Our family has never been the “go somewhere for the holidays” sort. We tend to stick close to home, to what’s familiar, to routine and regular bedtimes.
But lately life has thrown us a number of curveballs. And we are learning to swing at them instead of just letting them lob past us.
So just after Christmas, the four of us that were together in Alabama took a drive down to Florida to spend time with our oldest son and his wife in their new home.
We spent New Year’s Eve on a windy dog beach enjoying waves and walks and friendly strangers whose mutts came over to sniff ours.
Seafood and people watching at a nearby restaurant sitting outside in the breezy cool topped off a lovely day.
I’m learning to live with Dominic’s absence.
I’m (almost) used to photographs of my three surviving children documenting adventures that don’t include his smiling face and raucous antics. I’m trying to recapture the joy of his life and not dwell as much on the fact and circumstances of his death.
I can look forward a little further on a calendar. I can plan a bit more. My heart finds some satisfaction again in hosting friends and family for special occasions or no occasion at all.
In a word, I’m “better”.
Not healed-never healed (past tense)-until heaven.
But oh, so thankful for the days I have to spend with the family I have left.
I don’t know if Dominic can see us from where he is, but if he can’t, we’ll have lots to tell him when we get there.
One day closer.
Thank you for sharing what the Lord is doing in your time of loss. We look forward to reading how you will grow in faith through these times with your present family. Have a blessed week. ~ Fran
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Thank you
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My favorite lines:
“I’m better.”
and
“One day closer.”
Continue to stand firm and hold fast to your faith, Melanie. It’s an encouragement to all.
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Love your words x I’ve just written some words of our travels with not having my son in the world and how I felt his presence in the photos I took. It’s a hard time feeling and knowing their absence during special family moments capturing new memories with the camera without them in the shots.
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