tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post2499229031780715383..comments2024-02-11T02:09:23.512-08:00Comments on An Inch of Gray: Way Too Hard to Leg-oAnna Whiston-Donaldsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14921348961654008115noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-24755165931615043952012-02-07T09:49:38.885-08:002012-02-07T09:49:38.885-08:00I wish I could change things for you. This sucks ...I wish I could change things for you. This sucks and it's not fair. All that helps me with grief is to believe that it's in God's hands. Otherwise, life would always be impossible, not just sometimes. Hugs.<br /><br />MichelleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-78624986327693970732012-01-23T13:02:18.110-08:002012-01-23T13:02:18.110-08:00this one broke my heart. Hugs to you Anna....big ...this one broke my heart. Hugs to you Anna....big hugs. Take those Lego's to his school and let the kids there enjoy them when you are ready. That's where our "educational toys" go...so I can still visit them if I need to and watch other children play with them like mine did.irv familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16029601770108677212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-69921246617505679982012-01-21T10:15:29.454-08:002012-01-21T10:15:29.454-08:00This post is perfect. What a loveable, extraordina...This post is perfect. What a loveable, extraordinary boy he was.<br /><br />I always have so much I want to write to you and can never quite get the words right... I'm sending love and prayers to your family constantlyChristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06231218256712238474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-51474411300467987352012-01-20T06:41:56.059-08:002012-01-20T06:41:56.059-08:00Your words have made me think of my 12 year old so...Your words have made me think of my 12 year old son and his lego built and displayed neatly in his room. He wanted to keep his boxes but I tossed them all. I am so fortunate to have him to hold and love and I do - every minute. I am so sorry that you don't have your Jack to do the same with. I am so sorry. Lisa L.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-32354391973000775062012-01-20T06:16:55.108-08:002012-01-20T06:16:55.108-08:00How can i read this and not have something to say ...How can i read this and not have something to say that could bring you comfort? My tears flow and I pray for you and your husband and your precious daughter. I read part of this to my 16 year old son and he also wept. Jack is home safe in the arms of Jesus and you will see him again until then know that you are always in our prayers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-3424707292884584352012-01-19T23:12:35.318-08:002012-01-19T23:12:35.318-08:00Thank you for sharing your feelings and about your...Thank you for sharing your feelings and about your son. They say grief is like a wave, and eventually the waves get further apart. May your healing continue to move forward. Keep sharing your thoughts and stories. May God keep you in the safety of his arms. Thoughts and prayers to you and yours.heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07826755734518834696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-49818317026003480752012-01-19T21:41:08.699-08:002012-01-19T21:41:08.699-08:00Wow... Anna, I have just discovered your blog and ...Wow... Anna, I have just discovered your blog and your story, and I am at a loss for words, of course. Your Jack is/was an amazing little boy... I can only imagine the pain. I know a family who lost their son when he was 19, and only 30 years later did they manage to find a place for the last box of his they had. I'm pretty sure nothing helps, and nothing anyone can say can take away the pain... but my hope is that you find out how this becomes a part of you... I think you are doing just that by writing about it. I am so sorry for all you and your family are going through and for the loss of your beautiful son.Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17167049879205797424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-34486430153825427592012-01-19T19:55:00.289-08:002012-01-19T19:55:00.289-08:00We all miss him. xoWe all miss him. xothe mama bird diarieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11873150534166153971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-59243974166656919812012-01-19T17:22:38.140-08:002012-01-19T17:22:38.140-08:00Just sending you hugs and wishing that I could som...Just sending you hugs and wishing that I could somehow ease your pain, if even for just a short time.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02220328697928098496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-91492902953763526192012-01-19T16:14:48.486-08:002012-01-19T16:14:48.486-08:00THose painful "what-if's" are surely...THose painful "what-if's" are surely the devil's work. <br /><br />Don't let him in. He can knock ALL HE WANTS, but please, please don't let him in....<br /><br /><br />xoxoxoVodka Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04734323418017847775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-27918482553159612212012-01-19T13:33:51.625-08:002012-01-19T13:33:51.625-08:00Just thought I would stop by and say I said some p...Just thought I would stop by and say I said some prayers for your family today. I hope you felt comforted if only for a second. Thinking of you all often.Princess Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00868992133684014734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-53057561079530445582012-01-19T11:02:09.961-08:002012-01-19T11:02:09.961-08:00Thinking of you every day.
