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Liliana Henao Holmes

About Liliana Henao Holmes

HOLA, Bienvenid@s!
Welcome to this Widowed Warriors Wednesday corner, where I pour my bleeding heart out each week. I’m so glad you’re here, and I’m so sorry that you had to.

On December 3, 2023, my beautiful husband, Horace Riley Holmes Jr., died after living fully for three years with terminal brain cancer. I don't have to tell you this, but life since has been a journey of grief, rebirth, and learning how to breathe again.
Who am I? That is a great question! And one I’m still answering in the aftermath of utter loss and devastation. This is what I got so far: I’m a mostly sane, youngish widowed mom to two amazing teen humans (most days 😄) and one sweet Border Collie/Lab mix 🐾. I’m learning how to live fully again, one small, slow step at a time.

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, raised in Mexico, and now rooted in the USA, I’m a journalist by trade, storyteller by heart, and a dancer, singer, and comedian in my dreams. I love salsa 💃🏽, laughter 😂, the beach 🏝️, deep friendships 🥰, and I am intentional about creating moments of joy.
My kids are my world. Faith, Framily, and Fun are my anchors. Most days, I choose to keep dancing, laughing, and living. And sometimes, I sit in the suck. Both are sacred.

I hope my sharing brings comfort and validation to your journey.

Would you say hola in the comments? I’d love to know your name, where you’re reading from, and the name of your person. Or simply share whatever you need to get off your chest. I'm ready!

🖤🤍❤️‍🩹 Wanna get in touch? Email [email protected] 🖤🤍❤️‍🩹

WARNING ⚠️ Super Long & Vulnerable Post Ahead ➡️

Posted on: August 12, 2026 | Posted by: Liliana Henao Holmes

It finally happened! It was in the ice cream aisle at the grocery store. My very own first scene of the next rom-com Hallmark blockbuster 🤣 Last week I went to the grocery store to buy a few things because we had nothing. We had just gotten back from our trip, exhausted but, lo bailado nadie […]

Categories: Widowed, Widowed Parenting, Widowed and Healing, Widowed Emotions, Widowed Community

I (YOU) Will Survive ❤️‍🩹

Posted on: August 5, 2026 | Posted by: Liliana Henao Holmes

“At first I was afraid, I was petrifiedThinking I could live without you by my side” Meet my girlfriends Lizzie, widowed for six years, has three amazing teenage and young adult boys. Evelyn has been divorced for more than ten years and has one amazing teenage daughter and one spunky, super-cool tween son 😎. The […]

Categories: Widowed, Widowed Parenting, Widowed and Healing, Widowed Emotions, Widowed Community, Widowed by Illness, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

Light Summer Reading 📚

Posted on: July 29, 2026 | Posted by: Liliana Henao Holmes

The Wild Edge of Sorrow This book has been sitting on my nightstand for months. I love reading, yet that’s another thing that took a back seat to trauma and grief. I finally started reading the book today. As I lay on the sand and opened the book, I laughed to myself. “Wow, girl… you’re […]

Categories: Widowed, Widowed Parenting, Widowed and Healing, Widowed Emotions, Widowed Community, Widowed by Illness, Uncategorized

Permission to Be/Come 😊

Posted on: July 22, 2026 | Posted by: Liliana Henao Holmes

I feel like I barely finished our summer travel plans, and the summer is almost over. Two and a half years after my loss, I’m still having to remind myself of how much energy everything takes. It has gotten better, but man… this process feels so slow sometimes!!! Subconsciously, I think the more I’m able […]

Categories: Widowed, Widowed Parenting, Widowed and Healing, Widowed Emotions, Widowed Therapy, Widowed by Illness

I Demand a Full Refund 💵

Posted on: July 15, 2026 | Posted by: Liliana Henao Holmes

I Did Not Order This Life 📦 Nope! not even by mistake. I want my old life back. Week started as a downer for all three of us, each for different reasons. Our daughter was devastated because she finally landed a gymnastics skill she’d been working on for months. But when she tried it again […]

