Happy New Year

January 2013
Newsletter of the Houston West, TX, Chapter
Chapter Co-Leaders
Joyce Dakin
Malena Lopez
Annette Mennen Baldwin
Lisa Leanard
Newsletter Editor
Treasurer
(281) 858-4551
(281) 995-7747
(281) 578-9118
When a child dies, at any age, the family suffers intense pain and may feel hopeless and isolated. The Compassionate
Friends provides highly personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family.
***JANUARY MEETING***
We will be joining the Katy Compassionate Friends Chapter for a Special Concert
When: Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Where:
Kingsland Baptist Church
6:30 PM – Doors Open
If this is your first meeting, please arrive by 6:30 pm
7:00 PM—Meeting Begins
20555 Kingsland Blvd,
Katy, TX 77450
John Burns Building, East side of church
Program: Alan Pedersen Concert
Directions:
From East of Fry Road (coming from Houston): Go west on I-10 to Fry Road. Turn left (south) on Fry Road. Turn right (west) on Kingsland Blvd and travel 0.5 miles to Kingsland Baptist Church.
From West of Mason Road (coming from San Antonio): Go east on I-10 to Westgreen Blvd. Turn right (south) on Westgreen Blvd and
travel 0.6 miles to Kingsland Blvd. Turn left (east) on Kingsland Blvd and travel 0.5 miles to Kingsland Baptist Church.
(Across from Nottingham Country Elementary School)
Our Children Remembered
Birthdays
January 25
Anthony Joseph Leanard, son of Larry & Lisa Leanard
During your child’s birth month, you are invited to bring a special photograph or keepsake of your
Loved one to share with the group. If you are unable to attend the meeting during your loved
one’s birth month, please feel free to choose another month to share with us.
The death of your child is probably the most traumatic, life-changing event that you will ever experience. The Compassionate Friends is an organization of parents who have also lost a child to death. Each of
us has experienced the deep, searing pain that you are feeling now. Each of us has turned to other parents
who were farther into their grief journey for guidance, support and understanding. This is done through
our monthly meetings, our newsletter, our website, our phone-a-friend program, our library, our e-mail
program and our referral program. Each month parents find our meeting to be a safe place where they can
talk about their pain and problems with others who are uniquely qualified to understand; bereaved parents
offer gentle suggestions or often simply listen. We invite you to bring a friend to your first few meetings
until you feel a level of comfort with the group. Do not be surprised if we talk about the happy times with
our children, the wonderful memories and the various methods we have created to keep our children close
to us. It is here that many bereaved parents find hope as those who are more seasoned in their grief shine
the light of experience to help illuminate each grief path. We have no dues. We are self-sustaining
through donations and the generosity of so many in our community. You Need Not Walk Alone.
Happy New Year
January 2013
Page 2
Welcome
We extend a warm welcome to all who attended their first meeting in December:
We need not walk alone. We are The Compassionate Friends. We reach out to each other
with love, with understanding, and with hope. The children we mourn have died at all ages
and from many different causes, but our love for them unites us. Your pain becomes my pain,
just as your hope becomes my hope. We come together from all walks of life, from many different circumstances. We are a unique family because we represent many races, creeds, and
relationships. We are young, and we are old. Some of us are far along in our grief, but others still feel a grief so fresh and so
intensely painful that they feel helpless and see no hope. Some of us have found our faith to be a source of strength, while
some of us are struggling to find answers. Some of us are angry, filled with guilt or in deep depression, while others radiate an
inner peace. But whatever pain we bring to this gathering of The Compassionate Friends, it is pain we will share, just as we
share with each other our love for the children who have died. We are all seeking and struggling to build a future for ourselves,
but we are committed to building a future together. We reach out to each other in love to share the pain as well as the joy,
share the anger as well as the peace, share the faith as well as the doubts, and help each other to grieve as well as to grow.
We Need Not Walk Alone. We Are The Compassionate Friends.
~TCF Credo
Mother’s Retreat—A Few Openings Still Available
Snacks
Project Joy & Hope of Texas has a few openings for their February,
2013, weekend retreat “Tapestry” for bereaved mothers. This seminar is
one of the finest in the nation. Many of our members have attended this
retreat and have reported very positive outcomes. If you would like to attend this seminar, enroll now. Contact joyandhope@aol.com to receive a
Mothers’ Retreat Packet. Scholarships are available for those who are unable to afford the cost.
