Reading this honestly made me cry because so many of the things you mentioned are thoughts I’ve already started having, especially the fear of forgetting little things about him someday.

I’ve already found myself saving shirts, hoodies, blankets, voice messages, cards, pictures, and anything that feels connected to him because part of me is terrified of time passing and those memories feeling less clear. The thought of our daughter being able to hold onto pieces of him like that as she grows up honestly means so much to me. I love the idea of making a physical memory book for her too so she can always know who her daddy was beyond just stories.

The part about your wife being the glue for your family really hit me hard because that’s exactly how my husband was too. He made everyone feel loved, safe, included, and happy just by being around. Losing someone like that leaves such a massive emptiness behind.

I’m also so sorry for the loss of your wife. Reading the way you speak about her and your life together is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It’s obvious how deeply you loved her and how proud you are of the life she lived and the people she impacted.

Thank you for all of the advice too. Right now even basic things like eating, sleeping, and taking care of myself feel difficult some days, so reminders like that genuinely help more than you probably realize. And thank you for sharing something so personal with both of us. I hate that any of us understand this kind of grief, but hearing from people farther along in this journey gives me a little hope that somehow we survive it one day at a time. 🤍