Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
Three years ago today, I lost my father to suicide. As I write that I still feel this sense of disbelief as I question, "How could this have happened in my family?" It still just doesn't seem real. So much has happened in just three short years after losing dad to suicide.
Being a survivor is now a part of my story. It is not something I would have chosen to be a part of my story, but I suppose we do not always want the hand that is dealt ...
This season, I wanted to share some of my favorite holiday memories of my dad. I spend so much time on the blog talking about the way he died and about suicide in general that I’d like to keep this one on a lighter note.
Christmas was all about family to him. When the time came to decorate the tree, he wanted it to be a family affair. He’d put on Christmas songs and bring boxes of unique ornaments down from the attic. He really enjoyed ...
The halo effect of my dad’s suicide was felt again this week - nearly three and a half years later - during a visit to my hometown; it was the first time I made the trek since welcoming my baby daughter. In addition to introducing her to some relatives, we were holding her baptism at my family church. I cushioned our arrival time to allow for a quick visit to the cemetery to “introduce” her to my dad, as well. Leading up to the trip, I envisioned ...
I follow The Alliance of Hope for Suicide Survivors on Facebook, and read a post last month entitled A Moment in Time: Eulogy for Kathy, my Sweet Sister. The Author, MaryCatherine, asks you to pause and "not to reduce her entire life to that one moment that she made the transition from being alive in this world." This quote resinated with me, as I struggle to ensure that my father is remembered for the man he was, and not the moment that ended ...
This week marks an unbelievable three years since my dad’s death. As I was developing this post, I almost included the word “anniversary” in my title. However, I realized that term usually has a happy connotation – like with a wedding – and I didn’t feel like using it this time around. Some days, it feels like he left us only yesterday, but on other occasions, it feels like so much longer. I’ve had new jobs, a new house, a new car and a new baby ...
