Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina
Thank you to all of you who have sent me comforting notes and seasonal greetings. I dearly appreciate your friendship, prayers, and good wishes. It is a difficult time for me. The first anniversary of Jim’s death is the day after Christmas, and I will be visiting his gravesite (with Angel in tow). The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are not the joyful events of yesteryear. They will always remind me of lost love and devotion, and emphasize my current life of solitude.
I took this photo on the last journey that Jim and I shared together, Christmas at Biltmore in 2013. It was a bittersweet time because he was hopeful that he would beat the awful cancer. In contrast, I was silently braced for a long and difficult year ahead, and preparing myself for a future life without him. He was optimistic. I was realistic.
God took him home a year later, just as I suspected all along.
This will be a Christmas shared with new friends. The majority of my friends are new ones, found at church and on photography tours. Some friends from long ago have also came back into in my life, and those reappearances were wonderful surprises. I can also continue to count on emotional support from a devoted sister-in-law in Indiana.
I’m getting by. I’m surviving. And I’m grateful for many blessings and God’s grace.
May you find comfort and love during this special time, and celebrate a birth that changed the world.
Donna - I know exactly what you are saying and how you are grieving. My husband John passed away a year ago in November. This year seems so much worse than last year. I guess I was still in shock during the holidays last year. This year it is so real that he is gone. I am blessed to know that he is in no more pain and the cancer can't hurt him anymore and most importantly, he is in Heaven with his Lord. Prayers for you during this time.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the holidays as best you can.
Judy
Thinking of you at this time.
ReplyDeleteYour photography is beautiful, Donna.
God bless you.
Sending love across the miles. May joy (much different from happiness) seep deep into your soul. Christmas blessings...
ReplyDeleteWishing you a holiday season that is filled with comfort and grace. I know this is not an easy time for you and you are in my prayers and on my heart much these days. Sending hugs because I can't deliver them in person.
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
A beautiful photo, Donna, and a reminder of a bittersweet time in your life. Praying for you and so thankful for those friends in your life. Hugs and love across the miles.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful photo. Thinking of you and wishing you warm thoughts at Christmas and throughout the coming new year
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you are finding comfort in new and old friends and sweet Angel. May you have a blessed Christmas and a find contentment in the new year.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you Donna and wishing you the best holiday season possible. I'm thankful for the support you have and of course Angel. May you find some semblance of peace through the coming days. ((Hugs))
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how much you are missing Jim, Donna. I'm so thankful that you have friends, new and old to share your Christmas with! Wishing you joy and peace-Kimberly
ReplyDeleteDear Donna, I've been thinking of you often, and I'm so glad you've met some new friends. Great if some old ones are returning. I find the thought that the depth of grief I feel reflects the depth of love I feel comforting. May you be comforted this Christmas.
ReplyDeleteJust sending you a Big Bucket of Love sweet friend!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanking God for your SIL and old friends as well as the new ones...it was indeed, a birth that changed the world...
HUGHUG
I love you, Donna.
ReplyDeletexoxo
blessings wished to you for 2016.
ReplyDeleteDear Donna, I am pleased that you will be surrounded by friends over Christmas and the first anniversary of Jim's passing. Thinking of you as you start a new year and wishing you God's blessings of strength and hope and peace. Love, Pam
ReplyDeleteHi Donna, I'm thinking of you all the time, even if not very communicative... I know that this time is so tough, thankful a year has gone by but wondering why the pain won't subside faster. Grief, a horrible thing to have to carry around. God bless you, my friend. I keep you in my prayers. Hugs! Jackie
ReplyDeleteThinking of you at this difficult time. Wonderful photo of a lovely wreath.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely magazine worthy. It is on my bucket list to get to the Biltmore one day, hopefully during the Chrsitmas time of year :)
ReplyDelete