Monday, January 19, 2015
The more things change........ The more they stay the same....
I got off the plane, and walked to baggage claim, looking to see if my ride had made it,, and I caught myself looking for Todd. The pain was tangible, the anxiety was swelling in my stomach. My heart hurt all over again. The emptiness was real, and reality was slapping me right in the face. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THIS? My sweet friends stay with me for a couple hours and ask if I want them to stay with me tonight... Do I have to decide? Part of me desperately wants them to stay, I am scared to death of being alone in my house,, the other part of me,, the reality facing part of me knows this has to happen sooner or later, so I suck it up and bite the bullet and answer no,,, I can do this. I lock the door as they leave, and walk upstairs... past the pictures on the wall of my family,, our family,, our kids,, my pride and joy, past the man cave,, HIS happy place, His dream room so to speak.
I miss my parents,, I miss the comfort of knowing they are right above me. I walk into our bathroom and see his deodorant, I can't help myself and I open it and smell that familiar smell... the smell that meant he was right here, beside me, protecting me,, waiting to hold me in his arms, to kiss me, to tell me he loves me, to ask me how my day was. THAT SMELL. The smell I have longed for, yearned for even. The tears break free quite easily, and take that all too familiar trail down my cheeks.
I want him back. I WANT THEM BOTH BACK!!! I take a tiny bit of that smell and rub it right under my nose. It helps,, it causes even more tears but it helps.
I'm reading an incredible book by Elder Jeffrey R Holland,, called "To My Friends"
Can I just express my love and adoration for this man? He is amazing! It's like he wrote this especially for me. So much help and guidance in this book.
I'm ok,,, most of the time. Some of the time I am not ok,, and THAT'S OK! It's completely ok to not be ok.
So now I am going to curl up on our bed,, and smell the crap out of that smell that is currently residing on my upper lip..... it reminds me of when he was just out of the shower and would kiss me. I would nuzzle into his neck and breathe deeply, and he would wrap me in his arms.
I am going to hug my big Teddy bear that my mum bought me, and pray that sleep comes swiftly and I dream happy dreams.. or none at all... and in the morning,, I will get up, put my feet firmly on the ground and breathe in and out,,, and keep on going forward, in my new reality.
Love Love Love
Monday, January 12, 2015
THAT DAY
Tomorrow marks the 33th day... one month exactly since my phone last whistled at me.... it was Todd telling me that Levi had just asked what was for Breakfast. That morning we had our ward Christmas Breakfast/party. THAT MORNING.
That morning we sat with a family we hardly knew,, that morning we made new friends, that morning I harassed a young man who was celebrating his 16th birthday on that very day. That morning was my last kiss goodbye. That morning I left the house WITHOUT saying my usual joke which was "don't go get dead today!" *I said that every day I left for work and they or he (todd) was awake, it was a joke between us that just became habit, and THAT MORNING I left for work without saying it!* THAT MORNING, I got my last forehead kiss from a sweet boy who took that responsibility, given him by his oldest brother, very seriously. THAT MORNING I felt his little arms wrap around me for the last time, my ears heard him say that he loved me,, THAT MORNING, I kissed my husband good bye and instead of saying "see you tonight" I said "see you later", Instead of saying "don't get dead" I said see you later.
THAT MORNING!!!!!! I want a do over! I want to go back and tell them both how much I love them,, and to NOT GET DEAD!, why didn't I say it THAT MORNING???
THAT AFTERNOON, I talked to my husband on the phone while I was at lunch,, I never call my husband on my lunch break, I usually just vegged,, but THAT AFTERNOON, I did. And we laughed, he was so excited for Christmas, he couldn't wait to give the kids their presents!! THAT AFTERNOON I got to hear him say I LOVE YOU, one more time, he told me I was beautiful,, it was nothing new for him to say, he said it every day,, but THAT AFTERNOON, it just felt different.
THAT EVENING, I had to stay late at training to get a timecard signed... THAT EVENING I knew something was wrong. THAT EVENING I drove past the VERY accident not once but twice. THAT EVENING, is such a complete blurr.... THAT EVENING, THAT EVENING,,, I got a text from the above mentioned 16 yr old young man saying 'he wasn't sure why, but he thought he should check on me!'
THAT EVENING....
I remember every single event of THAT DAY, but like it was an out of body experience,,
And I am not sure how I have gotten up every single morning for the last 32 days?? I certainly don't remember sleeping,,My nights are fitful at best, but I wake up every morning. How am I going to get up tomorrow?
I see them everywhere. They let me know they are here.
I am remembering how to laugh, I am remembering how to smile. I cry every single day,, sometimes 2 or 3 or 100 times in a day,, I have to consciously remember they are not here, not physically. Many times I have had to put things back that I grab off store shelves.
32 days. It's only 1 month,,, 4 weeks, I often wonder how am I supposed to go through the rest of my mortality without them? Todd was the love of my life. He took pride in looking after me, in providing for me.. he took pride in ME! I will never again find a love like that.
