enough
August 11, 2006
It’s blueberry season again.
And unlike last year, the blueberries taste sweet.
And this year I can see all the things of which I am thankful. This year the hazy fog of depression is gone. This year I can give thanks for:
Baby feet
Round baby bellies
snow cones on a hot day:
flowers that grow outside my front door
flying through the air:
Sun-kissed dimples
Pigtails
That maybe I am doing something right
And on the third anniversary of the death of Rob’s sister, I am mostly thankful for time:
Time to find my smile again.
Time to finally get it right.
This year, it is enough. And I am thankful.
Posted by Chris @ 9:12 am
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Beautiful! Glad for your smiles and happiness!
August 11th, 2006 at 9:26 amJust a little teary now. But good teary.
August 11th, 2006 at 9:27 amWhat a lovely post!
August 11th, 2006 at 9:27 amI read this and cry. Selfishly, my tears are not for you but remembering my own dark time just over a year ago. We had babies at about a month apart Chris and I hadn’t found you to read yet. Looking at this, I wish I had. Here’s to more sweet years!
August 11th, 2006 at 9:28 amI am thankful for this utterly beautiful post.
August 11th, 2006 at 9:32 amYay for time! And blueberries.
August 11th, 2006 at 9:33 amChris,
I read the old post and related. Far, too, well. I have struggled with depression, PPD and just plain major depression off and on throughout my life. This winter was a new low for me.
I’m so thankful for stories of recovering the happiness, like this.
Thanks so much for sharing - beautifully bittersweet, and shows just how true it is that to fully know the happy times, we must have had some sad times with which to compare.
August 11th, 2006 at 9:33 amOoh, you made me cry. My baby is just a month older than yours, and I still occasionally sink into myself and she has to pull me out. Maybe there’s hope!
August 11th, 2006 at 9:38 amP.S. I have written about my own struggles with depression, and thought it was fitting to link to this post on my blog - as my readers will enjoy too.
August 11th, 2006 at 9:41 amWow, that was beautiful. Too much for my pg hormones, LOL. I’m so glad you are feeling better this year.
I’m still jealous of your great pics. When your kids are grown, they will thank you for having the camera with you. Mine will just complain all over again, just like they do now. LOL
August 11th, 2006 at 10:03 amBeautiful post! I love it. And mmmm on the blueberries!
August 11th, 2006 at 10:04 amI’m a little teary, too. My baby just this week turned one. I remember after he was born the only place I was happy was in the shower.It was where nobody could get me or need me or talk to me. I’m all better now, though. Thank you for putting all that into words.
August 11th, 2006 at 10:08 amI was hospitalized for clinical depression 14 months ago. I try my best not to remember the numb days that came before and after. While I will more than likely be on medication for the rest of my life, it will be worth it to be clear, to be happy, to be able to love and be loved.
August 11th, 2006 at 10:23 amMy depression hit around my middle daughters’ birthday, so I will always have that reminder…however, I hope I will always be able to see how far I’ve come since then :)!
I am so happy for you.
August 11th, 2006 at 10:23 amAwesome.
August 11th, 2006 at 10:24 amGreat post today! Enjoy your blueberries!
August 11th, 2006 at 10:30 amthose baby feet are SO adorable. seriously. i can hardly stand it.
August 11th, 2006 at 10:31 amLovely post. Was it ALL that rain that made those berries so sweet?
August 11th, 2006 at 10:32 amI’m happy for you! You are such a wonderful and beautiful woman, wife, and mother!
August 11th, 2006 at 10:36 amThis is lovely. I’m so glad things are better for you this time around.
August 11th, 2006 at 10:48 amYay for your being able to see the sunshine in your life. I’m going to send the link to this post to a friend who is in the middle of a depression and can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
August 11th, 2006 at 10:55 amBeautiful pictures and words. Thank you.
August 11th, 2006 at 11:02 amChris,
You made me actually cry while sitting at my desk!!! BEAUTIFUL!
I have been reading your blog for about 3 months now - I actually went back and read every past entry. At work every day it gives me a lot of laughs and heartfelt pleasure to read it. It also made me want another baby “Gasp” (–sound made from my husband when i told him). My babies are 5 and 8 and I miss the little baby things!!
Thank you so much for writing this every day! You make my day!
–Jules
August 11th, 2006 at 11:21 amTelluride, CO
Beautiful - both the words and the pictures.
August 11th, 2006 at 11:44 amBig hugs, my dear…
August 11th, 2006 at 12:00 pm*sniff*
August 11th, 2006 at 12:11 pmI know we’ve never met, but I love you Chris. You made me cry - happy cry! I’m dont really have words for how this feels, to be so moved by someone I’ve never even met yet like so so much. I’m so happy for you - you have such a beautiful life. It’s beauty moves me, a stranger to tears.
niki
Congratulations on getting to a place in your life where you can appreciate the sweetness in the everyday things life has to offer.
August 11th, 2006 at 12:25 pmbeautiful
August 11th, 2006 at 12:41 pmI am so happy for you! Enjoy those blueberries!
August 11th, 2006 at 12:52 pmi remember that post clearly. it was that post that made me start to confront my own PPD and recognise I was ill too. looking back on that poem really made me sharply inhale.
Lets hope the worse is behind us.
And God help all those who follow.