Our snacks in December were
brought by all who attended the Candle Lighting Ceremony.
January
snacks will be provided by Henry and
Laura Reding. If
you would like to
bring snacks email
to
tcfhoustonwest@gmail.com
In Memory of our Beloved Children
Memorials Given by:
In Loving Memory of:
No Donations were received in December
Thank you for your donation to The Compassionate Friends, Katy, TX Chapter
Our chapter is operated entirely by volunteers dedicated to furthering the work of TCF.
Your voluntary, tax deductible donations honor your loved one in a meaningful way by
enabling us to print and mail this Newsletter and meet other expenses involved in reaching
out to other grieving families. Donations along with the name of the person being honored
may be sent to:
Lisa Leanard
13814 Wheatbridge Drive
Houston, TX 77041
Loving Listeners…..Phone-A-Friend
TCF Katy has established a phone-a-friend list for parents who want to
talk with someone who shares a similar loss. If you would like to volunteer to be a phone-a-friend, please contact Annette Baldwin.
Loss of an Adult Child…..Annette (281) 578-9118
Only Child…...Annette (281) 578-9118
Murdered Child….. Robin (281) 851-5425
Death of Teenage Child……Joyce (281) 858-4551 or (281) 750 2259
Brenda (281)804-7087
Accidental Death……..Annette (281) 578-9118
Death from long term illness…...Karen (832) 746-0279
Support for Fathers……..Albert (832) 885-4741
Special Needs Child……. Volunteer needed
Suicide ...………..Rhonda (832) 282-7773
Cathy (832)-746-1980
In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.
~Robert Ingersoll
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in
truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
~Kahlil Gibran
To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.
~Thomas Campbell
Join Our Chapter E-Mail List
Join our chapter e-mail list to receive timely notices, writings, articles,
special information and more. During
the holiday season, we try to send
special thoughts and articles to our
group several times per week.
To join, send an email
t o
t c f k a t y .
messages@gmail.com
Inner Loop Chapter Meeting
The Inner Loop TCF Chapter
holds meetings the 3rd Tuesday of
each month at 7:00 pm at the First
Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200
Fannin, Fireside Room. Doors open
at 6:30 pm. The January meeting
will be held on Tuesday, January 15,
2013. Meeting starts at 7:00. Newly
bereaved meet at 6:30 pm and join
the main group at 7:00 pm. The topic
of the November meeting will be
“The Many Faces of Grief.”
For more information contact
Cathy Knapp at (713) 877-8626.
National TCF Contact
Information
TCF National Office
P.O. Box 3696
Oak Brook, IL 60522
Toll Free: (877) 969-0010
Page 3
January 2013
Alan Pedersen’s “Angels Across America”
Concert On January 8, 2013 at Katy TCF
The January Houston West meeting will be replaced by a beautiful musical concert which is presented by Alan Pedersen, nationally recognized songwriter and singer whose music
is written for bereaved parents. We are quite fortunate
to be able to host this concert in Katy; this is Alan’s last
year of touring the country.
On August 15, 2001 Alan’s life was changed forever. Ashley Marie Pedersen, his oldest child and only
daughter, died as a result of an automobile accident.
Alan has turned his journey through the valley of grief and the pain of
loss into a collection of powerful and moving songs recorded on to 4 highly
acclaimed CD’s.
His music is popular with bereaved people around the world and has
been used at thousands of candle lighting services, balloon and butterfly
releases and by hundreds of professionals and organizations as a healing
tool for the bereaved.
His music has been played at Ground Zero in New York City, the memorial at Virginia Tech University, the memorial at Columbine High School
and is featured on many memorial and tribute websites.
Alan has been a keynote speaker and workshop presenter at many
prestigious conferences including: The World Gathering on Bereavement,
The Compassionate Friends National Conference and The National Gathering of Bereaved Parents of the USA. Alan is currently planning a trip to
Connecticut where he will present a concert for the parents whose children
were killed in December 2012, at the Sandy Hook School.
We invite each of our members to bring family and close friends and
attend this beautiful musical tribute to our children. There is much healing
to be found in Alan’s music as we continue on our grief journeys.
