This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Allstate for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Family. It is most important to me. I spent most of my childhood at my grandparent's house in the country. It was true bliss. My grandma treated me like one of her daughters and taught me everything I needed to know about growing up in the country. From picking corn, to green beans, collecting juicy raspberries and more, there was something always new to learn. Grandpa taught me to respect nature and how to survive and thrive in the country. I grew up, went off to college, but my grandparents were always there. Nothing ever seemed to change, which was such a comfort to me! My parents had divorced while I was in high school and that was such a bad time in my life. Grandma was always there with words of encouragement and love.

I met my husband Walt my senior year of college and was so excited for him to meet them. I had since moved 10 hours away, from New York to Ohio, but we made the trip at least twice a year to see them. They were getting into their 80’s and the thought of them passing away crossed my mind a few times but I always pushed it away. Their health seemed good, and honestly, I thought they’d live forever.

After getting married in 1999, my son Cameron was born in 2002 and there was so much joy, bringing him to meet them. Grandma and Grandpa were so happy to spend time with Cam, that fall and the following spring. But by summer, my aunt was telling me Grandma was not doing well. I had planned a trip for December. I thought I had enough time. Thanksgiving weekend of 2003, I got the call I wasn’t expecting. Grandma had died in her sleep. I was so heartbroken. I never got to say goodbye.  

We made the December trip and spent a lot of time with family, talking about Grandma. Everyone was shocked she had passed away so quickly. The next few years, we visited Grandpa, who never really got over the loss of his wife. He was alone in the country and at almost 90, was still riding the tractor and going out in the woods. Everyone told him not to. November of 2007, he passed away outside, on his tractor. He was found a few days later.

The shock of a second loss, especially like that, was hard for my family. We had lost our matriarch and patriarch of the family in a few years time. But as time went on, we were able to pull together and remember all the good times we shared with them. What they taught us. How they are a daily inspiration to us.

So out of losing two of the most important people in our family, we were able to heal and remember them every day. They would want us to move on and enjoy life and remember how they lived, not how they died. It's important to prepare for the good, as well as the bad. That's where Allstate Good Life comes in. We've been Allstate customers for over 15 years and they have always been there for us, just like Grandma and Grandpa.