Oh there is no place like home for the Holidays

Unless you are Faithie... Her home isn't our home anymore.  I wish it was.  God I'm over this heart pain that inflicts itself on me.  Stupid pain.  Stupid death.  Stupid absence.  Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

I hate Christmas time.  It is not a new hate.  Ever since I was a little girl I've come to expect the unexpected at this time of year.  It usually wasn't nice either.

There were so many Christmas I hear my father yell at my mom and call her horrible names.  I would hear her scream and cry as he hit her or the wall next to her.  I would wake up to a messy house as proof of the night fight.  There would be holes in the walls, plates broken and one time a 55 gallon fish tank full of water and fish was tipped over and destroyed.

My mom, brother and I spent at least 3 Christmas' at my grandparents because my dad was arrested the night before.  He was always arrested for domestic violence and released the next day.  His dad, my grandfather, would pay his bail and my mom would end up dropping the charges.  It was such a fun cycle watching as I grew up.

I learned to completely distrust and dislike my grandfather and my father.  My grandfather, James Carlton Krell, was supposed to protect his children and grandchildren.  He was a failure.  He failed my dad and his siblings when his wife beat them constantly.  He failed them when she sexually assaulted them and verbally assaulted.  He ran away and hid.  When they finally divorced he had custody of my dad and his little brother and to compensate for his guilt of failing him as a child he allowed his two sons to become alcoholics at the ripe age of 12 and 14.  Big round of applause Jim Krell.  You were a steller parent.

Now he has sons and daughters addicted to drugs and drinking.  They are all mean when they drink and become so abusive.  My grandfather would always bail them out of jail or whatever stupid stuff they got involved in.  He should have made them learn so they wouldn't do it again.  So that is why I learned to distrust him and dislike him.  He never once protected anyone. I can honestly say he has been harder to forgive than my own father.

So back to Christmas time.... My dad would never seem to disappoint by getting drunk a few times during the month of December.  I never felt safe at Christmas.

As an adult I find Christmas to be too much hype and hustle and bustle.  The greed of Christmas is so great and the crabbiness and people just buying to buy irritates me.  I despise most Hallmark sappy "it's a Christmas miracle" movies.  There have been a few though that I have watched and enjoyed.  My favorite Christmas movies I will watch every year are Elf and It's a Wonderful Life.

Once I married into a Christmas loving family, I let some of the wall around my heart start to fall.  Jamie and his family took me Christmas tree shopping the year before we were married and I was like what is the point of this.... They made laugh and almost begin to enjoy the season.  I'm thankful for my husband's family.

We then had children and I allowed myself to get into the spirit a bit.  It was fun watching the kids open presents.  We would follow Jamie's family tradition of opening a few gifts an hour to make Christmas last.  My family growing up would just open up gifts at 6 am and by 6:30 am my dad would throw the tree out the door, sometimes with the decorations still on it.

I can say I am not scared of fights at this time of year anymore and that watching my kids does bring me joy.

After Faithie died I have gone through the emotions.  The first Christmas I don't really remember much.  We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas night at my grandparents for a change.  It was nice.

Last year I think we were at my in laws but I don't remember much.

This year I am feeling very scroogey.  I don't want to put up a tree or celebrate.  I just want to skip the day.  It's because this year I am feeling the lack of Faithie and it hurts.  Oh it hurts so much.  My husband and I will go through the motions and give the boys a nice day but we both wish for December 26th.  In fact we really wish it was November 6th, 2014 and we wish we could skip the 7th and keep Faithie with us.

So I know there is no place like home for the holidays but geez I wish my home was with my whole family not one missing.

Dear Faith, it's Daddy

Hey Faith How's Heaven? I can only imagine how beautiful it is. Mommy wishes she could be there with you. She misses you terribly. We talk about you often. Halloween is coming in a few days. Mommy may dress up as what you always wanted to be, a beautiful witch.

I've been working 1/2 days for about a month now trying to reset myself dealing with the PTSD. Mommy doesn't think it's helping, but I do. She wants me to go back to work full time. It all has to do with one of her biggest regret and worry. 

