Monday, December 5, 2011
Cancer Strikes Again
My beloved son-in-law lost his father to cancer early this morning. Art was diagnosed three years ago and has been battling valiantly. My heart is aching for his wife and children. Please remember them in your prayers. I know that if they are surrounded with love and prayers, they will make their way through all this. I send my love on wings of the butterfly up to Michigan.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Butterfly Release 2011
Sunday, April 10th was the Avow Hospice Butterfly Release. I went to once again experience the profound wonder of the event. I can not say enough about how this helps my soul. This year, armed with my IPod, I got a few pictures of the beautiful butterflies before the tent opened and they soared skyward. Mark's spirit was all around me and I felt the love. I will always attend these, and encourage anyone who has experienced a loss to find the one in your area. Watching the butterflies reminds you of the beautiful moments you shared with your loved one, and how they have moved on and are circling, waiting on you. NEVER GIVE UP! I love you all!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Butterfly Release 2010
Today was the Avow Hospice Butterfly Release. I honored Mark and the butterflies soared skyward. I wanted to share again something that was read. The people putting this event together have a gift at finding just the right things to show the feeling of the hearts attending:
I Am Always With You
by: Anonymous
When I am gone, release me, let me go
I have so many things to see and do,
You mustn't tie yourself to me with too may tears,
But be thankful we had so many good years.
I gave you my love, and you can only guess
How much you've given me happiness.
I thank you for the love that you have shown,
But now it is time I traveled on alone.
so grieve for me a while, if grieve you must
then let you grief be comforted by trust
That it is only for a while that we must part,
So treasure the memories within your heart.
won't be far away for life goes on.
And, if you need me, call and I will come.
though you can't see or touch me, I will be near
And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear
All my love around you soft and clear
And the, when you come this way alone,
I'll great you with a smile and a "Welcome Home."
Hospice uses the butterfly as a symbol of hope. The reading also included "A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam. And, for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world. but then it flies again and though we wish it could have stayed, we feel luck to have seen it."
I have been giving a lot of thought to something that was posted here some time ago. A gentleman found our blog and took the time to send a beautiful message to me about how strong Mark and I had love for each other, because he could see it in the words of the blog. He also said that my continuing to blog periodically would continue to have an impact, showing others that live does go on when their loved one leaves them.
He was right. It does. I am not going to lie and tell you that magically, you reach a point where the pain is wiped away. Frankly, I don't want the pain to go completely away. I wear my heartache as a badge of the commitment and honor I had to and for Mark. I am not by any means wallowing in grief - that would not be productive and Mark would be very angry at me for letting that happen. So, I go forward, try to make everyday count for something and someone left in my life, while honoring the memory of my darling best friend and husband. I want all who read this to know I am a whole woman with purpose in my life. I'm still young enough to make a difference to those around me and I intend to do so. I love you all - NEVER GIVE UP!
I Am Always With You
by: Anonymous
When I am gone, release me, let me go
I have so many things to see and do,
You mustn't tie yourself to me with too may tears,
But be thankful we had so many good years.
I gave you my love, and you can only guess
How much you've given me happiness.
I thank you for the love that you have shown,
But now it is time I traveled on alone.
so grieve for me a while, if grieve you must
then let you grief be comforted by trust
That it is only for a while that we must part,
So treasure the memories within your heart.
won't be far away for life goes on.
And, if you need me, call and I will come.
though you can't see or touch me, I will be near
And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear
All my love around you soft and clear
And the, when you come this way alone,
I'll great you with a smile and a "Welcome Home."
Hospice uses the butterfly as a symbol of hope. The reading also included "A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam. And, for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world. but then it flies again and though we wish it could have stayed, we feel luck to have seen it."
I have been giving a lot of thought to something that was posted here some time ago. A gentleman found our blog and took the time to send a beautiful message to me about how strong Mark and I had love for each other, because he could see it in the words of the blog. He also said that my continuing to blog periodically would continue to have an impact, showing others that live does go on when their loved one leaves them.
He was right. It does. I am not going to lie and tell you that magically, you reach a point where the pain is wiped away. Frankly, I don't want the pain to go completely away. I wear my heartache as a badge of the commitment and honor I had to and for Mark. I am not by any means wallowing in grief - that would not be productive and Mark would be very angry at me for letting that happen. So, I go forward, try to make everyday count for something and someone left in my life, while honoring the memory of my darling best friend and husband. I want all who read this to know I am a whole woman with purpose in my life. I'm still young enough to make a difference to those around me and I intend to do so. I love you all - NEVER GIVE UP!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas!