August 11th, 2006 at 2:00 pmthis is beautiful. and so heartwarming. big hugs
August 11th, 2006 at 2:00 pmSo beautiful. I am all verklempt.
August 11th, 2006 at 2:24 pmThat was beautiful, and I’m so glad that you are in a happier place now.
August 11th, 2006 at 2:38 pmWhat a post of perfect perspective… and the cutest baby feet in those little green shoes (are they called crocs?) I am so glad the blueberries are sweet for you this year.
August 11th, 2006 at 3:20 pmThis post was truly beautiful.
August 11th, 2006 at 3:38 pmOh, thank goodness the blueberries taste sweet and that you can see all that you have to be thankful for.
August 11th, 2006 at 3:39 pmYou know how much I love and admire you.
I’m thankful that things are better.
August 11th, 2006 at 3:41 pmhappy to see your revitalized perspective on life.
August 11th, 2006 at 4:22 pmhow sweet it is.
Oh I just want to smooch you.
That is all.
August 11th, 2006 at 4:54 pmThat was beautiful. My twins are just a few weeks older than miles and I was in the dark place with you. I just didn’t know this blog yet.
I had read the previous blog entry before and loved it. It so beautifully puts the thoughts and feelings of depression.
I’m finally at a place where I can enjoy my children. The blueberries are sweet for me this year as well.
August 11th, 2006 at 5:09 pmSpeechless and choked up. Wonderful post.
August 11th, 2006 at 5:18 pmI am still using a little “artificial sweetener” so to speak, but I am still here for my kids and that’s all that matters right now. Thanks for the perspective.
August 11th, 2006 at 5:25 pmThat was just beautiful, the words and the photos. I love the one of your son with the dimples! So cute.
August 11th, 2006 at 6:32 pmBeautiful…
August 11th, 2006 at 7:08 pmI’m so happy for you to be able to enjoy smiling again. With all those adorable kids you can’t help but keep smiling now. Life is good!
August 11th, 2006 at 7:27 pmLong Time Reader…First Time Commenter.
This made me cry and smile all at the same time. It is beautiful, as are your children. Keep up the great writing work.
August 11th, 2006 at 7:58 pmB-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. Thank you for posting these thoughts and photos.
August 11th, 2006 at 10:55 pmI too check your blog frequently, but only once in a blue moon comment.
You are a gifted writer, with a tremendous sense of humor. : )
Oh bless you, that was lovely.
August 12th, 2006 at 1:23 amWhat a lovely, well written, touching post!
August 12th, 2006 at 5:41 amThat was beautiful, I’m happy for you.
August 12th, 2006 at 1:36 pmBeautiful pictures. You are making me do the pregnant cry. Aaaagh!
August 12th, 2006 at 3:07 pmSo glad you’ve found your smile! You certainly have much to smile about and your kids’ grins are infectious.
August 12th, 2006 at 4:53 pmI love the photos and the heartfelt sharing!!
August 12th, 2006 at 5:50 pmI most love….the baby crocs!!
I wish I had pictures of my children (now grown) like you take of yours. All of mine are “old style” posed and fake. You are such a wonderful Mom. You do so much with your family - I couldn’t believe how down on yourself you were for sooooo long. Glad you are UP again. Look forward to more posts.
August 12th, 2006 at 5:54 pmWow! Your children are beautiful and truly a blessing to you and your hubby! I’m glad that you are feeling blessed today because you really are!
I’m sorry about the death of your dear sis-in-law three years ago! I lost my sis-in-law and best friend in 2001 to a car accident! The hurt was so great, but time has healed the wounds—still, I miss her.
God bless you! I love reading your blog!
Hugs!
August 12th, 2006 at 7:13 pmJody
Your children are beautiful. I think you do a lot right. Yay for happiness and smiles!
August 12th, 2006 at 8:21 pmi’ve only been lurking for a while, had not read the referred to post before. it’s good to see that side. to realize that even people i think are perfect, sometimes are just like me. i am a ppd sufferer. 3 times over and i’m expecting again. a sucker for torture, i guess, but the last time i finally figured out against all the unwarranted advice that zoloft can be a friend. i’m so glad your fog has passed. and that you give such upbeat laugh out loud posts. keep ‘em comin’, please!
August 12th, 2006 at 8:41 pmYou are a blessing. Thank you.
August 12th, 2006 at 8:56 pmThis was the most beautiful post I’ve read all day. Wonderful. Thanks for sharing. (I sound like spam! Would you like a pe.nis enlar.gement too? Yeesh.) Anyway, that was beautiful.
BTW, I love your header graphic.
I’ve moved to http://www.muchmorethanamom.com
Come on over and check out my new look!
August 12th, 2006 at 10:15 pmPowerful post. Really powerful.
August 13th, 2006 at 3:20 pmBeautiful words and even more beautiful pictures. You’re amazing, Chris.
August 14th, 2006 at 1:53 pmWe always visit my father in Sevierville, TN at this time of year, and my daughter loves to harvest the blueberries. Unfortunately they are moving right now, so we will miss the mountains, the blueberries, the nature walks, and seeing my father teach my daughter how to pick tomatoes at their peak. The good news, they are moving back here to Houston, so my kids will know their Pappadaddy again.
We will miss those beautiful blueberries. We would make blueberry pancakes, with fresh blueberry syrup. We made blueberry icecream, blueberry salad dressing, blueberry jam, the list goes on….
August 14th, 2006 at 6:35 pm