tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815816737713723168.post2538679170420184165..comments2024-01-05T14:47:17.005-05:00Comments on Exploring Holland: Thoughts on GriefShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03314523389648527978noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815816737713723168.post-61940913947653413112016-04-18T13:12:48.126-04:002016-04-18T13:12:48.126-04:00Dear Shannon, I have read your blog for years. Bac...Dear Shannon, I have read your blog for years. Back when your friends were doing the Hundred for a Home campaign, I contributed. The sister of a former neighbor of mine is a friend of yours - and that's how I found you. Since then, I've heard your husband interviewed on NPR and I've logged on periodically to check in on you. <br /><br />When I read of Waverly's passing, I felt as if it happened to a friend of mine. I wanted to finally leave a comment (this one is my first) but it just didn't seem like the right time.<br /><br />I have never lost a child - and I cannot imagine your grief. However, I did lose my mother when I was in my 20s and the pain was overwhelming. So this blog post truly resonated with me and inspired me to finally say hello.<br /><br />I am so very very sorry for your loss. I am so sorry for the pain you have to endure as you cope with Waverly being gone while also continuing to care, worry, and agonize for Oliver and the battles he will face. It seems so unfair for all of this to happen to one family.<br /><br />If there was one thing I could do over after my mother died, I wish I would have gone easier on myself; given myself permission to wallow. I wallowed anyway, I just felt guilty about how much of it I was doing. I applaud you for being able to put words to your feelings. It is actually quite comforting to read them. <br /><br />I know you are surrounded by good friends and family. Now you know that there are some strangers out there who are pulling for you as well. <br /><br />My condolences to you and Matthew. I hope that as time passes, you will begin to feel peace. (And I will #sayhername from now on as well.)CarleaBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815816737713723168.post-59652477332808692422016-03-29T14:14:08.675-04:002016-03-29T14:14:08.675-04:00Wow Shannon. You've captured the intricacy so...Wow Shannon. You've captured the intricacy so perfectly. I don't think I could verbalize it so succinctly, but you've captured so much, so well. I understand too perfectly well & feel exactly the same. I might need to borrow your strength & your words to explain myself & help those around me understand our world. #Waverly #Olivia #JessieJill L.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815816737713723168.post-35723769729839618802016-03-28T12:48:13.439-04:002016-03-28T12:48:13.439-04:00Such beautiful and vulnerable words. I'm a fe...Such beautiful and vulnerable words. I'm a fellow Taylor alum who stumbled across your blog by happenstance a few years ago, and I've been following along ever since. I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss. My dad passed away suddenly when I was 20, and it felt like the world crumbled. Losing a parent is terrible, but losing a child must be worse. There is something so very unnatural about it. I appreciate your words on grief. It is messy to be sure, and nonlinear, and different for each person and different day to day. It was helpful for me to have people validate and normalize those things for me. My pastor told us at the time that grief is like a landslide collapsing on top of you - buried beneath mountains of rubble, it feels like you can't breathe, can't move. But as time goes on that mountain filters down and becomes a layer of topsoil that new growth can push through. Eight years out, I think there is some truth to that, but it sure didn't feel like it at the time. You never "get it over it", but somehow you become used to it. Though it never feels good, and you'd still trade anything to go back to the way things used to be. Anyway, all this to say, thank you for bravely posting through your journey. I hope that this Easter season has brought glimmers of hope as we are reminded of the power of the resurrection and that death has been conquered once and for alle.e.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06472399449915103796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815816737713723168.post-3514932402767110692016-03-27T01:06:14.639-04:002016-03-27T01:06:14.639-04:00Praying for you. My heart aches for you as well. ...Praying for you. My heart aches for you as well. Waverly was blessed to have you as her parents. Scarlet and Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13041959419515258672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815816737713723168.post-64936524697031787912016-03-24T21:19:17.228-04:002016-03-24T21:19:17.228-04:00God bless and keep your heart Shannon. God bless and keep your heart Shannon. Krishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889116311034843363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815816737713723168.post-90381655015672152592016-03-24T09:19:43.065-04:002016-03-24T09:19:43.065-04:00My heart aches for your pain and loss.
AngeMy heart aches for your pain and loss. <br />AngeJeremy and Angehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15318727694577990599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815816737713723168.post-53450154264319862832016-03-23T12:21:55.902-04:002016-03-23T12:21:55.902-04:00Oh my god, please don't worry about sending pe...Oh my god, please don't worry about sending people thank you cards! There is no one out there who would expect a thank you card from you for flowers or gifts. Do things that make you feel good (flowers in Wavey's room, cuddling with Ollie). Do as little as possible of things that don't make you feel good. It's OK to not be OK.Karen Mimsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815816737713723168.post-84326735068531454992016-03-23T11:55:04.041-04:002016-03-23T11:55:04.041-04:00Montalto family loves you and continues to pray fo...Montalto family loves you and continues to pray for you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06185031192483833796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815816737713723168.post-89050382043668204392016-03-23T10:43:35.047-04:002016-03-23T10:43:35.047-04:00Oh Shannon :( Thinking of you lots! My heart hurts...Oh Shannon :( Thinking of you lots! My heart hurts for you... You are so right; grief is like a snowflake...so unique for everyone and just when you think you've understood one part of it, you wake up to a different part.<br /><br /><3Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12587858651535228184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815816737713723168.post-46452002691882800692016-03-22T23:23:47.454-04:002016-03-22T23:23:47.454-04:00Wow. That is a very powerful, raw post. Thank you ...Wow. That is a very powerful, raw post. Thank you for sharing your many honest, complicated feelings. Waverly will always be present. She is you. Hugs from Maryland.lesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09501503992952033631noreply@blogger.com