Friday, January 28, 2011

Missing Daddy

My sweet baby girl cried her eyes out last night because she misses her daddy. My son kept saying "Please don't cry because that makes me feel like crying too." He also added he was having trouble remembering things he did with Daddy because it has been so long. I was trying to soothe them both with words, but I realize what they needed most was for me to hold them (which, of course, I did) and not say anything, because there is nothing to be said. It sucks…and my heart is breaking alongside theirs.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Breakdance

When the kids were very small we would dance every night after they had their bath. We would go down to my son's room and turn on the radio and Todd, the kids and I would all dance. I have such fond memories of that. I can remember thinking at the time that I hoped, as the kids grew up, they would remember how much fun we had doing this. I cannot remember how or why we stopped…I guess as the kids stopped taking baths together and bed time became more flexible in the summer time as they got older (you know, like 4 and 7 years old ;-) we lost this part of our routine. But I still smile remembering. The other night the kids and I did it again and had a ball. We turned up the music and danced like crazy…my daughter was a little sidetracked trying to make a guitar out of a long, skinny piece of cardboard and an empty Capri sun box. it looked really cute when she finished. Her brother begged her to make one for him. We all laughed and acted silly and, of course, danced (which was really part of the silliness). My son said we should do this every night, and I reminded him we used to. He replied, "yeah but it's more fun now 'cause I can dance a lot better. I can breakdance!"-- and he immediately demonstrated in the manner that only an energetic (translate: spastic) 6 year old boy can. Beautiful stuff.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Better Every Day


 

I am getting better every day. I look back on this summer, when I could tell I was beginning to crawl out of the pit, and I can tell such a difference. If I look back to August 2009, I am truly a different person from then. Even though I still miss him more than words can adequately express, I do not become stuck in the pain. I look at pictures of Todd and they make me smile…sometimes even laugh, remembering something about him. I want to enjoy the good times and face the bad times with strength and courage that comes from knowing I never stand alone. I am not there yet, but I am getting closer.


 

Sunday, January 23, 2011

The Fullness of Love

Recently, as my children and I were having an evening full of fun and conversation, I candidly asked them how they would feel if someone asked me out on a date. (No, I don't have anyone in mind. But someday, I am hopeful that I will again experience the kind of love that Todd and I shared...not a carbon copy, but beautiful and rich none-the-less.) Although they didn't give it the total thumbs down, they both responded they weren't sure they would like that much…I got questions like "Why would you want to do that?" (6 yr old son), and "If you ever got married again, would I have to call him 'daddy'?" (10 yr old daughter) I immediately wanted to reassure them that this in no way could ever diminish my love for them or their daddy. One of the things I said went something like this: "I will always love Daddy…I cannot NOT love Daddy—there will always be a hole in my heart that cannot be filled because I love Him so much." Well, my children's response to this was to immediately remind me how much our love for Todd fills our heart and that our love for him is one of fullness, not emptiness. They talked about how Daddy's place in their hearts used to be as a part of the ring of all people they held in their hearts who loved them, but with his death he had moved from the ring to the center (where he touched everyone in the ring). Even though I thought I understood exactly what they were saying (and agreed with them and thanked them for reminding me of the truth!), they felt the need to draw pictures to make sure I fully understood. They were in concert with one another as first my daughter, and then my son, drew a picture of their daddy in the ring of people (all holding hands). They spoke about how his spot wasn't taken when he moved from the ring to the center (and they erased him from the ring and drew him in the center), but how all those people who loved them (and I think they even included "all those who ever would love them" like they were stretching it out to include their whole lives) just pulled closer together and how Daddy was now touching everyone in the ring because he was in the middle.

Our children can teach us so much. I know this retelling cannot do justice to those beautiful moments (nor should it), but I am so glad my heart was opened to the profound truth they spoke to me that day…of how the fullness of love was made to triumph over the emptiness of loss.

May the fullness of the love, of all those who love you and whom you hold dear, fill your heart to overflowing. If you are feeling especially lonely this day, I pray you will let God's love fill your heart and mind with the (heart) knowledge of how much He loves you.


"I have loved you with an everlasting love…"

Jeremiah 31:3

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Doing Well

A friend emailed me and asked me if everything was okay since I hadn't posted since 1/1. So I thought I would post. I am doing well. My job and kids activities and homework have kept us very busy this week. I really love my job. I can tell it is going to get more time consuming, but I will just have to stay focused on keeping a balance. The kids are doing well too. They had friends spend the night last weekend (a big sister and little brother duo) and had a ball. We had snow late Sunday night so there was no school Monday...kids were doing their snow dance all evening. "Hands up high, feet down low--that's the way we dance for snow!" You sing this and do a little dance as you sing...found myself singing it long after they had gone to bed. They were so psyched that they didn't have school Monday. We read, watched a movie and played a game, and ate snow cream...did I mention that we only got about an inch and a half of snow? ;-) We get excited no matter how small the accumulation. They played with friends in the afternoon and we all stayed for supper...a very satisfying day. Busy, busy, busy week since then with several sets of ups and downs, but more ups than downs, so that goes in the win column.
...gotta go...my kids are getting ready for bed and my son is still streaking around after his bath...i guess he will learn to wear clothes before he gets out of elementary school.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Sifting Through the Memories

Been going through boxes that have been sitting on my floor since I moved 9 months ago...many pictures, papers, cards, and notes...must be done, but I wish I could wave a magic wand and have it all finished. My heart is pretty achy tonight, but I am drinking a toast to my sweet Todd and reflecting...hopefully the healing continues. I really miss him.