Sometimes it is easy to get wrapped up in grief. Grief can become all consuming. Grief can hit you like a ton of bricks. Sometimes there will be a warning and then other times, BAM! It can go as quickly as it comes or it can linger. It can ruin a good time, a good friendship, a good relationship, a good life, and on and on. But even though it is so damn powerful, it is still not the thing that should define us. While it is the biggest tree ever, it is still not the forest!!

So, here are some of my amazing trees because my forest is worth seeing!! I was fortunate to have married someone who loved me and because of him, I was given the most amazing children who have now given me the most amazing grandchildren.

I fulfilled a lifelong dream and became a teacher!

I built an amazing home in Delaware where my family made so many great memories. Then, I did something I never did before….I bought a car on my own AND a house on my own!

I have traveled to so many amazing places with so many amazing people. I don’t even like beer but I sipped Guinness in Ireland and drank a beer in Germany!

I have been able to cheer on my favorite team for almost my entire life. First in my childhood home with my parents and then from our (Jeff and I) season ticket seats and then my season ticket seat. I continue to do that on the road. I even snagged a proposal along the way!!

Yes, grief is and always will be a part of me but it is NOT my forest!! It is a tree that I will deal with when it starts to become overgrown. I will not care for it because it is hardy enough and does not need me to help it grow. There are so many other great trees that make up my forest and they will be the ones that I will care for to make sure they are healthy and continue to grow. Who knows….maybe the grief tree with be so surrounded by the good trees that it will appear smaller and smaller until it is barely seen.