Emotions are OK

I woke up this morning with a bit of emotion. It's hard sometimes to be a sensitive woman in a hard world. But I allowed myself a few tears, and rolled with it. We have all had times of tragedy, sorrow, anger, or life just taking that turn we weren't quite prepared for. And if we don't feel it, those emotions build up, and eat away at pieces of us. We were designed to breathe in life-on any given day.

And this week coming up is a big one! My parents would have been married 70 years this year! What a milestone that would have been....but they are both in heaven, celebrating with Jesus. My father has been gone 34 years, and my mother, 13. And you never anticipate the hole that creates, until it's there.  I have felt like the family as I knew it died with dad. And that's a tough thing to face. There are no more gatherings at the dinner table, or game nights. No more old shows on the tv, or penny poker nights. Gone are the days where we live for Mom's Thanksgiving pies, or the traditional search for the perfect Christmas tree.

While memories bring some smiles and comfort at times, they never quite fill the hole where loved ones once were. I smile and wonder, what are they doing in heaven? I'm pretty sure there is lots of coffee, a bit of fishing, and a lot of laughing at those of us down here trying to make it through the day-and every once in a while, I feel a hand on my shoulder-that gentle reminder to breathe, slow down, or to not lose my temper on those boys of mine.

So I will say, it's still a good day. Tears don't make me less, emotions are OK, and remembering the good times...well, that's a healthy dose of love.