It All Started With Paint

Our Home. My Canvas.

  • Home
  • Meet Linda
  • Home Tour
  • My Projects
    • Room Remodels
    • Mason Jar Projects
    • Crafts, Sewing, Etc.
    • Before & After’s
    • Chalkboard Paint Projects
    • Furniture
    • Recipes
    • Holidays & Seasonal
    • Paint This! Features
    • Free Printables & Calendar Pages
  • My Etsy Shop
  • Advertise
  • Contact Me

Hitting Pause.

March 1, 2019 By Linda 24 Comments

Lake Michigan in Winter

I’ve always found it hard to blog post-holiday season.

 

I mean, how can I top trees and mini wreaths and twinkle lights?

 

And then there’s all that cold and gray and early darkness that follows … for what feels like months and months on end.

 

Montrose Beach, Chicago, IL in Winter

I spent last weekend working up motivation to turn my back on that gray and cold and get back to the business of blogging.

 

But then tragedy struck on Monday night. Technically, Tuesday morning.

 

Don’t worry, my family is fine. But my friend who happens to live next door is not.

 

I won’t get into any details. I’ll just say it was a terrible, horrible, devastating sudden loss. And I was there as it all unfolded.

 

Nothing criminal, but it was traumatic. The emotions were raw — primal — as a friend lost her husband, and her children lost their father.

 

My heart breaks for this wonderful family. The best next door neighbors you could ask for …

 

And with that broken heart, I just can’t find any inspiration to blog. For now. So I’m hitting pause. For a week. Probably more like two. Perhaps three?

 

I don’t know.

 

All I can do it take it one day at a time.

 

 

Filed Under: Life in Chicago


Follow Along...


  • facebook
  • twitter

Subscribe by Email:


Comments

  1. Renee' says

    March 1, 2019 at 12:33 pm

    God Bless you Friend and your Sweet neighbor family.
    Prayers to All.
    Take your time…we will all still be here for you when you return.

    Reply
  2. Lisa says

    March 1, 2019 at 11:09 pm

    Do what you need to do Linda. Sending you and your neighbor a hug.

    Reply
  3. Linda says

    March 2, 2019 at 8:43 am

    So sorry for your friend’s loss. Prayers for the family and you.

    Reply
    • Linda says

      March 2, 2019 at 9:22 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Emily says

    March 2, 2019 at 8:45 am

    So sorry for the loss of your neighbor, I pray for peace and comfort for the family and we look forward to hearing from you when the time is right. 💕

    Reply
    • Linda says

      March 2, 2019 at 9:21 am

      Thank you for your prayers and understanding!

      Reply
  5. chepados says

    March 2, 2019 at 8:55 am

    I teamed up reading this. I’m so sorry for you but especially your neighbor and her family. Be there for her, we will be here when you return. Prayers.

    Reply
    • Linda says

      March 2, 2019 at 9:20 am

      Thank you for your support!

      Reply
  6. Kris@Junkchiccottage says

    March 2, 2019 at 9:03 am

    Oh Linda I am so sorry about your friend and neighbor. What a huge loss. Linda sometimes life really throws us a curve and our direction with blogging needs to take another path too. Take all the time you need. We here in the blogging community are here for you if you need anything. Just reach out. In the meantime take care of yourself. So sorry. Prayers for your neighbor and the children.
    Hugs,
    Kris

    Reply
  7. Melody says

    March 2, 2019 at 9:05 am

    Hi Linda. Sorry to hear about your neighbor. I am sure she is taking comfort in your friendship and support. Take care of yourself too.

    Reply
    • Linda says

      March 2, 2019 at 9:20 am

      Thank you Melody. Hope all is well with you and your family!

      Reply
  8. Jenny Ballard says

    March 2, 2019 at 6:20 pm

    Sorry to hear of your loss. Thoughts for your family and your neighbours. When life kicks us we need to take the time to live all the emotions and not worry about other things.

