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Holiday Treats Stir Up Memories of Loved Ones

Posted on November 14, 2009 - by Harriet Hodgson

Nana made candied orange peel every year. Dishes of this sweet treat appeared at the Thanksgiving table and Christmas dinner. In fact, the holidays would not be the same without this candy. After Nana died, my elder daughter continued the tradition, until she died two years ago. She was the mother of our only grandchildren — fraternal twins — and life is different without her. Christmas was my daughter’s favorite time of year. My granddaughter loves it too, and puts up the tree the day after Thanksgiving. “Grandma, can we make candied orange peel?” she asked. “Of course,” I replied. […]

Death of Child Affects Relationships Throughout Family

Posted on November 12, 2009 - by Alex James

When anyone we love dies our lives are changed; things we had planned will no longer be the same. The death of a child is often the least expected death, and the ongoing effect upon the remaining family can seem endless. One of the commonest things I hear said is: “You don’t expect to attend the funeral of your children.” We assume in life that we will grow old, having watched our children become people and take their place in the adult world. We are concerned for their well-being and on occasion may find ourselves thinking about a time when […]

Poem: First Thanksgiving

Posted on November 12, 2009 - by Genesse Gentry

The thought of being thankful fills my heart with dread. They’ll all be feigning gladness, not a word about her said. These heavy shrouds of blackness enveloping my soul, pervasive, throat-catching, writhe in me, and coil. I must, I must acknowledge, just express her name, so all sitting at the table, know I’m thankful that she came. Though she’s gone from us forever and we mourn to see her face, not one minute of her living, would her death ever replace. So I stop the cheerful gathering, though my voice quivers, quakes, make a toast to all her living. That […]

Check Blood Pressure Regularly as You Grieve

Posted on November 11, 2009 - by Harriet Hodgson

I try to take care of myself, and most of the time I do a good job of it. Getting an annual physical exam is part of my self-care plan. My exam started yesterday and the test results were excellent: very low cholesterol and a normal heart rate of 72 beats per minute. Though I had gained 10 pounds, my weight was still in the normal range. But my blood pressure was dangerously high. A nurse took a reading just before I saw my doctor. “Your blood pressure is 200,” she said, “and that’s not good.” My doctor took another […]

Poem: Listen

Posted on November 10, 2009 - by Deborah Tornillo

Can you hear me? Calling out your name I do each and everyday. Can you see me? My tears are for you And, for Daddy too. Can you feel me? Feel my broken heart It’s torn, completely apart. Mom, do you miss me? I miss you so very much And, I miss Dad too. Will I hear you? When you call out my name Everyday I listen, just the same. Deborah Ann Tornillo Author, “36 Days Apart” http://www.deborahtornillo.com

Episode 8: Fred Luskin on Forgiveness

Posted on November 10, 2009 - by admin

Topic: Forgiveness Guest: Frederic Luskin, Ph.D. Frederic Luskin, Ph.D. is the Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects. Dr. Luskin’s research demonstrates that learning forgiveness leads to increased physical vitality, hope, greater self–efficacy, enhanced optimism and conflict resolution skills. His research also shows that forgiveness lessons the physical and emotional toll of stress, and decreases hurt, anger depression and blood pressure. Dr. Luskin is a bereaved parent of Anna, and the author of Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness and Forgive for Love: The Missing Ingredient for a Healthy and Lasting Relationship. Click here to listen: […]

Giving to Others Helped Mom Make it Through Loss of Daughter

Posted on November 10, 2009 - by Jenny Hander

After my daughter passed away, I eventually grew tired of the hopelessness. My Christian faith allows me to believe that the Lord will bring good from every situation. I needed to find hope; reason to believe that good could come from our tragedy. As I began my desperate search for goodness, I looked around and realized we had many things that we no longer needed. You see, my daughter was a twin; we practically had two of everything, including stuffed animals. Our surviving twin daughter was hospitalized in neonatal intensive care for 89 days. I thought of all the children […]

Mom’s Greatest Hero Was Only Four When He Died

Posted on November 10, 2009 - by Alice Wisler

I suppose my high school English teacher would like to think he made the biggest impression in my life. He loved to quote Shakespeare, Bryon and Keats. He could whip up a gourmet French dinner in a few hours. He knew Latin and spoke Japanese. “Class, class, you’ll thank me one day,” he’d tell us as we’d groan about the lengthy books assigned for homework. But the truth is, two decades later, I have another hero. My hero was only four, could not read or write and yet he taught me through his short life lessons no adult could ever […]

Poem: Hate

Posted on November 9, 2009 - by Deborah Tornillo

It tears my heart apart I hate being sad I hate every minute of it. Nothing stops the pain It is so unbearable I hate every moment of it. I hate feeling this way I just wished It would go away. I hate life right now I hate how I feel. Need to run away. Yes, run and hide To that other side If I just run and hide….. It will be okay.. Deborah Ann Tornillo Author, “36 Days Apart” http://www.deborahtornillo.com

How to Support Families Grieving After Fort Hood Tragedy

Posted on November 9, 2009 - by Ami Neiberger-Miller

The horrific tragedy at Fort Hood has sent our nation into mourning, and many want to know how to express their condolences and support to the families left behind. Reaching out to express condolences is a natural and heartfelt reaction to tragedy. TAPS, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, offers the following tips for those seeking to express sympathy and support to the families of those who died at Fort Hood. Be understanding. The surviving families are in tremendous shock in the immediate days and weeks following the death of their loved one. Understand that families may need to be […]