself during your grief/healing and do what’s right for you and your family. Your supporters will be here whenever you’re ready.
I am so sorry for your pain.
My prayers are with you and your family.
Carolyn, I am so saddened to read this! My heart and prayers go out to you and your family, this is devastating. I too lost my husband suddenly, not quite as sudden, but we only had 4 months from the time we learned he had glioblastoma. He will have been gone 10 years on July 2nd. It’s a long hard road with no easy out. Give yourself lots of time to process and heal. We love you and you have given us so much, we lack for nothing. I ask Jesus to wrap your heart tightly in His love. I will keep you all in my prayers! ❤️🩹😘
I am so, so incredibly saddened and heartbroken to hear this, Carolyn. My deepest condolences to you and your family, and I wish you all courage and strength through the difficult days ahead. My thoughts and best wishes are with all of you.
(PS. Book pre-ordered (I meant to do it ages ago!) from the UK, and I’ll try and get hold of all of your books here – I have the baking one already)
Dear Carolyn, I am so very sorry to hear this. Sending condolences and prayers to you and your family. Please take all the time you need to deal with your grief and to take care of yourself and your family. I’ve been following you for about 5 years, and can’t thank you enough for all that you do for everyone. Your recipes are amazing and life-saving. I recommend you to everyone, and will continue to do so. May Tim rest in peace, and may memories of him be a blessing to you and your children.
I am so so sorry for your loss. Take whatever time you need and do what is best for you and your children. God knows your needs even when you don’t, and He will provide.
I am so very sorry!!! Prayers for you and your family. You are loved!
I am so very heartbroken for you. May you and your family find peace. Thank you for all that you do.
Dear Carolyn, these are words one never wants to hear. My deepest condolence to you and your family. May your God wrap his arms around you and guide you in your grief and future plans. Take one day at a time… And give yourself time to make decisions.
My heart is breaking for you and your family. You will be in my prayers.
So sorry for your loss. There are no words to adequately express the loss of a beloved one.
No words, Carolyn. I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing this with your readership. My thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
My prayers go out to you and your family. So sorry for your loss.