I was not going to write this post. But then I was overcome by emotion and realized that part of my grieving process involves talking and about writing about my emotions.  This is therapeutic for me. Be sure to read tomorrow’s post for more happy thoughts about quilting, but for today, please indulge me in my grief.

As the events of Boston were unfolding, I was saddened along with the rest of the country. However, on Friday as the country was celebrating the capture of the second bombing suspect, police arrived to a home in my neighborhood where a mother had taken the life of herself and her two children, one of whom was my daughter’s good friend.

Words cannot express the depth of our sorrows as our neighborhood tries to cope with understanding why. The local news has been out here many times over the weekend and neighbors and friends have joined together to comfort each other. This is what good people do in sad times.

Here is a clip from our local news showing many of us standing together in love and sadness.

Neighborhood Memorial

People grieve in different ways. For me it helped to talk to my friends, neighbors, and church members, to pray a lot, and to hug my children. I also tried to listen to as many uplifting spiritual talks and music as much as I could this weekend. I also threw myself into quilting with a vengeance (which you will see the results of later this week).

I am so grateful that I will be heavily involved in my upcoming guild’s quilt show this week as it will be a welcome distraction. So if I am over exuberant later in the week, you will know why. It will help to push away the sadness.

For those of you wishing to do something to cope with your grief about the terrible events in Boston, Berene Campbell from the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild has put together a wonderful project explaining how you can help.

Please go hug someone today and tell them you love them.