It’s been a week marked with pain and sadness, both personal and in the lives of those dear to me. Yesterday was one of tears and that tightness in the chest that comes from grief and anxiety over things you cannot change, but wish with all your heart that you could.
I want to fix, heal, restore, and I can do none of them.
As I worked through my sadness yesterday, I sat in Bear’s big green armchair and edited photos from my trip to Bosnia from a couple of years ago. Seeing these images, so soft, green and intensely peaceful, helped me move from deep grief to deep peace. I let myself have a good cry, spoke aloud the things laying heaviest on my heart and then read moving and inspiring things like this post from my friend Rain.
As the day came to a close I was wrung out but at rest. My hope was restored, my joy intact. It’s a lovely thing to be able to hope again. To see the pain in this world and hope for those broken relationships to be restored, those shattered bodies made whole, those places of darkness illumined with light.
I cherish those hopes and thought of the family motto of my Mum’s Welsh family line: “While I breathe, I hope.” All is not lost while there is still life. The broken things can be healed.
I put on the kettle and slid ginger cookies into the oven. I smiled as the sun came out after days of rain and cloud. And I just shook my head and chuckled when my dear, wretched goats found another hole in the fence to escape through.
Life is devastatingly painful sometimes. And scary. And sad. But somehow it’s still beautiful, with friendships and experiences that restore, comfort, and cheer.
“Be brave enough to hold onto the hope that life will be beautiful again.” – Brave Girls Club
I wish you a beautiful weekend, dear ones.
thanks for sharing your heart with us…beautiful!!
Thank you, Anita. 🙂 I’m so glad the pictures delight you.
It is sad to see you so disheartened Krista. I hope all is well and the sun will continue to shine.
I believe it WILL be well, dear Val, and that gives me hope. 🙂
sounds like you may have just had my last week 🙁 hope all is better… if it isn’t yet, it will be 🙂
I am so sorry to hear that, dear Margo. Hoping things get much better for both of us VERY soon. 🙂 XO
Your photos are absolutely wonderful. So green and other-world, beautifully composed and rich. Peace and beauty seem to sooth and help us hope again.
They really do help us like that. 🙂 I’m so glad for green places like this.
Sorry for the sadness, dear one. Looking at your photos gives me a profound sense of peace. I hope you continue feel better.
Thank you so much, Maureen. I’m glad these shots are peaceful for you too. Tonight is better. 🙂
Krista, I don’t know what you’ve been through, but I do empathise with these feelings. I’ve been there. You’re a beautiful soul, as reflected in the images you capture and the words you write.
I believe you have been there, Hila. I can see it in your writing. Thank you for your kindness, and for understanding. 🙂
Krista, I hope that everything is ok. I’m thinking of you xxx
Thank you, Lorraine. It’s not OK, but I hope it will be one day. XO
I’m sorry to hear of your sadness. The fact that you can see the beauty around you be it at the farm or in these stunning photos, is so good. Hopefully the good days will outweigh the bad.
Absolutely stunning photographs! Yes, life is sometimes painful, but the how must go on!! Loved your blog.
That is a beautifully written (& beautifully photographed!) post, Krista. Thank you for sharing your heart and inspiring the rest of us toward courage, faith, and hope in our journeys. You are precious. Praying for you today with this.
What a beautiful collection of photos to welcome me back to your blog after my travels, although I am unhappy to read you are feeling sad and low at the moment. It is snowing here so I am enjoying staying warm and catching up with all my blogging friends.
Sweetie what happened!?! I looked through your old posts to see if I had missed something! My god I’m so sorry for whatever you’re going through. Sending you love and lightness!
I hope the beauty and serenity of this spot bring you a measure of peace. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Have a good weekend. Blessings…Mary
Even when I’m feeling down I’m still thankful for life’s challenges because otherwise I feel, ‘what would be the point of being here.’ But I’m sorry to hear you’ve been down and hope you feel better soon!
These photos are overwhelmingly beautiful! Never saw a scene so green and so peaceful, the images of happiness through nature.
Oh Krista, this is such a beautiful post! And yes, in the face of all the madness and awfulness this world occasionally offers, all we can do is hope. It’s the only way to get us through. I love that quote.
Sweetie – it is well and everything will be ok. I wish I could give you a big hug and share some words. I know it feels as though everything is broken and shattered but you were able to dig deep and find peace, solace and a time when everything was good. Everything good will come my love. Love you loads
beautiful friend, you are snuggled up close in my heart. xoxo
I’m so sorry Krista. Sending positive thoughts your way. xo
Sorry to hear you’ve been having a difficult time. Your photos are truly wonderful.
This post is hard to read, such a juxtaposition of beautiful photos that are so serene against painful honesty. You are in my thoughts.