Heartfriend Originals

I don't know where the saying "good grief" came from.  I remember it from my earliest memories when reading the Peanuts comic strip with my grandpa.  I never thought of it having any deeper meaning other than it was what Charlie Brown was told over and over.  "Good grief, Charlie Brown."  But these days, I am finding that it has meaning.  Those of you "in the know", know that these last months have brought a multitude of griefs to Deedee's and my lives.  From her father, Jack's, painful illness and eventual death, to my poor health, to the break up of her marriage and now, the closing of Rose Buds.  So much in so little time.  It has been heartbreaking.  We don't have bad attitudes towards it.  We are not overcome.  However, we are hurting.  And yet, strangely enough, we are excited.  No, we have not lost our minds.  We are very aware of the financial difficulties we will have to overcome even after closing Rose Buds.  We know that her divorce will be difficult.  And we know that not feeling good has been too hard for too long.  Yet, in the grief, there is good.  Continuing to walk, to get up and try again, to dream, to hope..........that is good.  This is the end of one dream, one adventure and one phase of life.  But what is coming is yet to be seen, a surprise, a gift, a challenge, a blessing.  And I can't wait to see what God does.  I have no illusions that the journey will be easy or lined with only clear paths and friendly roads.  But I do know that it will be worth it.  So many ask if I think that we failed.  Maybe business wise we have.  But in the ways that really matter we have had great success.  Met people.  Learned a tremendous amount to help us in future endeavors.  Made lots of mistakes.  Said lots of apologies.  Hoped big.  Pursued dreams.  And though it's painful, it's totally worth it.  I can't see around the bend, though I have the personality that I often crane my neck trying to.  But I know that the journey is totally wonderful.  Living is a gift.  Each day.  Give it your all.  Give dreams a chance.  Even if they don't look like you hoped, you get a lot more than if you never travel their roads at all.  Give yourself grace to fail sometimes.  And keep on trying.  You will find joy.  You will find grief.  Intermingled.  That's "good grief".  blessings, rhonda