Categories: Widowed, Widowed Parenting, Widowed Emotions, Widowed by Illness, Uncategorized

From the Battlefield 🇺🇸

Posted on: July 8, 2026 | Posted by: Liliana Henao Holmes

    Since the end of the school year, in the third week of June, our 17-year-old boy had been itching to get out of town on a day trip or road trip, but we had all been way too tired… until now. Specifically, he wanted to go to Gettysburg, PA, to a tiny but […]

Categories: Widowed, Widowed Parenting, Widowed Effect on Family/Friends, Widowed Memories, Widowed and Healing, Widowed Holidays, Widowed Emotions, Widowed by Illness, Uncategorized

Boundaries? What’s That? 😫

Posted on: July 1, 2026 | Posted by: Liliana Henao Holmes

Hola, fellow grieving friends. First and, of obvious utmost importance, 🇲🇽 Mexico’ soccer team made it to the Octavos de Final in the World Cup ⚽️ yesterday and now I’m thinking we could actually win this thing 🏆!!! Ok, maybe not. Most likely not, but still, it is really fun to dream! Ok. This past week […]

Categories: Widowed, Widowed Parenting, Widowed Emotions, Widowed by Illness, Uncategorized

Grief Hangover?🍸

Posted on: June 24, 2026 | Posted by: Liliana Henao Holmes

Never Have I Ever… Been drunk in my life. Never, ever, ever, ever. Yep, you heard it here first, folks!!! And I’m thinking that right about now would be a great time to add that ⬆️ to my to-done list ✅. So technically, I don’t know what a hangover really feels like. But if I […]

Categories: Widowed, Widowed Parenting, Widowed Emotions, Widowed Signs from Loved One, Widowed by Illness, Uncategorized

Happy Birthday, Mi Amor ❤️‍🩹

Posted on: June 17, 2026 | Posted by: Liliana Henao Holmes

Hi, baby. It’s me. I’m sorry I haven’t written to you until now. But I know you know. I tried and I just couldn’t. My heart too broken, the pain too deep, the rage too strong. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. It’s funny. Well, not haha funny, but you know what I mean. […]

Categories: Widowed, Widowed Parenting, Widowed Memories, Widowed Birthdays, Widowed Emotions, Widowed by Illness, Uncategorized

The Kids Are Alright 🙅🏻‍♂️🙅🏻‍♀️

Posted on: June 10, 2026 | Posted by: Liliana Henao Holmes

But… are they? 😮‍💨 I’ve hit another one of those walls where I have a lot to write about, but so much that my brain can’t decide what to focus on. Truth is, in this family, we are ALL literally crawling to the end of the school year. Yep, our last day is June 18. […]

Categories: Widowed, Widowed Parenting, Widowed Effect on Family/Friends, Widowed and Healing, Widowed Emotions, Widowed Community, Widowed by Illness

I Did a Thing 🫣

Posted on: June 3, 2026 | Posted by: Liliana Henao Holmes

Tuesday 5.26.26 🗓️ I went on my first date since my husband died. It came with all of it. All the feelings. I was really excited and proud of myself for choosing to do it and heartbroken all over again that I had to. It was coffee with a tall and handsome guy who approached […]

Categories: Widowed, Widowed Memories, Widowed and Healing, Widowed Milestones, Widowed Emotions, Widowed Community, Widowed by Illness, Uncategorized

Repeat After Me…👩🏻‍🏫

Posted on: May 27, 2026 | Posted by: Liliana Henao Holmes

I’m a Bad🤨$$, you’re a Bad🤨$$, we are ALL Bad🤨$$es!!! The past few weeks have left me exhausted and depleted, once again. Yes, there has been some joy and fun, but between planning my daughter’s 13th birthday party, surviving another Mother’s Day, my daughter’s trip to Puerto Rico, and a few other energy-consuming events, this Memorial […]

Categories: Widowed, Widowed and Healing, Widowed Emotions, Widowed Therapy, Widowed by Illness

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