I sat in church this last sunday surrounded by my brother and his family and my parents,, we were in fort McMurray for my niece's baptism,, and I couldn't sing the songs,, the words in the hymns suddenly mean so much more to me,,my eyes well up every time,, *I miss his voice supporting mine, I miss holding his hand every time a prayer is said, I miss kneeling with them both at night as we giggle and laugh getting ready for prayers,,, I miss Levi singing his heart out and trying hard to hit the low notes like his dad*
For the last two weeks, there is one particular hymn I can not get out of my head,,, #169,,, the third verse plays over and over in my mind...
'As now we praise thy name with song, the blessings of this day, (that day)
will linger in our thankful hearts, and silently we pray,
for courage to accept thy will, to listen and obey,
we love thee Lord, our hearts are full,,
We'll walk thy chosen way'
That right there is how I am getting through this...I have courage as well as faith to accept what has happened, I love my Father in Heaven, and my heart is full of love and gratitude, as well as sorrow,, and I will walk HIS chosen way. Now is MY chance to get ready for the reunion in Heaven.... NOW is MY CHANCE! I can't blow this,, I can't screw this up. I won't MISS this!
I may cry every day for the rest of my mortal life.. and I'm ok with that. I think. My eyes burn,, the poor skin around my eyes feels so raw, I have stopped using kleenex and just let the tears fall.
There is so much more I want to say, but I haven't figured out how yet... so for now...
Love love love
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Going forward.
Will this feeling of nausea ever go away?
Most days I feel like I have a very firm grip on this new reality, and all it takes is one little thing,, and the flood gates open, which I'm totally ok with, the feeling of nausea plants itself right in the pit of my stomach and seems to set up camp. Today's little thing,, pictures, pictures of my sweetheart, the love of my life,that I spent 12 wonderful years with and pictures of the little boy I was so blessed to have in my life for 11 short years.
Dad says I need to give myself time to mourn and quit being strong for everyone else. I'm not being strong for everyone else, I'm being strong for me. Mourning sucks. Being sad sucks. Crying sucks even more. I look horrible with red puffy swollen eyes. Todd and Levi both lived to make me laugh. I was the most important person in both of their lives. (Not me being arrogant, just believing what they both had said repeatedly to me)
I'm sad. That's ok. I cry every day and that's ok. I see their faces everywhere I turn, and that's OK too. I worry about my in laws,I need to be there for them. (Seriously I have the best in laws in the entire world and I love them like they're my parents) I worry about my kids, I worry about my parents worrying about me. And yes. I worry about me.
I said to my mum today as we were looking at pictures 'I just wish I could peek into Heaven and make sure they are ok, I know where they are and I know what I believe is true but....'
I want to see Todd stand tall without faltering, I want to see Levi running around making people laugh, I want to hear them tell me they are OK and they are saving a spot for me. I want to feel whole again. I want to wake up and feel fantastically wonderful and I want food to taste good again (although being down 20 lbs is rather excitjng haha) I want to go 24 hours without tears wetting my cheeks.
I miss the texts, the banter, the laughter, feeling safe in his arms, even though he was so sick he always made me feel protected.
One day I want to get on here and post wonderful happiness. I know it will come.
Until that time comes I'll continue to breath in and out, throw back the covers and plant my feet firmly on the ground every single morning, and take it one step at a time.
Love love love.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Baby steps
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Learning to walk
I feel like a toddler,,, younger than a toddler actually,, I feel like an 12 month old learning to walk. Everything takes so much effort right now, even breathing... every once in a while I have to think to myself,, BREATHE IN!, Exhale! Breathe in,, EXHALE!. Things that used to come so naturally,,, take the greatest effort. My smile feels plastic, forced,, fake.
I didn't even feel this helpless when I was a single parent with two kids... I just did it then,,, I don't know how to be a WIDOW.
I am at my parents house for a few weeks, trying to figure out how I am supposed to survive this new reality, although I have to say, as long as I stay in their house, I do pretty damm awesome at avoiding facing it. It's when I step outside, into the literal coldness that reality hits. I look outside the window and watch the snow fall silently from the sky and all I can think is,,, I have a young boy who would love nothing more than to stomp right through that virgin snow in Papa's backyard and make snowangels all day long, have a snowball fight with whomever was brave enough, usually it was his Dad, to face the frozen air to make memories with this boy.
But I don't have him,or him, they are home, where they are supposed to be, with our Father in Heaven, doing what He needed those two to do. AND I MISS THEM! I miss their smile, I miss his mischievousness, his smart mouth, his laughter, the twinkle in his eye,, OH HOW I MISS THEM BOTH! My arms ache to hold him,, my ears ache to hear him and his Dad laugh hysterically as they plot out how to "get mum".
We went into Lethbridge today, and I remember whispering to my Mum, "will I ever be able to go into a store and not leave in tears because I see something that reminds me of my boys?" her response, "not for awhile I'm afraid". I tried on the sweetest pair of heels today, and thought, 'OMG He will Love THESE!, and I put them back on the shelf, and walked out empty handed...before anyone saw the tears well up in my eyes. I walked into a store today and saw the BIGGEST collection of DR. WHO memorabilia I have ever seen, I could've stood there all day just staring at it,, seriously!!! I can't even look at the kids department anymore,, why bother.... I saw a sweater at costco and immediately thought, Todd would love this!,, that's when I turned to my mum and asked if I would ever be able to shop again......
