Fun, fun, fun in the sun

                                                                       


Our family is now enjoying a week long stay in beautiful California with friends and family. Even as we grieve the loss of loved ones we must be mindful that life is meant to be enjoyed and treasured and vacations are all about making deposits into the memory banks of those we love.

Often when we grieve we tend to forget this concept as we make withdrawal after withdrawal from the memory bank of the past. Sure, we are suppose to miss our loved ones because they have been a integral part of our life for many years, but life is for the living. Our loved ones journey has ended, but until we are called home our journey continues.

One of the ways we can best honor our loved one who has died is to continue living in the present and build memories for our families who no doubt are traveling their own grief journey. I remember one family I was put in touch with shortly after our daughter died had rented a RV where they traveled across the country after the sudden loss of their same age daughter. The RV gave them family time while they process the grief. I am sure they had many God moments as they saw the beautiful landscape along the way.

Sometimes a grieving family needs to step out of the ordinary and mundane of life into a world of adventure to give them more deposits into their memory banks. For me, I learned that the father of our friend had worked for Disney studios for 33 years where he was in charged of set design for mandy of the Disney classics from Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and many more movies that our family was familiar with. In 'My Fair Lady he was in charge of the library scene and in the Sound of Music he created the 'thunder' in one of the scenes. Knowing this detail makes me want to go back and watch these classics.

I never would have known these details had we not have gone on our little adventure. This is the stuff that makes life worth living and the stuff that adds to the positive memories of our memory bank.

Won't you consider planning your next adventure to add to your family's memory bank?