What is that regret and worry?  It’s money and it  actually started off right after you died.  People didn't know what to do so they gave us money to do what we wanted with it. Every time mom looked at banking the money reminded her of you being gone.  She saw it as "death money".  She wanted it gone. Mommy was extremely grateful to everyone who helped us during this time with the money.

We did a lot of good with the money, we were able to pay cash for car we needed to replace. It was weird eating at home without you, so we would go out to eat. We went out to eat a lot. We would tip the servers anywhere from 20%-200% of the bill. We sent friends on a trip so he could see his sister for the first time ever.  We bought Christmas presents for kids and families in need. I replaced our broken dishwasher with a new one. We put shower doors in to replace the curtains. We paid many bills and we bought your headstone. Mommy thinks we blew the money, I don't think so.  

We just didn't put anything in a rainy day fund (savings account). Knowing our family it seems like it's raining more than the sun is out and the money is all gone now. 

It seems like it's the only thing she thinks/worries about. Now that we don't have money it's really been raining, more like a torrential downpour. The heating element in the oven went out, the heat was shut off for a day (Glad that's back on because it's starting to get cold), the dishwasher tube was clogged, the roof over your room leaked and ruined the ceiling, AND now the brakes are going out of the car.  

What will be next? Only God knows.

Your Papa is coming tomorrow to help with the brakes. I'm gonna have your brother,  Trever help him. He is much better at teaching your brothers than he did with me and my brother. Trever will be driving before we know it and I'd like him to know more about cars than I do. Thanks for listening.  I Love you Faith.

Love,
Daddy 

Sunset to the Unspoken

1. SUNRISE DEDICATION Let us celebrate the beginning of this healing month by waking up early to watch the sunrise wherever we in the world. Step outside into the fresh air and take some time to breathe the sunrise in. Watch all of the colours of your world transform before your eyes.  Spend some time reflecting upon what you want your intention for this month to be. Maybe even come up with a word for your intention so that you can write it down and revisit it each day. 

What do I want this month to be about for me?  My Jamie isn't going to do this with me because his therapist thinks it will bring up triggers for him and she's warned him it could the do the same to me.  It could trigger depression.  Jamie has warned me everyday since Monday to be very, very careful about walking through this month.  I don't know if it will.  I think anything at this point might trigger depression.  Today I am fine.  I don't know what "Word" I want to represent this journey.  I'm not sure what I want to get out of this.  I just know that I'm going to keep plugging away. I truly don't know if I should heed Jamie's warning.  I'm not sure if this sharing is to help me or maybe just to give you all the inside on what I go through.  I do know that I lost a child and I want everyone to remember her ALWAYS and FOREVER!!

So this is my sunrise.  Jamie and I were up all night last night.  We all drove together to take Elijah to school and this is the sunrise I saw when we came back home. I think it is beautiful.

Sunrise outside my porch

So I'm no good at waking up in the morning.  It is not something I enjoy but alas I do it because I must get my family off to their separate places.  My Faithie was not easy to wake up in the morning.  She was so much like her Daddy in this department.  There would be many days she would go crawl into my bed and snuggle with Jamie until I had to force her up for school. Oh the days.  I really miss them.   Since I don't really like waking up I have not been able to do the Sunrise day.  Today was the day and I think it was a perfect Sunrise.

My Princess not wanting to wake up

5. THE UNSPOKEN | Normalizing grief is so important and that I why today I am calling upon those who feel brave enough to speak about the nitty gritty side of grief. Share something about your grief journey that you might feel is strange or not common. It might be something you do to remember your children by or maybe it is something you fear about the future. Often while grieving we have feelings of isolation because we fear judgement that what we are feeling isn’t normal. But it is amazing to see just how many people feel the same way. When others stand up and express how they feel through sharing their experiences, it allows us to say “Hey, I feel that way too!” and the fear of feeling like we are crazy is lifted and in some cases embraced!

