“The pain of grief is just as much a part of life as the joy of love; it is perhaps
the price we pay for love.”

 

   Today, Elliston would have been 5 months old. It doesn’t seem possible. I feel like we’ve began to find some optimism in things. I’m learning to celebrate Elliston and what she means to us and others. I’m still amazed by the outreach from friends and family. The #forelliston hashtag on Instagram still gets posts. A couple of weeks ago I received an email photo from a buddy of his daughter next to a statue of an elephant with the subject ‘For Elliston’. It’s easy at times to feel like Tiffany and I are alone in our grief or missing her. I can’t put into words what it means to know that she is still on people’s minds. That the memory of her is encouraging them to take a few extra moments and “love on their kids”.
  
   Someone told me that they hate to see bad things happen to good people. It was a nice thing to say. I’ve been thinking about that phrase. I’ve found myself asking, why us? But, why not us? Bad things happen to people. I think what separates good and bad people, is what we do when something bad happens to us. I don’t want us to sit in dark rooms thinking morbid thoughts. “Once you accept the fact that life is not fair, you’ll be more at peace with yourself. Instead of obsessing over how unfair life is, just focus on what you can control and change it for the better.” Elliston is the most beautiful light I’ve ever had in my life. She has/is making me a better person. She’s hopefully made me a better husband, brother, son, friend, and one day… a better father. I carry her everywhere I go. I’m learning to be more open about our story. It’s not always easy, but I think it’s necessary.