Grace and I both started our blogs in March of 2015. One of us always seemed to remind the other of our blogoversaries each year. :) I'd see her post or she'd see mine and it was like, "Oh yeah! It's that time again!" We'd joke that it seemed one of us forgot about it every year.
Grace was also the very first blogger friend I made. I don't recall how I found her blog, but from the very start Grace was kind and friendly and welcoming. Even though we started our blogs within a week or two of each other, I apparently thought she had all the answers and I remember reaching out to her in those early days and asking questions. I'm sure it comes as no surprise that she was always helpful and gracious.
Over the span of four years, Grace was a constant in my blogging life. I think I visited and commented on virtually every post she made and she did the same. Our reading tastes were similar and we both read contemporary novels (women's fiction, romance, YA) almost exclusively.
It's too hard to think about how young she was - and the devastating loss to her family. So instead I choose to remember her kindness. The fact that she always had something positive to contribute. Her devotion to her three kids and all the soccer games and gymnastics classes she enjoyed with them. Her date nights with her husband. Her love of a good book and a glass of wine.
I considered Grace a friend. And I will miss her.
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For those interested, Grace's family has requested that any donations be made in her name to METAvivor Research and Support.
This is really lovely, Tanya. Grace was the first blogger I considered my friend as well, when I started blogging. She was so welcoming and supportive, and this really was a big loss for us all. ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing several people mention that Grace was their first friend in the community - or one of the first. And I'm not surprised at all. Like you said, she was so welcoming and it was easy to warm to her. {{hugs right back to you}}
DeleteOh Tanya, this is beautiful. She really is so, so special. I too remember her as among the first people I talked to regularly with blogging- and certainly one that I was friends with the longest. It's beyond devastating, and my heart is broken, especially for her lovely family. Hugs, Tanya ❤️
ReplyDeleteIt really is beyond imagination when I envision her family... so I just don't. It's too much. It's going to be very strange not seeing her posts anymore. Hugs to you too, Shannon.
DeleteWell said Tanya, and I love that so many blog friends of hers are remembering her like this. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteShe was obviously well-loved in the community and it's easy to see why. Always so friendly and welcoming. She'll surely be missed.
DeleteI've been blogging for almost 10 years so I started before you guys but I remember finding her blog and thinking she was one of the *cool kids* bloggers & actually felt intimidated lol
ReplyDeleteBut, of course, she was wonderful, supportive and down to earth and it's beyond tragic.
Karen @ For What It's Worth
Oh my goodness, that's funny about considering Grace to be one of the "cool kids." I bet she would have laughed at that. We never think of ourselves as the "cool" ones, do we? :) She really was wonderful and supportive... and will very much be missed.
DeleteThis is such a beautiful and heartfelt post, Tanya. I'm glad Grace is being remembered for the amazing mom and wife she is, also for being a friendly and kind blogger, and just overall for being a wonderful person. She will be missed but will always be remembered. She's a big part of the book blogging community and to the people she's touched with her warm personality and stories. *sending you hugs*
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, Chai. She was a big part of the book blogging community. I was so lucky that she was the first friend and I made. It started me off on the right foot and gave me a good feeling about the community. She set that tone for me and for so many others.
DeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm sorry I didn't have the pleasure of interacting with Grace like so many in the community have. She clearly was a champion and true friend to many other bloggers. Her impact and friendship will be her legacy!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Ethan. Her legacy (in the book blog community, anyway) truly will be her friendship and the impact she had on those that knew her. Well said.
DeleteMy heart hurt when I found out about Grace, late Saturday night. I'm still reeling from the news! She was so young, too, young! We talked a lot about the birth of her youngest, names, experiences and such since my daughter was due just a month or two after her. I can't believe it happened so fast! I'll miss her posts! She was such a joyful person in the book blogging community. Lovely post, Tanya!
ReplyDeleteToo young is right, Rachel. She was definitely a positive fixture in the community. Always something positive and uplifting to add.
DeleteSuch a beautiful tribute to your friend and a friend of the community Tanya. I didn't know Grace personally but she's been an inspiration to myself and so many other bloggers and readers with her advocacy for reading and her kindness. I'll miss seeing her kind words and her enthusiasm for our community but most of all, I'll miss her beauty and gentleness, how she made everyone feel so incredibly welcome. The entire community is mourning a remarkable woman of the likes we'll never see again.
ReplyDeleteReading your comment has me all teary-eyed, Kelly. It goes to show how Grace touched all those she came into contact with. This was so lovely.
DeleteBeautifully written, Tanya. I was heartbroken to learn about her passing. It just seemed to come quick - and she was definitely too young. I know that many in the blog community will miss her greatly.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I agree, Lauren. It seemed to happen so fast once she learned the cancer had spread. So little time. It's heartbreaking and she'll be missed by so many.
DeleteOh Tanya, I'm so sorry. I had no idea you had and Grace had that kind of blogging history.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know her well but she was always lovely.
She was way too young to be taken and my heart breaks for her family... I can't even imagine how they are feeling.
This is a lovely tribute to your friend. She'll be missed.
I hope you're okay.
Way too young, for sure. It's unthinkable, really, that a life can be ended so soon. Thanks for your kind words.
DeleteSuch a beautiful post Tonya! Grace was so incredibly special and I am so heartbroken that she is gone. She touched so many of our lives. Thank you for this beautiful tribute.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle. And you're so right that Grace touched so many of us. She'll truly be missed.
DeleteThis was a moving tribute, Tanya, and I am so glad you shared this. The loss will be heavy for a long while, but I hope you are doing good with managing it. I'm so very sorry for your loss and I meant it when I said if you needed anything to let me know. You, and her family and friends and the community she touched, are in my thoughts. *heart emoji*
ReplyDeleteThanks Jessica. I know everyone who knew Grace and what she was going through was hopeful for a different outcome. She'd beat it once which made this seem even more cruel. I appreciate your kind words.
DeleteI was still in London when I read about it Tanya. It is so sad and reminds us that life is not fair and we must enjoy every moment. I am thinking of her family too.
ReplyDeleteIt truly isn't fair, Sophie. And it can happen to any of us. Life you said, we really need to stop and be in the moment whenever we can and enjoy it.
DeleteThis is such a lovely tribute to Grace, Tanya. She was one of the first bloggers that I became friends with as well and I still can't believe she's gone. I'm trying to take a page out of your book and focus on what a special person she was, such a bright light in our community, and how truly lucky I was to have known her.
ReplyDeleteI've seen so many people comment about how Grace was among the first bloggers to comment on their posts and make them feel welcome. That seems to be a common theme and I love that. It's just too hurty right now to think about her loss and the pain of her family so I'm enjoying reading all the lovely tributes and remembering was a positive force she was.
DeleteI was devastated when I learned she'd been admitted the hospital. I was hopeful after her picture with her family, and then surprised to learn that she had died a few days after that. My heart goes out to her family, especially those children, and I hate that they now live in a world without their mother. It's my worst fear in life. Grace was always so kind and I really enjoyed her posts and comments. She will me missed in this community and in life.
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
I felt the same way, Lindsi. Seeing the photo of she and her family from the hospital room gave me hope. And yet a day later she was gone. It makes me heartsick to think of her family. And I feel like a there's now a whole in the community that she had filled.
DeleteBeautiful tribute, Tanya <3
ReplyDeleteThank you, Erica.
DeleteI love this, Tanya. Grace was such a special soul and she'll definitely be missed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rowena. She is most definitely missed.
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