Hmm the Unspoken of grief.  What can I say about this? I have been pretty candid over the last 23 months and I think that has helped many people to understand what is going on with Jamie and me and our boys.

Here are some tidbits I may have not shared.  I often want to run away from my boys and hide.  But the very idea of being away from them more than 2 days suffocates me.  

I have been the care taker in our home this past almost 2 years.  My sweet husband is suffering from PTSD with Major Depression.  He tries when he can and is thankfully seeking help weekly to continue to move forward.  He feels so much guilt sometimes because he thinks he killed "My daughter," the my being me, his wife.

I don't want this to come across as conceited or arrogant so please don't judge me on this next statement.  In this house I'm the strong one who continues to push us forward.  It is in my genetic makeup.  I don't want to be the strong to be honest.  I wish it wasn't in me.  I wish I could just cry every single day and hide under my covers.  I wish I looked like a grieving mom.

There are days I cry but not all the time

What does that mean? Look like a grieving mom?  I often feel so incredibly guilty that I can move forward every day.  I feel so much empathy for those other moms who struggle daily to move. They cannot focus on their family but just their grief.  They struggle with the day to day. You can tell by their red rimmed eyes they are struggling to keep the tears from constantly flowing.  My heart wants to wrap my arms around them and squeeze them and take away their pain.  

For some reason I've never been able to grieve like this.  For the first 19 months I was in a state of numbness.  There were days of crying but I was able to work through it.  I don't remember much from that time period.  I just knew I had to be strong.  I'm never going to be that mom who lives in a state of grief, but I wish I could have been at times.  Why would I wish that?  I think so I can feel normal about my journey.  This journey has felt too calm.  

It makes me feel like people think I've just moved on and forgotten.  Or that I am cold because I don't break down.  It is not me. I don't think it ever will be.  To those sweet beautiful moms who struggle one breath and one day at a time.  I love you.

And to me love me and accept that my grief journey will always be different.  Heather Maire also learn to let go of the guilt.   

I'm not always "Strong" but I will keep moving forward.  I have two handsome boys and a gorgeous husband who rely on me.  And I think I would not have it any other way most days.

Support Circles

4. SUPPORT CIRCLES | Have you felt supported in this journey of grief and healing? Maybe it is a friend, family member or organization that has been there for you. Share how they have helped you and let them know how grateful you are. Please feel welcome to post links if you would like to share about a charity or support group.

Our first family photo without our Princess

How do I write about the support that came to us?  When Faithie first passed away we had so much support coming out of our ears.

Our amazing neighbor put together a "GoFundMe" account and meal sign ups for us.  It was beautiful.  Sarah has a special place in my heart forever by the way she allowed God to use her.  When the news media wanted to put their noses into things she spoke for us telling the area we forgave Matthew, "The Kid"  

Over the last 2 years she beautifully showed me she remembered Faithie.  The first was a purple leather bracelet with Faith's name and birthday and heaven date engraved on it.  I love it.  The second time was on Faith's birthday this year.  She had picked some beautiful flowers out of her garden and brought them to me.  She said she remembered Faithie every time she saw the purple flowers bloom.  I know we are not everyday friends but I will always have a place in my heart.  

Our church supported us, or more like our pastor.  He was there every step.  He was there with his wife that night at the hospital.  Adam was there at the funeral home to help us prepare for the worst part.  He encouraged me to go see Faithie at the visitation.  He put together a band and had them play Faith's favorite song "God's Not Dead."  He let us come in at random times just to talk.  I've appreciated his support in the beginning.

My amazing Gardner cousins all showed up for us. Sandee even came with her girlfriend, Amy, from Iowa!  That meant so much to me and Jamie that they came from so far away.  I am not blood related to the Gardners but they have always accepted me as their own.  I've never been the ugly headed step cousins, step niece or step granddaughter.  This family has always been there for each other.  I love every single member of my Gardner family.  We still talk every day on FaceBook.  My aunts check on me lots and I know they will never forget Faithie.