No rush to take care of...Thinking of you every day.<br />No rush to take care of Jack's things. Take the time you need. It speaks volumes that all of these "things" really are stories... it's so evident that you LISTENED to your son every day. I am learning patience from your stories, both present and past. - Coach JessAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-21280679270515962192012-01-19T10:08:53.446-08:002012-01-19T10:08:53.446-08:00Some of your posts simply touch me, while others s...Some of your posts simply touch me, while others seem to pierce right through me. This one pierced. I keep telling myself "I have to stop reading about this - I'll only end up in tears!" But I keep coming back. Because your family has found a home in my heart. Because I find myself thinking about you at random times during random days. Because, often, when I pick up Legos off my floor I find myself thinking about Jack's Legos going unused and wondering how in the world you are getting through this. You are amazing, inspirational, faithful, and honest and I thank you for continuing to share all of that with us. It really does touch hearts and change lives. <br /><br />Keep the Legos - someday Margaret will have children and you will delight in seeing them played with again. And how about this for the chocolate? Keep your eyes out for those people that need a little comfort, a little "thank-you", a little acknowledgement. Maybe someone who does something that Jack would have approved of. Give them a candy bar. You don't have to tell them why or where it came from, just give it as a little token of love and friendship. Then do it again with another bar. Then do it again. Buy more bars and keep doing it - keep giving out these little treasures whenever you see something good in the world that needs to be acknowledged. It can be your thing. You'll be the Crunch bar lady. :) Maybe that will help you slowly let go of those bars on the shelf, and do it in a way that helps you feel like Jack is still giving, still sharing those special parts of himself.<br /><br />Just a thought. Either way, we'll all be here for you as you make your way through this new and unknown territory. Love and prayers, as always, to all of you.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17089820242701950669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-24860788082548457832012-01-19T06:31:07.135-08:002012-01-19T06:31:07.135-08:00You are a great mother!! Thought you might need a ...You are a great mother!! Thought you might need a reminder.... we are listening.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-71170173759053719762012-01-18T21:58:52.964-08:002012-01-18T21:58:52.964-08:00There are just no words. And there are just too m...There are just no words. And there are just too many. And NOTHING seems adequate to soothe your weary soul. I am so sorry that what brought Jack such joy hurts you so very much. I am so sorry. Please know you are prayed for.Auntie Miphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08587331779041550284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-59484321743492975552012-01-18T20:52:10.211-08:002012-01-18T20:52:10.211-08:00Oh, no. It's all too hard. Hugs from a stran...Oh, no. It's all too hard. Hugs from a stranger far away.Yankee, Transferredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06627693160131161133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-34678503308021284262012-01-18T20:43:59.399-08:002012-01-18T20:43:59.399-08:00They aren't just things, I think. They are al...They aren't just things, I think. They are also connections to him and all that he was and is in your lives (and in all of our lives too). Loving you all every day from afar.anymommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317877435130121894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-25829304868729224002012-01-18T20:35:17.923-08:002012-01-18T20:35:17.923-08:00Anna, I feel your grief pouring through my screen,...Anna, I feel your grief pouring through my screen, and I hurt for you. I hope that writing helps alleviate the pain in some way, and that you know you are helping others who may not be able to articulate what you can. Like Rach says, there are no timelines for decisions like the ones you ponder; the answers will come. And perhaps Margaret will want to help decide.Ellen Seidmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433429847255621203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-81625194472564292842012-01-18T20:23:07.674-08:002012-01-18T20:23:07.674-08:00I love Jack stories. What a great kid. Maybe you s...I love Jack stories. What a great kid. Maybe you should divide his things like he did, some to keep for the grandkids, some for you, and some for the children out there who are in need that Jack would want to help. <br /><br />I love that you asked the doctor about his saving and the doctor deemed him a collector rather than a hoarder. That is just so cute.Shell Flowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08127004188099765270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-31058798426282190272012-01-18T19:10:05.341-08:002012-01-18T19:10:05.341-08:00I feel the realness of this post so much. Believe ...I feel the realness of this post so much. Believe me, as a mom, I can understand this pain, and believe me that every day I think about your family. Your story, what you're going through, what happened, it keeps everything in perspective for me. Cherish every second. Life is previous. I Amos sorry, Anna. Nothing I've read since becoming a mom has touched me to my core like your story, your son. God bless you all. Always in my thoughts and prayers.Loukiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03066879990007701379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-75054675133134427842012-01-18T18:11:26.112-08:002012-01-18T18:11:26.112-08:00We're all here in this life for such a short t...We're all here in this life for such a short time. All of us. It's just a blink really. What I mean to say is, you'll see him again soon. Not soon enough of course! And then how do you cope with the totally unendurable pain until that time? One breath at a time. EricaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-44177846430937145962012-01-18T17:56:28.785-08:002012-01-18T17:56:28.785-08:00Total tear jerker... I'm feeling your pain, it...Total tear jerker... I'm feeling your pain, it really hurts... I cry for you and your family, daily as I drive over the bridge and see that wreath with the blue ribbon on it. Must seem so unreal.... I just can't imagine... but bad things happen and it seems so so unfair. <br /><br />Treasure Jack's Lego sets and keep them!:) I'm also quite sure, that your sweet loving Jack, would like for his loving family to eat his crunch bars. <br /><br />What a unique and special boy Jack was, never will be forgotten...Aimeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10221203779708800168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-50302915797729908952012-01-18T17:45:21.566-08:002012-01-18T17:45:21.566-08:00Last night I watched a show about John Walsh's...Last night I watched a show about John Walsh's son Adam and all the details, that happened during his abduction and death in 1981. And my thoughts were with you. I wish I had words that could take it away even for just a minute. I am so terribly sorry and I can't imagine a life with the filter you have, everything is different. I know there will come a day of joy but I also know it will always be different. Know that I am still lifting you up!Laura at Ms. Smartie Pantshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06953284758360960450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-70847507593609699072012-01-18T17:42:29.104-08:002012-01-18T17:42:29.104-08:00your words break my heart. I cannot imagine your p...your words break my heart. I cannot imagine your pain. I think of you every night i tuck my little guy in bed. I pray that Jack continues to send you sweet signs and you find comfort in all of your wonderful memories and pictures. I am just so very sorry for this unimaginable pain:( Hugsxoxomiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00679307359908744042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334921515741798160.post-24572225906465329402012-01-18T12:15:18.215-08:002012-01-18T12:15:18.215-08:00I hope that amongst all these painful details ther...I hope that amongst all these painful details there are also hidden treasures--a memory to resurface, something that makes you laugh.<br /><br />Sorry isn't a word big enough for what you're going through.<br /><br />xoAnn Imighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01383249597505013239noreply@blogger.com