Cherry Blossoms

Spring is Coming, Thank you Steven Curtis Chapman

Flowers, trees filling in with new leaves, great smells—love all of it! The new life it symbolizes is refreshing and renewing. Nothing ever stays the same.

Nothing ever stays the same. That kind of says it all, right? We have our lives heading in one direction, and whoosh we are spinning around, and heading the opposite way. Most of the time we aren’t really certain what hit us.

That is what happens when a child dies. We have a beautiful, happy family, then the bottom drops out. The moment it happens we are catapulted into chaos and shock. Nothing will ever be right again … or at least not the same.

Grief becomes our life. For a while we stumble along like we are in a dark cave, and then, little by little, light comes in. For moments we are released from the heart gripping, breath taking grief, but then we stumble again.

Spring is coming. We find ourselves looking at our “new normal “ like a child looking at the beauty of a Cherry tree in full bloom. We can actually breathe again. Our beautiful child is still with us, and we begin to live as a new person with a new purpose.

Nothing will ever be like it once was, but what we now are, and what we now have is our life—full of purpose, and yes joy. We are here to walk through the door with new grieving parents, grandparents, and siblings. To hold them up when they fall. To watch them walk their path, to laugh and cry. To get to know their beautiful child, to share our hearts.

I never thought spring would come again, but it is here, and so is Mandy.

More Chapter Notes

Without Change, There Would Be No Butterflies

Without Change, There Would Be No Butterflies

Without change there would be no butterflies When I heard that my heart was touched forever, in a good way. What a perfect time to hear that, year number eleven with Mandy gone. My beautiful butterfly. I remember how we used to approach February Fifth… with great...

New Normal

New Normal

New Normal"Throughout our lives we walk our own paths, crossing others, and walking along with them." Ten years ago, three months after our daughter Amanda died, Bob’s cousin and wife lost their son Eric. I was driving home from Melbourne when Bob called me. He was...

Where Does the Time Go?

Where Does the Time Go?

"‘Where Does the Time Go?" Holidays are over and 2019 is here. I hate to repeat myself, but where does the time go? Last year was a great year for me. I put into perspective so many things that had gotten askew over the past years. I’m excited about 2019 — new is...

Chapter Newsletter

Our newsletter is published every other month and includes articles, poems, memorials, and chapter information about upcoming events. Many find support and hope in the messages of love and understanding. If you would like to receive the newsletter, contact us at newsletter@tcfspacecoast.org.