My parents were not really there for me.  I won't go into details but it hurt and still hurts.  

My favorite in laws were there.  They never left our sides.  Jim is the father I never had and Melanie is my 2nd mom.  They were with us for the funeral arrangements.  They stayed with us for that first Christmas.  They even visit us more than before.  In fact we've asked them many times to come live with us part time and Josh and Brooke part time.  That is how awesome of a support they've been.  They don't treat me as just a daughter in law but as a daughter.  Jim and Elijah have really helped heal each other through creating different weapons.  They soak up their grandkids with an amazing love that I wish my parents had with them.  I'm so thankful for their support and how they continue to do so.

Elijah hates kissing and here he is oblivious to his Papa and Mema

My other support that has stuck through thick and thin so far are my 3 girls.  We call ourselves the Fab 4 because well we're just that awesome.  Tish, Jerri, and Cheri took over the role my parents should have been doing.  They protected me from things, helped clean my house, helped clean my preteen's bedroom.  Sorry girls for that.  I cannot imagine how yuck that was.  

The girls stayed with me for 4 days and Jerri even longer.  We messaged each other everyday after we all went our separate ways. There was almost a fight but we worked it out and I would not trade these girls for anyone.  I love them so much and they stayed my friends after some just left.

My brother and Sister in law has been in our system too.  They were able to leave Alaska and come be with us for a month.  Whenever we are together we have a good time.  We also are supporting each other as they lost their son, Gideon, at 12 weeks gestation last October.  Brooke and I are able to be open and honest with our gritty emotions.  I'm thankful for them.  I just wish they lived closer.

So this was and still is my support system.  I have had to learn to let go of some people who were there in the beginning but became "Too Busy" with their lives to stick around. It hurts like as much as my parents not really being there did.  BUT if I keep lamenting on those failed support systems I'll miss the beautiful ones I have right now.  And those are keepers!!

I've also developed a new friendship with Carrie from church.  That has taken me years to do that.  We are now both supports to each other as she has suffered from a miscarriage.  We do lunch once or twice monthly and enjoy each other's company.  I'm thankful God brought someone in my life to replace the ones who walked out.  I need to get a picture of her and me....

Oh and if you're wondering why no Day 1 or Day 3, I couldn't do them.  They were too hard and this project isn't meant to be stressful or hard. So a heads up I might not do every day.

Capture Your Grief: Day 2

Day 2. WHO THEY ARE | Share about your beautiful children today. Who are they? When were they born? How long did you have them for? What is their name? Share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with.

What is my beautiful daughter's name?  

For the first 8 1/2 months of my pregnancy our daughter's name was Emma Grace.  Before she was born Jamie and I both decided that the name didn't suit our princess anymore.  

Jamie printed off two copies of the top 1000 names for girls in 2002.  He said "Highlight what you like and I'll do the same thing.  Then we will put together a name." After a few minutes Jamie said only one name out loud. We knew it was our Princess' name right away: Faith Elizabeth.  It just fit perfectly. Until the day she left us her name was very fitting of her.

She was also know to us a "Baby Girl," "Princess," "Beautiful," and "Faithie."

When was she born?

Faithie loved where she was, snuggled and safe inside her Momma's womb. Her Daddy, Mommy and Midwife encouraged her to come out at 41weeks 4days.  Through the magic of medicine and many prayers she finally arrived at 2:32 pm.  Faith was my only child to be born vaginally.  I was able to feel her head as she was entering the world.  My eyes instantly filled with tears of joy.  She was immediately placed on my chest unlike her brothers as they were born via C-Section.  I can't explain what took place right there but I knew without a shadow of a doubt I was over joyed at having a girl.  (I was scared at first most of my pregnancy about having a daughter.)  

How long did you have them for?

Faithie lived with us for 10 beautiful, trying, loving, learning filled years.  She died instantly in a car crash.  A young man of 24 didn't see my husband coming and pulled out in front of Jamie and Faithie.  The crash killed her instantly.  Her Daddy survived with a broken collar bone and 2 broken ribs.  He also is suffering from PTSD with major depression.  He feels like he failed his Princess by not saving her.  We wish she had lived longer than 10 years.

