Yesterday marked 16 years since Jon passed away. Today would have been our 27th wedding anniversary.
And even now—after all this time—we still miss him. The ache of loss doesn’t vanish. It softens and shifts over time, but it never quite disappears. Especially not during weeks like this.
This week is always difficult. Grief is strange like that—sometimes it’s predictable, and sometimes it catches you off guard in the middle of an ordinary moment. An old photo. A song. A memory. Or just the quiet absence of someone who once filled every part of your life.
Sixteen Years
Somehow, it’s been sixteen whole years. So much has happened since Jon stepped into eternity. We’ve moved several times. The kids have grown up—got their driver’s licenses, graduated high school, started college. One even graduated college! And in this journey, we added a new dad to our family. Not a replacement, but a beautiful addition.
Heath has been God’s grace to us in so many ways. Patient and understanding. Steady. He encourages us to talk about Jon, to remember him, to honor the man who shaped so much of who we are. I’m incredibly thankful for that—for him.
I’m also deeply grateful for the years we had with Jon. They weren’t nearly enough, but they were rich and full. And I’m just as thankful for the way God has directed our steps in the years since.
- Every hard turn.
- Every unknown.
- Every tearful prayer.
He has carried us. Every minute. Every day. Every year.
This week always brings a mixture of sadness and gratitude. I wouldn’t have chosen this path, but I can see the faithfulness of God in it. His presence has never left us—not once.
If you’re walking through grief right now, I just want to say: it’s okay to feel it. It’s okay if it still hurts. It’s okay if it surprises you.
And it’s also okay to keep living—with gratitude, with hope, and with love for both what was and what is.
I recently created a resource for anyone walking through grief. It's called Hope in the Mourning: A 30 Day Journal for the Grieving. This printable journal is scripture based with daily prompts, a prayer, and a place for gratitude. You can find it here in my Etsy shop: Hope in the Mourning: A 30 Day Journal for the Grieving. Please pass this along to anyone you feel this would help. More resources will be coming soon.
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