Todd's parents are taking us, the kids, on a cruise at the end of the month, and I am so scared to go. Don't get me wrong,, I absolutely adore my inlaws,, all of them,, I seriously have the best inlaws in the entire world, This was something Todd and I were so excited to do together, with his family. How do I get on that plane, that ship without him? *my thoughts are so jumbled right now*,, How do I enjoy and have fun without the one person in the entire world that fully completed who I am?
How do I do this when getting out of the house completely drains me? *no I am not offering up my ticket!!!!* I am still looking forward to it, I just don't know how to do it.
I don't know how to do any of this.
So, when you ask me what you can do to help, here is my response, come sit with me, hug me, laugh with me, walk with me down my path of memories, let me cry,, let me laugh, let me sit in silence as I enjoy knowing I am not alone, just let me....
Please don't tell me it will get easier, or it will be ok,, it will never be ok.... It will be tolerable, and I will learn to live and navigate through this, but it will never be ok,, don't tell me to remember my faith, my faith is strong, I believe in life after death and I know I will see and be reunited with my sweet husband and son and other loved ones again. NOTHING will ever shake that!! I know what I believe is true. This hole in my heart is also true.. and NOTHING will ever fill it.
You don't have to say anything at all,,, really,, because I know you are sorry, I know you worry about me, please just be my friend, don't leave me alone, but don't push. Let me know you are there, or here, bring kleenex. Come sit with me, go for a walk with me, don't be upset if I don't want to talk, look at pictures with me,
Don't be shocked when I make jokes about the widow Johnson, or how the position of marital partner is now open,, if you know me at all you know this is how I deal with stress,, humor.
Don't look at me with pity, look at me with love,, don't tell me you know what I am going through, but empathize with me,
I will continue to wake up every morning, breathe in, and breathe out, put my feet on the floor and move forward, through this pain that has my heart in its grips, through the agony, through the fear, the sorrow, and the tears\, just please walk beside me, hold my hand and let me know you are there.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Dill Chips and Eggnog
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Christmas 2014
It's my most favorite time of year. The glistening decorations, the music, the love that we show one another...... Christmas!!
As I was walking through a store yesterday with my mum looking at all the glorious decorations, tears welled up in my eyes and I whispered in her ear,,, "it will never be the same will it?"
I find myself lacking the enthusiasm to wrap presents this year, to celebrate. I feel like I am living groundhog day over and over and the tape isn't even skipping.
I am completely overwhelmed by the love and support of all of our friends, family and community! The outpouring of love, the sweet tender mercies that I see every where I turn. I have no words to express my gratitude and appreciation for all of it. The hole in my heart is still there. And it will be for the rest of my earthly life. My arms ache to hold my husband close, my forehead aches to feel one last kiss from my baby boy who was trying so very hard to be a man. I walk through stores and think how am I supposed to do this for the rest of my life? I wonder if the tears will ever stop, if the ache will ever lessen,, I never thought I would be a widow at 42, *a word that is so very hard to say* and I never dreamt I would be burying my baby at 11 1/2 yrs old. They were my entire reason for getting up in the morning.
My husband was AMAZING!!! the way he made me feel, I was THE most important person to him in the entire world. He loved me so much, and he let every single person he met know exactly that. I was his sweets! I was all that mattered. He took such good care of me, that I think I have forgotten how to take care of myself. He was my rock,, my mediator, my helpmate, my ego boost, he held me in the highest regard, nothing else mattered to him except my happiness.
Our baby boy, was the spitting image of his daddy. He loved being the center of attention. He also loved being alone to create impressive lego structures!! He knew when I needed a hug, or a kiss or even just a sweet smile. He greeted me with a HUGE "HI MUM" every day I came home from work,,, being ever so alert to hear the garage door open so he could open my car door when I pulled in. He loved telling me about his days, and what he and his dad had done that day,, or how his dad had told him no on something and how unfair that was.
How I love for those days again. What would I give to hear my husbands dialysis machine annoyingly beep loudly, letting us know he had rolled onto the tube accidentally, to hear levi stomp down the stairs to his room because we wouldn't give him just $10 for that awesome bionicle on Ebay.
The tears keep coming,,, no words can stop them. No amount of normalcy can or will close the hole in my heart.
And then I see a picture of my Savior embracing a weeping woman and I think,,, That's me, He's got this.
My faith has grown by leaps and bounds throughout these past 10 days. *10 days,,, it's only been 10 days* The gifts, the hugs, the outpouring of love from a community we have barely moved into,, the tender mercies all over the place... the way everything just fell into place, I know that my Father in Heaven has a plan.
So I will continue to get up every morning, breathe in and out, as I plant my feet firmly on the ground. I will continue to wipe the tears from my eyes, as I go throughout this new life of mine, they will lessen I am sure, I will continue to look for the tender mercies that surround us, I will return hugs just a little bit tighter and a little bit longer so there is no doubt of my love for you, I will pray a little longer and sing a little louder, and I will continue to have faith in the wonderful Plan of Salvation.