Who are they?

Faith was our princess and she knew it.  She knew how loved she was.  When she was 2 she was diagnosed with Autism and started school way before I was ready.  I remember crying her first day of school.  

From school finally learned how to find her voice and was able to conquer speech.  We were so blessed.

Faith was loved in her elementary school.  When we had her visitation so many students from her school came to talk to us and many teachers.  She brought joy.  The students wrote down memories of Faithie and a popular one was how she loved to give out high fives until your hand hurt and encourage you.  

Elijah says "Faithie was a loving person.  She was helpful."

Trever says "She was kind."

TO Jamie she was his princess.  She was always the first one to greet him at the door when he came home from work.  Faith was the first person she carried an actual conversation with on the phone too. It was about 2 years before she passed away.  Jamie was so full of emotion that he told me he pulled off the road and cried tears of joy.

TO me Faithie was my world.  I battled for her constantly and battled with her constantly.  She hung on me all the time and loved me greatly.  When I would leave the house she'd run after me to go.  If I wanted to go somewhere alone I'd have to sneak out of the house.  Oh I wish that was the case today.

Faithie is one of my greatest heroes.  I will always remember and love her. Her Daddy and brothers will too.

Capture Your Grief

This month is Child Loss/ Pregnancy Loss/ Infant Loss awareness.  For many people it is an uncomfortable subject to talk about.  I've heard from so many people words and phrases like, "Sorry" "oh" "I'm afraid to make you cry" and so forth.

Jamie and I have dealt with loss of friendships since Faithie passed away.  It has crushed our spirits many times over.  We wish our friends would have been able to withstand the uncomfortableness of child loss.

This month Jamie and I are going to do this "Capture your Grief".  Today was a Sunrise Dedication.  Here is what we were supposed to do: 

1. SUNRISE DEDICATION Let us celebrate the beginning of this healing month by waking up early to watch the sunrise wherever we in the world. Step outside into the fresh air and take some time to breathe the sunrise in. Watch all of the colours of your world transform before your eyes.  Spend some time reflecting upon what you want your intention for this month to be. Maybe even come up with a word for your intention so that you can write it down and revisit it each day. If there is no visible sunrise in your part of the world because of the weather, that is okay, this is life and mother nature. All that matters is that you take the time out of your day to be with us all in spirit and make space for a new beginning. Take a photograph of your sunrise where you are right now and if you post it online share what State/Country you are in and the time of the sunrise. You can google the sunrise time in your part of the world and set your alarm if you are a sleepy head like me. Send some love out to everyone else in the world who is grieving the death of a child and remember those gone before us who were made to grieve in silence. We honour these people too.

We missed Day One.  I must admit in our lives we have never been very good at wanting to rise in the morning, especially Jamie.  Tomorrow we've decided to start this journey together.  I look forward to it.  I'm hoping it'll bring us even closer and allow each of us to show the other our silent grief. 

What do I mean by silent grief?  I mean we don't always share our tears with each other or our thoughts.  We too sometimes do what others to do us; forget to share because of being afraid to upset the other and make them cry.  

SO that is what I hope gain the most from this....

We may skip a day or two but as long as we do it together....

Faithie's Room

Worst sight right now 😢 Faithie your ceiling is getting fixed today and we had to empty your room.  The curtains made years ago and up until today were taken down.

I would be fine if I knew your room would be filled back up with not just some of your stuff but with you as well. Oh how my heart wishes you were here to watch. I can just see you covering your ears as you watch the carpenter saw out the dry wall.  I can hear you saying in your scripted voice, "He's fixing it!"

I just don't know what to do with your room. As of right now I've used it to store miscellaneous stuff.  At one time I had your room completely messy from the different items I put in there. It took Daddy and  me hours to clean my mess.

After it was cleaned we put the queen mattress in there.  Your room has been a guest room since then.

