12 February 2009
Before last year, Valentine’s Day was something we celebrated as a joyous event. My husband and I rarely went out anywhere or spent money on gifts. We usually made a nice dinner at home and ate with our kids. Since my kids love crafting, our cards were always handmade. We celebrated our love as a family, because that is what is most important to us.
My family is still the most important thing to me. We will still eat dinner and make cards. I will still tell my children how much I love them and treat my husband to a nice foot massage, but it will never be quite the same. Last year, I buried my grandpa on Valentine’s Day. It was only fitting since he and my grandma were married on that day. It was a beautiful service and I had the honor of making the arrangements because I was his favorite and he was like my dad. It was my final gift to him, since my grandma was in no shape to handle it.
So this year will be bittersweet. I have worked through my grief and depression over his passing. I have come a long way this past year and watched my grandma do the same. Together we’ve cried and laughed, reflecting on his life.
This Saturday will be spent with grandma, doing just that. We are gathering to remember his love for us and celebrate the fact that we have made it through this past year, despite the rough road. It will definitely be different than any other Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had, but for some reason, I look forward to it. I know that it is how my grandpa would have wanted us to spend the day, being together and celebrating love. I would not want it any other way, except for him to be there celebrating with us.
READ KADI'S OTHER POSTS...
Read about children and loss, some books which help kids deal with death and how Supernanny Jo Frost helped Antoinette Lewis through the death of her husband.