Pain
Birthday Table
If your child’s
birthday is in
January, please
bring a picture or
memento to our
February meeting
to share with the
group. In May
and December we ask that you bring
your child’s picture for the birthday table in the month following the actual
event. We hold our balloon release in
May and our Annual Candle Lighting
Ceremony in December. Our January
2013 meeting will be a concert provided by Alan Pedersen.
Special Small Group Meetings
For Parents Whose Child
Was Lost to Suicide
The Katy Chapter of TCF has a
unique program for parents whose children died from suicide. All parents
attend the opening of
our meeting each
month and then adjourn to their own private meeting for the
remainder of the meeting.
Death from suicide usually requires additional and unique group dynamics.
This program is offered only to parents who have lost children to suicide.
The grip wrenching pain,
The pain that strikes your heart,
The pain that strips you of any happiness.
Articles & Poems
For Our Newsletter
The pain of knowing you’ll never see him again,
The pain of knowing you won’t grow up with him,
The pain of knowing that tickle fight from the day before
is the last memory of him,
The pain of knowing he never had the chance to start a family.
He should be here.
He should be here for the holidays,
He should be here to guide his little sister
He should be here to continue fixing that old 87 iroc Camaro
He should be here..
Not in a grave.
Scarred for life,
Not knowing what to say when you’re asked if you’re okay.
Welcome to Our New Webmaster
We thank Lee Schurmann who has
taken over the job of webmaster. This
is an integral part of our communication with our members.
National TCF Contact
Information
Sudden death,
Caused by a heartless jerk.
I’m left in tears, just hoping
Just hoping..
It was just a dream.
Kassidy Richard
In memory of my brother, Tyler Ray Richard
1/14/1991-11/6/2011
TCF, Katy, TX
“Well, I’ve got pictures and videos
And I see them all the time
But my favorite memories, well they’re right here in my mind.”
Alan Pedersen
From his original song, I Remember You
If you would like to submit a
poem, a writing or a brief article (no
more than 800-825 words) about your
child or your grief journey for publication in our Katy Compassionate
Friends newsletter, e-mail your work
to Annette Mennen Baldwin at amennenbaldwin@hotmail.com. We encourage our members to share with us.
TCF National Office
P.O. Box 3696
Oak Brook, IL 60522
Toll Free: (877) 969-0010
www.compassionatefriends.org
T
!
!
Printed in Loving
Memory Of
Todd M. Mennen !
1967-2002
January 2013
Page 4
Lessons We Leave Behind
In October at Compassionate Friends, you heard Cindy and Lloyd
Dunlap share about the new book about their son's life lessons that
were found on his computer after he died in September 2010. He
told no one about them. In the last newsletter, Cindy and Lloyd
shared one of his LIfe Lessons (#18).
Here is another excerpt of one of his 42
Life Lessons found in the book.
Life Lesson #26: "Have faith that this is
what God wants for you; especially when
you are lonely."
Our son, Chris, had a lot of challenges
and trials to test his faith. While in college
and after college, he often wondered why
so many bad things happened to him. Time after time, obstacles
would come up to block his path and his dreams. He knew God had
a plan for him, he just did not know what it was. Even with all the
friends he had, and with all those who loved him dearly, Chris experienced loneliness and this brought him down. There is no deeper sadness than feeling you are facing the challenges of this world totally
alone.
Chris remained faithful. Chris asked God for guidance because he
knew God was leading him somewhere. He wanted God's direction in
his life so he often wondered and asked God why the path was so
hard.
** What his life lesson means to Cindy and Lloyd:
In Psalm 25, King David was lonely and afflicted and he asked
God for guidance. To be taught by God, we must seek Him in prayer
and read His Word. Then once we receive His guidance, we must
obey.
We know we must remain faithful in whatever plan The Lord has
for us. Even though we do not know what it is, we know His plan is
out there and He is watching over us. We need to trust in Him and
let Him lead us in His plan.
We should not ask God to bless "my" plan for "my" life. So often
we do that. We ask God to bless the things we want or to answer
the prayers for what we want. Even though David in Psalm 25 was a
King, he wanted The Lord to teach him His ways and His paths.
We found it fascinating that David said in Psalm 25:16: "I am
lonely and afflicted". Chris' Life Lesson also said "especially when
you are lonely". We need to understand, like Chris did, sometimes
we will go through lonely times in our lives. Especially during those
times, all of us need to realize, more than ever, The Lord will guide
us and direct us through the valley and the dark times in our life. Cry
out to God like King David did. When you are willing to do that, God
is always there waiting for you.
