Oh, how I wish it were different!
The odd bits that break my heart-
The moment my three living children are in the family room, joking and laughing-but his voice is so obviously missing.
The moment I say to one son, “Have you texted your brother?” and don’t have to give a name, because there is only one brother left to text.
The moment I go down the list of who-I-have-heard-from-in-the-last-24-hours and it is short a single name. I know where Dominic is.
The moment I realize that it has been three years (!) since I bought him a present, asked him for a Christmas wish list, checked in to check his schedule so I can arrange family dinners and holiday get togethers.
The moment I count plates or cups or places at the table-always one less, always one empty chair.
Yes, there are good days.
Yes, I am so very thankful for each moment I have with the ones left.
But if counting blessings is supposed to undo my heartache I must be doing it all wrong.
If focusing on the “now” is a way to ignore the “then” I need more practice.
No matter how hard I try, I cannot get over the hurdle of wanting things to be like they were.
I am not ungrateful. I cherish every single second we are together.
I hold every farewell close to my heart.
I make a mental picture of the face, the smile, the wave-because when you learn the hard way that this time might be the last time-you don’t take anything for granted.
I cling to the promise that one day we will be reunited.
But right now, it’s hard.
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thelifeididntchoose 
Yesterday my youngest son – Ryan’s baby brother, almost by 4 years – had a birthday. He became the age at which Ryan died….. the age at which Ryan became “frozen” forever. Nick is now where Ryan left us. It’s hit us hard,
harder than we were prepared for. But then again, all of us who gather here online….. well, we know there’s absolutely no way to prepare for these events. I love that Nick is HERE; I will always hate that Ryan is NOT.
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Yes! It was only 2 years for Julian to catch Dominic. It’s bizarre and wrong all over again in a new and newly painful way. ❤
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Two are still not enough 💔
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Me too! My son, the youngest of four, my baby. This will be four years and I think it’s getting worse instead of better. It’s been another year without him.
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I am thankful that by doing the work grief requires and holding on to hope, the Lord has helped my heart learn to live with this great burden. Sorrow is no longer all I feel and my son’s absence is no longer all I see. May the Lord strengthen you so that you can hold on as well and may He overwhelm your heart with HIs love,grace and mercy. ❤
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Same here….”right now it’s hard”. May God bless and comfort all of “us” this holiday season! ❤
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I guess this is something I should have thought of sooner in my now 6 month journey, but it just occurred to me last night that my only other living child will never be an uncle and it made me angry. I’ve mourned not having any grandchildren from my oldest, but this was a new thought and it just reminded me how much we both have lost. I am accepting it…I have no choice, but I will never be ok with it.
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Such a hansome, kind looking young man! I just had Seth Daniels third birthday and fourth anniversary in Heaven. I feel that I’m turning a Corning on this grief journey, just not sure where it will lead me. I too cling to the promise of our reunion. I pray everyday for those who have lost a child/children and am thankful that God knows each one by name and knows their needs. May you get a Heaven wink today ❤️
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I’m praying for you this morning, Melanie, asking God to hold you close.
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Thank you Lisa. You are a faithful friend.
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