Mema and Papa and Aunt Jerri use your room for a place to sleep.  Aunt Jerri said it felt a little weird knowing you used to sleep and play in there but now no longer.

 I wanted to put off fixing your ceiling for as long as possible because I don't want the paint job Daddy did for you ruined. The carpenter will be careful of the paintedd walls but the ceiling is ruined at the edge so most likely it'll be ruined a little.  Or maybe not at all. And that would mean I'm borrowing unnecessary sadness.

Daddy and I want to keep the paint job and your room a little girlie for a long while.  We're not ready to make it a true guest room or an office.

We discussed it yesterday that the only way we will paint the room a different color is if your Mema and Papa decide to live with us.  Until that day your room will always be known as Faithie's room.

I love you Faith Elizabeth ALWAYS and FOREVER.

Everyone has a cave room right?

I haven't written in awhile.  Summer has been moving so quickly.  

Today I woke up heart hurting.  I miss you so much Faith Elizabeth that it hurts to breathe every now and then today.  I'm in my room hiding from the chaos and noise of the day.  All I've managed to do is force myself to take a shower and dress in clothes for in case Daddy makes me go somewhere.  

I'm in love with the darkness of my room.  It feels cozy and safe.  I don't have to pretend in here.  I think your brothers and Daddy must know I need quiet.  They normally barge in my room to talk to me.  Today they have left me alone.

Alone with my thoughts on how much I miss you.  I'm angry that you're not here but it's a silent anger.  It releases itself in my dreams.  Last night when my heart finally let me sleep I dreamt of many people who've hurt me in the past and told them exactly how I felt.  I wish it had made me feel better when I woke up but the heart pain of you being gone remained.

There is no magic pill or oil or book that can take away the hurt in the heart that comes from losing a child.  I sort wish there was.  Faithie I want to come to Heaven and hold you in my arms.  I want to kiss you all over and take in your scent.  I want to fight with you about hair brushing.  I want you in family pictures.  I WANT YOU!!

Yesterday I created a wall hanging of your brothers and Daddy and me.  I hung it up.  Immediately guilt and sadness bombarded me.  You should be in the family picture.

  You should be hugging me in it.  You should be here but you are not.  I know there is nothing to feel guilty about by hanging the picture but I do.  Yet I won't take it down because we are a physical family of four.  Your brothers need me to keep moving forward.

And I will do that but today Faithie I want to stay in a hole.  Correct that.  I want to stay in the comfort of my "cave room" as your brother Elijah puts it.

I love you ALWAYS and FOREVER!!

Daddy and I both miss you.

Who would you have lunch with?

Last week I went to a women's retreat sponsored by my church.  They had an ice breaker game with a small bag of M&M's.  The game required you to pull out an M&M and depending on the color you would answer a question about yourself. 

For example the green one asked you to tell three fears you have.  I can tell you my three fears but one has already come true. My three fears are losing a very close loved one, dying by fire, and developing Alzheimer's.

The Blue one was what good choice did you make today.  My good choice, I did pull this one out, was making sure my cats had food before I left.  I didn't want them to starve and I wasn't worried about preparing my boys for my being gone.  They have handle it many times over now.

The brown one was tell about a pet or family member.  I shared this because I picked this one too.  I shared about how my friend Jerri had a cat phone sound and played it for Lacy our dog.  Lacy just stared at it like hmmmm what's that?  Tiger, my cat, was stressed by the sound.  She hissed and her fur rose and she prepared for an attack.

The yellow one, which I didn't pull, was share your favorite movie.  I have many favorites.
In the 1960's my favorite movie is The Sound of Music.  I love Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory from the 70's.  I will watch all the Star Wars movies and yes even Episodes 1-3. All of the Lord of the Rings movies from the 2000's are great. The Princess Bride and The Laybrinth are my favorite 80's movies and from the 90's I love Armageddon.  I guess I am a lover of movies and could go on and on and make this list bigger and bigger.