Psalm 25:4-5, 16. "Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me
Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For you are the
God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. Turn to me and be
gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted".
A copy of the book can be found at Compassionate Friends website and at: www.lessonsweleavebehind.com and in our Katy TCF
chapter’s library.
Lloyd and Cindy Dunlap
In memory of our son, Chris Dunlap
TCF, Katy, TX
Another Year
Old year has gone away
With gift and candleOld year has gone away
With thought and song
Old year has given light
And dark and season
Old year has been too short
And been too long
Old year has given joy and disappointment
Old year has given grief and strength to cope.
Old year was a memory and was forgetting.
Another year is come:
give it your hope.
Sascha Wagner, from “The Poems of Sascha Wanger”
Our Sincere Thanks
It goes without saying that a child is a
special gift who must be nurtured and raised
with good qualities. Children are our future
and therefore we should see that hope fulfilled. That is why the pain of losing a child
represents so much emotional anguish to the
parents experiencing the grief process. No
two people grieve alike and women definitely
grieve differently from men because grief is a
hands-on phenomenon – we can continue ad
infinitum cataloging nuances on that subject!
But in our grief, we must stop and think
seriously of this child that we mourn. What
was life really like for him or her? I know that
Robin suffered the disease he was afflicted by
with great fortitude, courage and dignity. Although he was frequently hobbled by the pain
of the muscle contractions involved in
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, his optimism
and good humor were never quenched.
Where did he find his psychological edge?
Surely it was in the great faith he possessed
in God and his tremendous love for us, his
parents. He knew we
had his back, come hell
or high water!
Robin reveled in life
and for him, as his
cousin Samir avowed in
the touching eulogy he
delivered at the funeral
on August 14th, 2006,
for Rob “the cup was always half-full.” Another friend, Shaumo, from Taylor High
School in Katy, stated that Robin never complained or whined about being physically disabled and confined from the age of thirteen in
a wheelchair but took himself to the next
level. It was as if his ailment gave him the
patience of Job and the religious commitment
of Abraham when asked by God to sacrifice
Isaac. He was never phased by long lines in
physician’s offices and the like – he just took
everything in stride. That is also the major
reason that my husband and I were able to
handle DMD with equanimity and matter-offact perspective for as long as we did.
It is now our turn to thank the teachers,
doctors, diagnosticians, physiotherapists and
other individuals who assisted us along the
way to make Robin’s life a happy, productive,
hopeful and life-affirming thing. Not for him a
dismal and pitiful existence. That is what
made his life such a success story and provides proof that there is an Almighty God who
watches over each tiny sparrow out there.
God is not a myth made up by people to give
them false hope of an afterlife but a true indicator of what comes after we die.
I also want to tell my beloved son that I
really appreciate his goodness and responsible
attitude toward others. I am grateful to him
that he worked diligently to be such a great
student, an acclaimed National Merit Scholar
and an active member of the National Honor
Society, I say, “Thank you Robin for being a
true credit to your family!” My husband and I
try to keep the good memories alive, and let
our recollections of those last terrible 34 days
leading up to his demise, fade slowly away.
Neela Sen
In memory of my son, Robin Sen
TCF, Katy, TX
Check the web for locations:
www.griefshare.org
Page 5
January 2013
Year One
12/16/12
Dear Matt,
One year ago today you were alive, planning for your future and staying strong. Who knew in less than 24 hours you would
die. You called me about 4 hours before you died and I
still have that voicemail on my phone. How did a whole
year pass? How have I survived? How will I survive?
Now I know what all the future years of my life without
you will be like. My imagination reruns the scenario of
your death over and over. My only comfort is that I know
your Guardian Angel was with you when it became time to guide your way
toward peace.
12/17/12
I sat outside while the clock ticked through the time of your death.
I’m sure of it within minutes. Although I am crying, I am sure the angels
in Heaven are rejoicing. I am trying to relate better to God to get
strength for myself and for others. For 26+ years of my life I loved you
beyond measure. For the rest of my life it will be no different. I will continue to love you beyond measure, only with a broken heart.
I love you, Mom
Susan Archer
In loving memory of my son, Matt
TCF, Katy, TX
KAREN
For many years, I looked around at those young mothers and fathers
Yearning for a baby, I prayed that someday I would have a family of my own.
