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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I am a widow of three years. I am so very sorry for your loss. Your grief journey is YOURS, and no one can tell you how to feel or what to do. I found comfort in the trinity of God/Jesus/HolySpirit and I found that without the amazing, precious gift of LOVE there would be NO grief at all. So even at the very core of grief I found the heart of the Father and His precious gift of LOVE. Cherish your beautiful memories created with your loved one and may they be a great source of comfort for the precious time you shared together.
Carolyn,
I am so sorry about the loss of your husband. I have depended on your website and have purchased many of your cookbooks. They are our go-to for great keto recipes. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Jenny.
So sorry! Sending you love and light in this difficult time.
I’m so sorry to hear of Tim’s passing. Tim will be missed by many, especially by you and your children Carolyn. We who love you and your fabulous recipes will wait for your return. Prayers and loving thoughts are with you all.
I am so sorry for your families loss. I understand how a time like this can be. Praying for you and your children and your families❤️ just one moment at a time
My heart goes out to you and your family. May God uphold you in your sadness and grief.
Dear Carolyn,
My heartfelt condolences to you and your family during this difficult time. May you find solace and peace in the coming days and let the love and support of those around you lift you up. I send love, prayers and hugs. ❤️🙏♥️ The memories of someone as special as your husband will live on forever.
(I am going to check out your new book.)
Oh Carolyn
I am so sorry to hear about Tim. I know you will get lots of advice so I’ll be brief.
Just know that grief is different for every individual. There is really no wrong way to grieve. I will say that when you are ready check out “Grief Share”. It was so helpful for me to know that the things I was feeling were normal.
I’m pray for you and the kids.
Susan
Carolyn, may the peace of God be with you in these very hard and difficult moments. If you have an opportunity, buy a book titled EMBRACED BY THE LIGHT. It gave me so much peace when my sister passed. Take time for yourself, cry, laugh walk, talk to friends and relatives and even a therapist, don’t keep to yourself and don’t stay alone, seek support. We will keep checking your videos and page to support you, and when you’re feeling better, come back we will welcome you back and cheer you on.
In time I hope your memories of him bring a smile to you and your family. For now grieve how you need to and take your time. Sending love and light.
I am very sorry for your loss and the grief you suffer. If I could I would tell you that he is always with you
I will continue to support you as you have been the help I’ve needed to help my eating without sugar. Thank you.
I’m very sorry for your loss. My prayers go out to you and your family!
I am so sorry to hear this tragic news. I hope you find some comfort in the wonderful memories you and your family shared over the years. You have my deepest condolences. Please take all the time you need. We will be here when you are ready.
I am so, so sorry for your loss.
My Deepest Sympathy to You and your family.
It will be very hard to be without Tim and hopefully you can take comfort with your children. I am so sorry. Please take the time for yourself and your children.
I am heartbroken for You and your children. It must be devastating for you all. I am praying for you and your children. Love, Hugs and Prayers to you.
So heartbreaking. Please take all the time you need. I will continue to visit your website. I love your recipes and look forward to purchasing your latest Protein Advantage cookbook. Sending prayers to you and your children.
Carolyn…
My heart is broken for you and your children. Losing someone you love is beyond imagining until it happens to you. May God hold you and all who love Tim close to His heart and comfort you as you find your way in this new reality.
Much love to you all