I don't remember what the red one asked but I do know what the orange one wanted us to share.  It wanted us to share who would we have lunch with past or present.  I ate that one and all the other oranges in my bag.  It was the first M&M I pulled out and Jerri said, "soooo who are you going to say?"  It would have seemed obvious and Faithie would have been my choice.  At the time it was my choice and I didn't want to share that with everyone.  My heart wasn't ready to share with the women who didn't know my daughter had passed and receive the "Oh I'm so sorry" comments.

Over the last week I've have thought more about who I would have lunch with. I would love to eat with Faithie but knowing she would go back to Heaven when we were done kills my heart.  It hurts my heart deeply every time I dream about her. I'm so physically drained when I wake up. I always know she cannot crossover from my dream and stay with me.

There are many actor/actresses I think would be interesting to eat with but they really are not important enough for me to give my time up. 

One of the past presidents I would love to eat with is Franklin D. Roosevelt. I would love to pick his brain about how much he felt people should rely on the government for everything.  Would he be pleased with how the welfare system is going today or would he be disappointed?  How does he feel about the current political parties?  Does he feel embarrassment like I do with both? Pride?  Anger? Joy?  What would he think America should do today regarding so many issues that were not relevant then.

The other topic I would love to talk to him about is his disability.  He was stricken with Polio and developed paralysis from the waist down.  I've read how determined he was to walk short distances and to never give up hope that he would be able to walk someday.  I admire that in him.  What I don't admire was his embarrassment of his disability.  It was known that he was careful never to be seen using his wheelchair in public, and great care was taken to prevent any portrayal in the press that would highlight his disability.  I think he could have been such an amazing role model for those who suffered from any form of disability.  I would love to tell him about my daughter and how she, like him, fought against her disability and fought to find her place.  She never shied away from challenges.  I think he and Faithie would have gotten along wonderfully.

But all of those I've mentioned are not the ones I want to have lunch with. I would love to have lunch with someone living but go to a past date.  My choice is "The Kid."  He has become a part of our family without ever meaning too.  I would take us back to November 7th, 2014 and go to Olive Garden.  I love Olive Garden and would hope he likes it too.

We would learn about each other and discover what likes and dislikes we have.  I would find out about his fiancé and how they found each other. He would tell me about finishing Pharmacy school and his dreams for afterwards.  I would tell him about my family and make each person real to him.  I really believe it would be a great lunch.

Before we finished I would share with "The Kid" that when he leaves to go exercise tonight to run late.  I would say try leaving at 6:00 instead of ten minutes before.  There will be an accident if you leave before and my Princess would be killed. 

But if by chance you leave early and the accident happens please don't blame yourself.  Know that my husband and I will forgive you the night of the accident.  We will be concerned for your well being along with ours.  My family will each have different opinions of you.  My oldest will be angry with you until he meets you a year later. He will ask us many different times during the year, "Why didn't he wait a few more seconds before going?"  Once he meets you he will say to us, "The Kid seems like a good guy."

My youngest really won't talk about you.

Jamie and I will talk a lot about you and how we feel at such peace knowing we forgave you.  We both would tell you at this lunch, because I am sure Jamie would be there too, please never play the "what if" game.  If you haven't yet, find the love of Jesus and allow him in your heart.   Please share how love will bring you through.

And finally we would hug and go our separate ways.  I know I would feel good about this lunch and when the accident happens later in the day I will know that "The Kid" will feel as heart broken as us but will find his way, just like we are doing everyday.

So that is who I would have lunch with.  Who would you have lunch with?

Friendships

Do you really want to know what hurts the most since Faithie passed (her passing is an obvious one)?  The lack of love and support.

I've heard people say "I'm afraid I'm going to upset you or make you cry."  Jamie and I have always been open and have said many times over "that's better than silence."  I know people are uncomfortable around someone who has lost someone.  Yet their inability to talk or text hurts those they are trying not to hurt.  

When our girl left I was overwhelmed by all the love and support.  It helped us move forward at the most difficult time in our married life. As time went on people just stopped calling or coming over or inviting us over.  They went away just like Faithie.