God looked into my heart and found there was enough love for two.
So one rare snowy day in January he sent twins.
My heart almost burst with love from within.
A love for all animals, big or small, they both had;
So hiding cats in trash cans and bringing a horse in the house
They thought was not so bad.
From sweet and innocent little girls – to mischievous you say,
From pennies to quarters, from candy to cookies to cake,
These were their own scavenger lists, theirs alone to make.
They say Sunday’s child is “full of grace”; that it must be.
They became beautiful young girls full of charisma and appeal
From precocious teenagers to beautiful and intelligent women in their own right.
With their beauty and talent, I thought their futures would be happy and bright.
The day we received the phone call telling us Karen was dead,
Is the message that all parents dread.
Our life, as we knew it, turned dark and gray.
I asked God, why? as I got on my knees and began to pray
He had protected her so many times before.
Couldn’t she be saved once more
She reached out to the Lord on that final day, 14th of October, 2011,
The Lord said to her, “Karen, I am taking you to heaven.”
He held out his hand and said Karen, “you‘re coming to heaven”
And when he recited “Calling All Angels”, that autumn night,
he added another angel to his roll call…the one with the smile so bright
Death took my twin daughter Karen away
Leaving us as a family shattered and in dismay.
As pure mortals, we don't always understand
Just what God has in his plans.
The passage “Let not your hearts be troubled”
Put your trust in God and your soul at rest.
Remembering God took Karen ‘cause
He only takes the very best!!
As my life goes on, I will always love and remember my daughter,
A beauty she was, inside and out
I will always remember her gorgeous smile and hearty laughter
Her loyalty and devotion to family and friends….
She was a friend until the very end.
She tried to find her angels here on earth,
But because her life is now heavens home.
My angel is now free to roam.
Where sorrow or pain is no more.
Only peace and eternity on every shore.
Karen, until we meet again, I will hold you in my heart until I can hold you in my arms.
I’ll love you forever!
Laura Redding
Karen’s Mom
TCF, Katy, TX
Email of Chapter Newsletter
Offered to Members
Our TCF Katy Chapter newsletter is
available in a PDF format as an email
document for those who would prefer to
receive this instead of a paper copy. If
you do not read the printed copy, we
unnecessarily spend chapter resources.
If you would like to make the change,
simply email Annette Baldwin at tcfkaty.
messages@gmail.com, This is an
option, not a requirement…..
we are asking parents who
are beyond four years in
their grief to receive the
email
copy.
Reading List –
Scottie Holton,
Licensed Professional Counselor
Scottie Holton, LPC, who spoke to our
group in August, has provided us with an excellent list of books.
A Child’s View of Grief, A Guide for Caring
Adults – Alan D. Wolfelt
A Grace Disguised – Jerry Sittser
Good Grief – Granger E. Westberg
Guilt During Bereavement, A guide to understanding – Robert Baugher
Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens, 100
practical ideas – Alan D. Wolfelt
How Do We Tell The Children? A step-bystep guide for helping children when someone
dies – Dan Schaefer, and Christine Lyons
I’m Grieving as Fast as I Can, How young
widows and widowers can cope and heal –
Linda Feinberg
Lament for a Son – Nicholas Wolterstorff
Life After the Death of My Son, What I’m
learning – Dennis L. Apple
Low pain Threshold, poems – Corinne Edwards
On Death and Dying – Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
On Grief and Grieving, Finding the meaning
of grief through the five stages of loss – Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
Sacred Grief, Exploring a new dimension to
grief – Leslis Tessman
Someone Special Died, children’s book - Joan
Singleton Prestine
“Tell Us Papa”, a childrens’ book
The Bereaved Parent – Harriet Sarnoff Schiff
The Grief Recovery Handbook – John W.
James and Russell Friedman
The Last Dance, Encountering death and dying – Lynne Ann DeSpelder and Albert Lee
Strickland
The Unwanted Gift of Grief – Tim P. VanDuivendyk
The Will of God – Leslie D. Weatherhead
The Worst is Over – Judith Acosta and Judith
Simon Prager
Understanding Anger During Bereavement –
Bob Baugher, Carol Hankins, and Gary
Hankins
Visions, Trips, and Crowded Rooms, Who and
what you see before you die – David Kessler
January 2013
Annette Mennen Baldwin
In loving memory of my son, Todd Mennen
TCF, Katy, TX
Katy, TX 77450
565 South Mason Rd PMB 152
Houston West Chapter
The Compassionate Friends
Annette Mennen Baldwin
In memory of my son, Todd Mennen
TCF, Katy, TX
Watching recent blizzard coverage on
the anniversary of my son’s death, I was
reminded of an event that took place when
Todd was 11 years old, and we were living
in the Midwest.