    Reply
  9. Margaret Oursler-Rowe says

    March 3, 2019 at 6:52 am

    Blessings and Peace for you and your dear neighbors. Breathe. Hug someone dear. Breathe.
    We will be here when you are ready. Take ;your time to do you. {{{hugs}}}

    Reply
    • Linda says

      March 3, 2019 at 9:38 am

      Thank you so much! Truly appreciate all your blessings and support!

      Reply
  10. Gwen says

    March 3, 2019 at 12:54 pm

    Thank you for sharing your grief with us, your readers. I have prayed for you and for your dear neighbors. I was just reading in 2Corinthians last night about how God comforts us with compassion. May you rest in His comfort and then be able to comfort your friend with the comfort you’ve received from our Heavenly Father through Jesus our Lord. God is merciful and a Good Shepherd. May you rest now and come back when you see fit. This is one of life’s hardest things. Virtual hugs.

    Reply
  11. Theresa says

    March 3, 2019 at 6:26 pm

    Linda, I am so sorry. Keeping you and your neighbor in my thoughts and prayers.

    Reply
  12. suzana rose borlovan says

    March 4, 2019 at 1:41 pm

    Bless and take care of yourself and those around you

    Reply
    • Linda says

      May 30, 2019 at 8:13 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Cecilia from Georgia says

    March 5, 2019 at 6:31 am

    I admire you for putting your loved ones first in your life. You are very strong and I am sure your friend and her family will continue to need your love and support as you all grieve. I just found your blog while searching how to lime wax and of course from there, saw the striped table. I look forward to reading your past blogs and will enjoy picking up new ones when you are ready to write again. If you want to write sporadically, and that may help you with your grief, then do it! God Bless you all.

    Reply
    • Linda says

      May 30, 2019 at 8:13 pm

      Thank you so much for your kind, kind words. I’m finally resurfacing! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Blue says

    March 6, 2019 at 4:09 am

    Dear lady, there are bends in the road that we cannot see beyond. We know we must travel, and sometimes, we travel on. Maybe this will be your journey. Blogging seems to exhausted itself within your creative being. It is a lot of work. And all while you live and work, sleep and clean, and eat and cook.
    All this walking. we can get exhausted. When do we get to rest, revitalize , renew, regroup if we stay just before the bend in that road, eh?
    Maybe this is “me” time for you. What I’ve noticed with do many bloggers who get burned out, that after they revitalize. . They find. They have changed, morphed, if you will — and blogging — that way of talking, learning and growing while sharing, just isn’t important, needed, necessary or even fun.. anymore. Maybe that may be your new road to travel after this bend. You know you’ll be missed tremendously. You really made our world’s better for the time that you shared with us.you know, that you are respected, admired, and loved. That, in and of itself, is the best any blogger can hope for. So
    As you take your leave from us, walk with love in your heart. And we wish you goodness in every step . In any direction, whether you treat us to more goodness by way of your blog.. or.. you dont.
    Much love to you and yours;;to your neighbors and prayers of healing comfort and peace to you all. DC. 2019

    Reply
    • Blue says

      August 8, 2019 at 1:14 am

      Please, I’m sorry my post was not good enough. Forgive and delete it

      Reply
  15. Kirby says

    March 18, 2019 at 4:59 am

    I am so, so sorry. Take all the time you need. You know where to find us.

    Reply
    • Linda says

      May 30, 2019 at 8:10 pm

      Thanks Kirby! And now months later I’m resurfacing. Again. I appreciate your support, my friend! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Subscribe by Email:

  • facebook
  • twitter

find me on instagram

Snowing outside. Spring in #blueandwhite inside. Snowing outside. Spring in #blueandwhite inside.
Follow on Instagram

meet linda

my etsy shop

top posts & pages

Paper Bag Bunny for Easter
Chick Easter Eggs
How to Paint a Sink
Lavender Soap DIY Recipe
Weight Watchers Garlic Shrimp Recipe
How To Paint and Distress Mason Jars

the other blog

Mason Jar Logo for Pinterest - Black and gray

blog archives

Privacy Policy

Click here for my Privacy Policy

It All Started With Paint copyright 2014. Built on Wordpress. Customized by NellieBellie
Enter Your Name & Email for FREE Updates
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.