Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit...Romans 15:13

Dearest Michael~

Someone told me today that they thought my grief was "softer"...I'm not sure that it is, but then, each step I take is unsure, so I'm not a good judge!  I do have moments of feeling like, OK I can do this...I can live my life without Michael by my side because he is in my heart...always has been, always will be...but those moments are fleeting and then I realize living without you MEANS living without you...not seeing your smile every day, the way your eyes crinkle when its a real smile!  It means never hearing you tell me you love me...never feeling your lips against mine...never sharing laughter with you...it means going to bed alone and no one to "spoon" with...its waking up every morning without you pulling me close...its never feeling completely safe, because no matter what, I knew you would protect me...it means having no one to share the lives of our children...I don't want to do this...but I do it...because right now I do it to honor you...so that you will be proud...but I don't want to do this...softer, maybe...but still so very painful...

Forever love,
Karen

O Lord, in Whom is our hope, remove far from us, we pray Thee, empty hopes and presumptuous confidence. Make our hearts so right with Thy most holy and loving heart, that hoping in Thee we may do good; until that day when faith and hope shall be abolished by sight and possession, and love shall be all in all.