* CONTINUE *
Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 8:00AM "Parting is such sweet sorrow." It is with a heavy but satisfied heart that I announce today that this will be the last challenge for the Good Grief Blog. We've journeyed with you for a full year now and, just as I felt the timing to be right when I began this blog on the two year anniversary of my dad's death, I now feel that it's fitting to draw this to a close on the three year anniversary.
I want to thank each and every one of you for taking this journey with me...for mobilizing me to create these treasured layouts that I've finished with each challenge. I want to extend my fullest appreciation to the wonderful contributors who have filled this blog with inspiration. And. I want to issue one last challenge. :)
Today's challenge, one that I hope you'll take to heart and carry forward, is simply to continue. Whether that means continuing to scrapbook about your loved one or continuing to think about the challenges posted here or merely continuing to get through each day...just continue.
To help you with this challenge, here are some of our favorite layouts from the past year. I asked each contributor to tell me their personal favorite...here's what they had to say:
Jen:
;)
There was so much emotion tied to seeing her that day … and I’m glad I was able to document that. It truly was a moment I’ll never forget. Even going through my Good Grief album to look for my favorite, I stop and look at each one and feel such emotion. I’m still planning on going back and finishing the challenges I didn’t complete – I underestimated just how therapeutic participating in these challenges would be. I’m truly honored to have been included in a group of so much talent!
Kaitlin:
;)
I think it's my favorite because it involves a lot of things I remember from both when I was younger, as I was older and memories of her with my daughter. It makes me grateful for the time I had with her but also very sad because I know my son will never know her.
Lisa:
;)
Marti (a girl after my own heart, Marti couldn't pick just one, lol):
;)
;)
Sherry: (okay, this is actually my favorite of the layouts Sherry's done...I just love the story and how it makes me feel like I really know her dad)
;)
Stacey:
;)
It's just my favorite. I wrote it the day he died and it was the beginning of the grief process for me. After I wrote those words, I knew I'd be able to deal with losing him...something about being able to sum up my feelings in a few sentences was so comforting.
Tania: (this one's my favorite of Tania's...this one, in particular, really made me think and realize that my dad was a man of few words as well...I love how she summed this up)
;)
And, finally, my favorites. This was *really* difficult. I truly cherish each of the layouts I've completed for the challenges here. Each one has touched me in a different way. Since I made everyone else pick, though, lol, here are my favorite two:
;)
This one just makes me smile. I'm so happy that I started this tradition and can't wait to continue it again next Christmas. Just looking at this layout makes me feel more connected to my dad and reminds me that I always will be.
;)
This layout is simply the heart of why I started this blog in the first place. It was the most difficult to complete and the most rewarding as well. If you only do one of the challenges here, I'd recommend this one...share your feelings...SPILL IT. Trust me. :)
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Now. Before I sign off this last time, please note that I've added a couple more resources over on that page. Please check them out! If you know of others, I'm still happy to add them here, so shoot me an email. ;) Also, here are three more challenges that didn't get used but might help jump start your creativity...
- Celebrate anniversaries (document what you do to remember each year, if anything)...
- Record a favorite trip together...and,
- Use your senses (think about the scents, sounds, feel, etc of your loved one).
So. Thank you again. I really can't tell you how much this blog has meant to me. I'll be keeping the site up for at least awhile. For those who have been following these challenges and those who just now happened upon this blog, please look around at the work that's been shared here. Think about the various challenges and interpret (or reinterpret) them in your own way. Tell your loved one's story. Continue...
Reader Comments (13)
Ladies,
Thank you so much for this past year. I personally gained a lot from all of you, and took the plunge to finally put on paper what has taken 20 years.. to the day.
Yes, today is the actually 20th anniversary of my Father's death. I'm taking this post to heart.
Peace to all of you.
Thank you for the opportunity to share Quincey and my grandmother with everyone. To all my fellow contributors: your talent and support astound me. To Amanda: Thank you for everything... My love to you all.
Thank you for showing us that it's okay to scrap and share our grief. It can be therapeutic and a good catalyst to help us continue. I've discovered in the 17 years since I "lost" my mom and four years since my dad's passing that living a good life is often the best way we can honor their memories. Blessings and best wishes to you all as you continue your individual journeys. With gratitude and much admiration. . .
Thank you so much for the challenges and helping me to realise that keeping the memories alive is one of the best things to help.
Thank you. I was always very impressed with your contributions. It helped me to think of my mum, who passed away oneandahalf years ago. I didn't scrap my memories but I have got a lot of ideas, I got them by seeing your blog. I'll start scrapping the memories of her in the next months. Your blog make me to do this. Thank you very much!
I'm sorry that I didn't find this blog till just a month ago! Having lost several family members in the last 2 years, it is a great resource to me. I do hope you'll leave it up for a while so I can look it over more thoroughly. Thank you for the prompts and ideas!
I hope you will leave this blog up for quite a while. A good friend of mine recently lost a friend of hers to cancer. She and the family would like me to put together a tribute album, and I feel your blog will be a great help in doing this. Thank you and all of the other contributors for sharing your stories.
I have checked in on your blog from time to time over the last year. It caught my attention because I too lost my Daddy at the tender age of 17 he was only 41. There is not a day that goes by that he doesn't cross my mind or that I don't find myself processing my memories and feelings of the lessons he taught me as a child that are just beginning to make sense in my adult life. It's almost like he knew he wouldn't be here to share those lessons when I was an adult so he fit them in while I was growing up. I am a therapist and work a lot with cancer patients going through their own grieving process. I have creatively time to time been able to plug in your challenges theraputically for my patients. Thanks! I hope you don't plan on taking your blog down.
I like this article and your post. Undoubtedly, this would be helpful for some people who would receive much needed treatment earlier than would otherwise be the case. May this site be a haven of hope and a place of peace for the grieving heart.
The thought was nice. Perfectly said. Thank you for all your sharings so much of yourself and your experiences. I have passed the website on to many people who had a loved one or friend who was dealing with the loss of someone they loved.
First time visitor.
How can you guys do this? I can't even imagin where to begin. I think my memories of my mother are ao burried (along with all of her pictures) that I would have too hard of a time doing this. What a great idea though. Maybe someday!
I just came across your blog and I think what you're doing is wonderful!
This blog is truly an inspiration to me, thank ladies for all the work that you do! Since I lost my husband, I have difficult getting out bed every morning. The holidays were practicable unbearable and most nights I just cried myself to sleep. I am still struggling to cope with his loss and I am finding help on http://onlineceucredit.com/edu/social-work-ceus-dl to get me through this rough time. I hope you take a look at some of the ideas their too!