What really hurt was I found out they just became "too busy" to text, send a Facebook message, call or show up.  It has hurt more than I've let on.  I tried to restore friendship with one but was given the "I've been really too busy". Whatever you're on Fakebook.  Why not drop a line? You have time for that right? I think it would have been better to say, "I'm not able too give you what you need in friendship right now.  Please know that I care but must disconnect."  I think that's better than the "I've been so busy."  It would still hurt but at least we would know where we stand and understand the silence then.

It's been 10 years that I've lived here and yet have not seemed to be able to make a close connection with anyone.  I think it's me but I don't know what it is about me or about us.

I think it may have been people were not sure about Faith and her autism.  They were probably a little afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing.  I can understand that a little. But as time has gone on the friendships have still not stayed solid. 

I left our old church because of the lack of friends.  It's hard going somewhere where you're just not connecting.  

The same issue is happening at our church now. We thought friendships were forming but they've all stopped.  I just don't even want to go to church anymore. 

For the few who've been there and have stayed there thank you.  I wish you were closer though.

I'm going to delete people to only family and a few people I think I can trust with my heart.  I don't want pity friends.  

I just wanted to let you know ahead of time why ypu were deleted.  This way you can't complain to others on Fakebook about being deleted and have no clue why.

I think death shows people their true colors. 


My Dad who I never think is right happens to be right about friends.  He always told me as I was growing up, "Heather friends come and go.  So don't bother about becoming attached."

And oh I wish my Princess was here.  I'd still be lonely for a close friendship here but at least I would have my Princess.

Life's Journey

Hmmm.... Life is a journey without a map or gps.  When you've figured out your path life throws in a hazard of some sort and it detours you.

For me I always thought I'd be a teacher and went to Indiana Wesleyan University for this.  I walked away without a teaching degree for reasons.  I did walk away with a best friend of 20 years this May.

I married and became a stay at home mom.  It wasn't my desire to become one but it was where I was needed.  I'm so forever grateful that I had that opportunity.

Yet I still felt a desire to do something but didn't know what. For years I've asked God what do you think or want me to do and for years I've never felt any real direction.

I tried school in September 2014 and entered social work.  Then this journey called Life threw my family the worst hazard by Faithie, our sweet princess, dying from a car accident and going to Heaven.  Somehow I was able to finish school with 2 A+. It felt wonderful to finish and accomplish that semster.  It gave me a sense of pride and confidence. When I tried to go back to school in January I was too lost and broken hearted. I even began to doubt if going into the social work was the right choice.

For so many wonderful, roller coaster years I was Faithie's momma.  Now I feel a loss to my identity. Also a desire to do anything left. My two boys and husband are the reasons I wake up and move forward.  They are my heart and motivation. They love me so much and I love them beyond words.

Yet I need something for me right?  Passion? Desire? Motivation? Work? Write? Paint? Craft? God, my Daddy, what is it? Please make it so clear that there is no doubt.

Confession time family and friends: I've stopped taking care of myself.  It is a good week if I shower more than 2 to 3 times. I wear yoga pants and leggings around the house and even out. I don't brush my hair daily unless I'm going to therapy.

Before this hazard of life I took much beter care of myself. It's because I truly simply don't care about me or what others think or the energy to care.  Jamie wants me to care.  So I for the first time ever I allowed my hair dresser to give me Copper Red highlights. I've never had highlights.

Tonya my hairdressers name and we first met her in December.  We immediately connected.  She told me then and yesterday "You need to take care of yourself first."  She has been a blessing.  She helped me feel beautiful and worthy.  So I'm going to try everyday to love myself and take mental and physical care of myself. It's a positive step in moving forward in this Life.

Now I just need to figure what to do with my life.  I have a huge heart and love people.  Hmmmmm..... Tired hazards but So thankful for my family and friends.

Thanks for reading... I know it may seem rambly but I thought I'd share since it's been awhile.

Then I come after after typing this blog post and immediately feel back to that blue don't care feeling..... SMALL steps