Friday, August 15, 2014

November- January Journal Excerpts

Friday, November 8, 2013
…I once again feel the pull of being Grant’s mom and Pierce and Blaine’s mom. The two look very different. As Grant’s mom I want and need to take time to stop, think, feel, be. And as the boys’ mom that is the absolute last thing on my list. The day is mostly about them and lately that has equaled refereeing toys, managing tantrums, and desperately trying to get them to take a nap. I’m tired. It’s odd how back to normal life can feel at times and it feels good and then the grief slowly creeps back in. It never seems to slam me out of the middle of nowhere, but somewhere around Friday it subtly begins to settle back and I’m cruelly reminded once again that life is not the same and I’m still not sure what normal looks like anymore…

Friday, December 13, 2013
…Now when I feel sad, it feels like a more rational kind of sad. A more normal sad. The past month I’ve felt mostly normal, like it almost never happened or was a distant bad dream. And now, in the past week or so, I’ve been missing him again. It’s funny how this goes in such waves without an obvious trigger. As time approaches my due date I feel sad. In most ways it feels like a year ago that we lost Grant, but sometimes not. It seems I am continually learning new ways that his loss affects me.

… I know that instead of trusting God and feeling relieved in his sovereignty I am completely fearing him and ducking into a tornado drill position waiting for the next tragedy to hit…I have got to see God as kind and compassionate. Not someone to be scared of and duck from. I know I have a spiritual challenge of seeing God as always wanting to give me the hard road to build character instead of bestowing good things upon me. ..

January 7, 2014
... I miss Grant all the time right now. I feel like he is constantly on my mind. I’m not sure if this is just the amount of time we are removed or the fact that we have officially entered his birth month. Maybe both. … it’s been different. More intense, more thoughtful, more aching.

It seems like the more I think about Grant, the more I also think about the future and possible pregnancies…  I feel lost. I feel like I’m in the middle of a dark forest and I just can’t see the path or the light or the way I should go.. it is such an odd feeling to feel so directionless and sedentary. Still.

The verse just came to mind “Be still and know that I am God.” Maybe that’s where he wants me right now. I’m finding it’s really an uncomfortable place for me to be. I like movement, busyness, activity, goals, and direction. I’m not super patient, and truth be told, I really don’t like to wait. But that’s really all I can do right now. I have no other direction or guidance. I have felt for awhile now that to move forward with another pregnancy would have to begin with a very clear direction and leading from God. I obviously don’t have that now and I think that sometimes feels frustrating and scary. I don’t know what month will be right to move on, I don’t know what the future of our family looks like. And I guess I don’t need to. I just need to know that He is God. Never have I felt so reliant and so dependent for each day, waiting on Him to show me, submitting to his will and purpose.

... I have known that this year would be a very intentional year. That it would hold a lot of emotion and a lot of need for depending closely on Jesus- to protect my mind, heart, and keep it focused on him. To not let fear and doubt and anger creep in in the wake of losing our sweet Grant.  I have already seen my reliance on God because I have never felt so dependent and desperate. And isn’t that right where he wants me? And the coolest thing is that he has been answering. Not in revelations of my future and precise direction. But in other ways of guidance that will lead me exactly where he wants me for that moment.
Lord, I need you. When I think about it, this ache is causing me to keep turning to you. Reminding me that I simply cannot do this on my own. Grant’s life is still changing and shaping mine for the better. Please help me to continue to let him inspire me. To continue to make his life matter and be life changing for me and others.  Help me to not look too far ahead, but to stop my gaze right at you. That’s my focus. It’s ok to not know the future… Help me to be still and know that you are God. Amen.

January 29, 2014
We have hit Grant’s due date… For whatever reason, I’ve been in a less emotional time. It’s not really a lack of emotions as much as complete distraction through a busy time. The stomach flu went through our house this past week starting with Pierce and then taking down BJ. We’ve also been knee deep in kitchen remodel plans. I feel like that’s been sort of a God timing thing to help get through this month. We’ve been focused on granite types and paint colors and have spent a lot of time in thought for it. Part of me feels guilty that I haven’t taken more time to reflect and just feel, but I guess it really hasn’t been a conscious choice. I do hope life will slow down a little in the coming weeks. It feels foreign once again to think of any day now heading to the hospital to give birth to Grant. I think it’s like picturing a complete alternate reality. It’s no longer an unfulfilled vision. It already happened and in a completely different way


… I still don’t talk about Grant without mentioning all God did for us. He has continued to stay near and show up in the times I have felt saddest…

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