My prayer for you is that you have a Merry Christmas and a blessed and proporous 2010. My love to all of you and my prayers that you are happy and healthy. My prayers for the greiving and those in pain. Lord, hear my prayer. Touch those whose needs are both great and small. Thank you, God, for my friends and loved ones. Amen.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Saturday Night
I visited the blog today for the first time since I posted last. I was so touched to see the comments of all who visited. Jennifer, I did go to your blog and you have touched my heart. This week was so very hard for me. I feel enveloped in sadness. But, I understand the grieving process. I will be alright. It is okay to feel sad - I miss Mark so very much. But I also know it was the anniversary of the end of his pain and suffering and that is a good anniversary to remember. I love you all. Thanks you again and again for stopping by here. Please remember there is joy in this season, remembering God loves us all and gave us Christ as the first "Christmas present."
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Three Days Until Thanksgiving
This will be a very difficult time of the year for me. But, I have beautiful memories of Thanksgiving last year. Mark's cousin, Steve, and Lea, his beautiful wife, have become closer to me over the last year and they will be sharing this holiday with me. Steve's infamous collard greens were the only thing Mark was able to eat last year, but he loved them so much, he had to try. Nancy will be joining us and we have a scrumptious menu planned. Avow Hospice still sends me the most wonderful mailings and they have sent one that they encourage me to use for the up-coming holiday season. I plan to. I'm going to share it with you - anyone who has a loved one missing from their holiday table can honor the memory so beautifully with this:
Have four candles ready to light and if you can, have family or friends participate with you.
Start by saying: " As we light these candles in honor of our loved one, we light one for our grief, one for our courage, one for our memories and one for our love.
Light the first candle and say "The light of this first candle represents our grief. The pain of our loss is intense, bu it reminds us of the depth of our love for ________ (your loved one).
Light the second candle and say "The light of this candle represents our courage to confront our sorrow; to comfort each other; to change our lives.
Light the third candle and say "This third candle is a light to all of our memories of ______. To the times we laughed, the times we cried, the times we were angry with each other, the silly things we did, the caring and joy _______ gave us.
Light the fourth candle and say "This fourth candle is the light of our love. As we enter this holiday season, day by day, we cherish the special place in our hearts that will always be reserved for ___________. We give thanks for the gift his/her life brought to each of us. We will always love him/her.
This was written by Nancy Moeller, LSW, CADC.
There is not a day that passes that I don't either aloud or silently talk with Mark, and tell him how very much I miss him. The tears are as close to falling today as they were nearly a year ago. I have been angry with myself for not doing more to show him how wonderfully special he was to me; I have been sad beyond words at my loneliness without him. But, I am so grateful I had the opportunity to share nearly eight years of marriage with such a loving, kind man. I keep putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward; but there is no distance between me and this man I love.
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. May your table be bountiful and your hearts full of joy and love.
Rebecca
Have four candles ready to light and if you can, have family or friends participate with you.
Start by saying: " As we light these candles in honor of our loved one, we light one for our grief, one for our courage, one for our memories and one for our love.
Light the first candle and say "The light of this first candle represents our grief. The pain of our loss is intense, bu it reminds us of the depth of our love for ________ (your loved one).
Light the second candle and say "The light of this candle represents our courage to confront our sorrow; to comfort each other; to change our lives.
Light the third candle and say "This third candle is a light to all of our memories of ______. To the times we laughed, the times we cried, the times we were angry with each other, the silly things we did, the caring and joy _______ gave us.
Light the fourth candle and say "This fourth candle is the light of our love. As we enter this holiday season, day by day, we cherish the special place in our hearts that will always be reserved for ___________. We give thanks for the gift his/her life brought to each of us. We will always love him/her.
This was written by Nancy Moeller, LSW, CADC.
There is not a day that passes that I don't either aloud or silently talk with Mark, and tell him how very much I miss him. The tears are as close to falling today as they were nearly a year ago. I have been angry with myself for not doing more to show him how wonderfully special he was to me; I have been sad beyond words at my loneliness without him. But, I am so grateful I had the opportunity to share nearly eight years of marriage with such a loving, kind man. I keep putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward; but there is no distance between me and this man I love.
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. May your table be bountiful and your hearts full of joy and love.
Rebecca
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Sunday Evening
Hello there. Been a while but tonight seemed right. I'm staying busy and am actually going to take a vacation next week. I'm going to Michigan for six days to visit with my children. My great friend, "Aunt Nancy," has the doggie/kitty duty while I'm gone. She's such a good "mommie." She loves to groom them and spends a lot of time with them. She is able to understand the bond I have with them and them with me. Pepper, my German Shepard, has already figured out something is up. She will not leave my side. She watched me pack up a box of clothes (I FEDEX my stuff - don't trust the airline), and she has been cocking her head and looking intently at me ever since. What a keen intellect she has. My thoughts are with all of you . . .remember to NEVER GIVE UP! Mark's spirit watches over us all.
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