Grief Moves With Us: Finding Our New Rhythm in Tennessee

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We recently relocated to Tennessee which has been a move filled with purpose and change. We’re closer now to some of my husband’s family. It’s where we’re beginning again, just ahead of his transition out of the military in September. A new temporary home, a new rhythm, and the start of a chapter we hoped would be filled with light.

But grief came with us.

When Someone You Love Isn’t There

My father-in-law passed away not long before we moved, and his absence has been a quiet undercurrent through everything. He was the kind of person whose love was felt in the everyday moments. The way he greeted you when you walked through the door, and in the way he constantly checked in with a simple but powerful, “Are you okay?”

It’s hard to step into a new life when someone so foundational is no longer here to share it.

The Weight

One of the hardest parts has been seeing our kids miss him. They ask about him. They mention him in passing. Sometimes they cry, and sometimes they just go quiet. The missing is loud, even when no one says a word.

And as a parent, it’s heartbreaking to not have the right words to fix it. We can hug them, talk to them, hold space for them… but we can’t bring him back. And that hurts in a way that feels endless.

The Little Things

Grief shows up in the strangest ways. Not just in holidays or milestones, but in the soft, ordinary corners of life. Like walking into a room and realizing no one will call out your name like he did. Or sitting down to dinner and sensing the gap of the unspoken space where his voice, his humor, his presence used to be.

It creeps in quietly. And it stays.

Beginning Again Without Forgetting

We are grateful to be here. We have family nearby. We are laying down roots. But there’s a heaviness we carry, even in joy. This new life doesn’t erase the one we’ve lived , and it doesn’t fill the space he left behind.

Instead, we’re learning to let grief move with us. We’re not trying to “move on.” We’re just moving forward together while still holding on to the love he gave us.

Does It Ever Get Easier?

I don’t know if it does. Maybe the sharpness fades. Maybe the ache softens. But right now, we’re simply learning to carry it. To let it be a part of us without letting it drown us. To hold space for the love, the loss, and the legacy, all at once.

If you’re in a season like this too, just know: You’re not alone. And there’s no right way to grieve. Only your way.

FAQ: Grief Moves With Us: Finding Our New Rhythm in Tennessee

Why did your family relocate to Tennessee?
We moved to Tennessee to begin a new chapter closer to family, as my husband prepares to separate from the military.

How has grief impacted the transition to your new home?
Grief has quietly woven itself into our new life. Showing up in small moments and making the adjustment more emotional than expected.

How are your children coping with the loss of their grandfather?
Our children deeply miss their grandfather. They mention him often, and we’re doing our best to support them with love, honesty, and comfort during this difficult time.

What has helped your family process grief during this transition?
Being close to extended family, creating new routines, and talking openly about our emotions has helped. We also make space to remember and honor Grandpa in everyday life.

Does grief ever get easier?
Right now, we’re not sure. We’re learning to carry it with us and take it day by day and honoring both the pain and the love that remains.