January is an interminable month in the
Midwest. Gray clouds, freezing cold, and
light deprivation can try the patience of the
hardiest among us. So, my husband and I
decided that we should all go to a “selfcontained” resort a few hundred miles from
home. We enjoyed our stay despite the
blizzard which raged around the complex.
Todd and his best friend were busy with
swimming and video games and exploring
the complex. We relaxed and grabbed
some artificial sunlight. Then it was time
to return home.
The interstate and two lane highways
were cleared by late Sunday, and we had
an uneventful trip home. We dropped
Todd’s friend off at his home in the city,
and we headed for our country home.
When we arrived, we realized that the road
that led to our home hadn’t been cleared.
Snow drifted up to six feet in depth. My
husband pushed through the drifts and
Todd and I followed. The temperature was
18 degrees below zero, the winds were
blowing at about 15 miles per hour. Todd’s
face was so freezing cold; I took off my
wool scarf and wrapped it around his
mouth and nose. Fighting the cold and the
snow exhausted us both. He began to fall,
and I helped him up. I began to fall. After
about a half mile of this, we both collapsed
in the snow. I knew then how easy it is to
give up and quietly fade into death from
cold.
As I struggled to get up and help Todd
up, my husband kept pushing the snow
back for a tunnel of sorts. I felt as if I
couldn’t do it anymore, the cold, the overwhelming nature of the heavy, drifted
snow and the exhaustion set it. I simply
tumbled over into the snow.
Todd scuttled up to tower over me and
said, “You can do it, Mom.” Come on, take
my hand. We’ll get through this.” And we
did.
On the 10th anniversary of his death, I
heard his voice telling me, “You can do it,
Mom. Take my hand. We’ll get through
this.” And we did.
Return Service Requested
Another New Year has slipped into our lives, radically changing some things and leaving other things to evolve naturally. For bereaved parents a new year marks another year on the calendar without
their precious children. It is a new year, but not much has changed
since the old year. Why is that?
We act as the catalysts of change for ourselves. We choose to
help ourselves; we choose to stay in a specific place in our grief. We
choose to reach out for hope or we choose to withdraw into the familiar
and postpone facing life and hope another day. There are no set rules
or specific timetables in bereavement. We are each unique in our grief.
Eventually we all find hope. We find it in different ways and in
different times. There will be no one moment of epiphany for bereaved
parents. Instead, there are a series of minutes, hours, weeks, months
and often years until we realize that we can truly say we feel the power
of hope coming alive from deep within us. This moment will come for
each of us. It will come in its own time and its own way.
Even those of us who have found hope and who shine its light
on the paths of newly bereaved parents, still regress and withdraw into
the dark sadness of our loss. And that is as it should be. For we have
lost the most precious gift of our lives...our children’s presence with us
and their future in this life. Our children live in our hearts and our
memories and our dreams. They do not share this plane with us. It is
normal and it is good to think of our children often and to shed some
tears for all that has been lost. These aren’t setbacks as much as
sweet memories that bring cathartic tears.
The element we find in these memories is a closeness to our
child and our child’s life. This, too, is healthy. An often-expressed fear
is that our children will be forgotten. Worry not, gentle parent, your
child will be remembered for all of your days and for many days thereafter. You will never forget your child. Others who knew your child will
never forget. The proof of this is in our memories….sweet memories
that take us back to another time when our child was with us.
So this New Year’s, whether you are a few months, a few
years or many years in your grief, think about hope. You have not forsaken your child when you reach for hope. Your hope brings your child
back in a positive way that will warm your heart. Reach for that hope.
As you move forward in your grief in the New Year, reach for hope.
Your child will still be with you. And one day you will find that your
child’s presence is sweeter when hope is within you.
You Can Do It, Mom
January 2013
Meeting Tuesday, January 8, 2013
The New Year: A Time of Hope
Alan Pedersen Concert
Plan Now to Attend
Page 6