In the Garden of What Might Have Been

In the garden of what might have been,
I could get lost in regret and remember whens,
The landscape would remain barren and bleak,
With nothing of color to speak.

That would not celebrate your life while here,
The happiness in every precious year,
Or acknowledge the beauty we were shown,
In the love we were blessed to have known.

I’ve been on my knees in the depths of despair,
But you come to me in my anguished prayers,
Comforting and reassuring me,
That death is not a finality.

I want a garden of wondrous splendor,
With all the love and joy I remember,
Where flowers grow in brilliant profusion,
Showing all that death is an illusion.

Glorious colors as far as the eye can see,
Blooming in magnificent variety,
The air is fragrant with their mingled scents,
Filling my being with all that you meant.

Your garden of love now blooms in my heart,
Nurtured by knowing we are never apart,
I have been opened to new possibility,
By unconditional love and your legacy.

Claire Ann

     I want to share this amazingly beautiful poem that my dear friend, Vivian West, wrote for me.  I met Vivian five years ago.  She lost a treasured daughter, Kathy, several years prior to my meeting her.  Unbelievably, a year and a half later my precious son, Graham, died.  Our friendship has gone to a whole different level with the shared anguish of losing a beloved child.  What a blessing she is to me.  I don't believe that it is a coincidence that we are in each others lives.  The lovely rose with this poem was painted by a special friend of Vivian's, Anne Higgins.  I treasure this poem and our friendship.

Blog Talk Radio interview

Hi Everyone! I will be on The Ron Villano Radio Show Monday August 22nd at 10am!! I will be discussing my journey as a grieving parent, and my book, "A Mother's Tears-Poems of Heartbreak, Loss, and Discovery."

Please listen in at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/RonVilla​no or you can call in to the show at 1-646-929-0649.

 The show will be archived so you will be able to listen to it at any time.

Still Here

I am enjoying fresh flowers in my home today,
Lovingly placed in a vase to display,
Beside the candle I lit for you,
With your picture and my poem on it too.

The poem is entitled “Heartsong,”
Describing how you will always belong,
Life is not about letting loved ones go,
We honor and remember in ways we can show.

I played some music and in thought held you near,
Feeling your presence because you’re still here,
Love is the power that gives life over death,
Our hearts know this with every breath.

Rest in peace beloved one,
You shine as brightly as the sun,
Lighting a trail for all to see,
Along the path of eternity.

Doves of Hope

     The Bereaved Parents USA National Gathering was this past weekend in Reston,Virginia.  The last morning we followed a bagpiper outdoors for a dove release. It was beautiful to see the doves in flight.  I was thinking about what doves represent and wrote this poem.  My husband took this picture at the dove release.

A dule of lovely snow white doves,
Soaring in the sky above,
Released in honor of our daughters and sons,
Who now reside in Heaven.

Messengers of joy, love, and peace,
Help us find the comfort we seek,
Symbols of triumph of life over death,
A hope we believe until our last breath.

As we watch the doves in flight,
Although tears may blur our sight,
We send our love and gratitude,
To our children beyond a sky of blue.

Fly doves, above the clouds on high,
Our love for our children will never die,
We celebrate their love and life,
Until the day we reunite.

"Angel of Light" tapestry

We just bought this beautiful angel tapestry. It's called "Angel of Light." We hung it up today and took this picture of it. When we looked at the picture on our computer we saw a small orb in it! The orb is toward the bottom of the picture above the ottoman. I love when we are shown that our Heavenly helpers are always with us!

Monumental Journey of the Heart

The theme for the Bereaved Parents of the USA National Gathering this year is "a monumental journey of the heart."  We are decorating hearts to display in the memorial area of the conference for our children.  This is the heart my husband and I did for Graham.  The verse at the bottom is from one of my poems.  Graham, our bright and shining star.  We love you now and forever.

Calling All Angels

Train - Calling All Angels Video     I had so many signs today.  One of them was finding a feather right in front of me as I was walking in a parking lot.  When I was driving home this song came on the radio!  Thank you angels...

Bereaved Parents National Gathering

This is the memorial page that we've done for Graham that will be in the program for the Bereaved Parents of the USA national gathering. It will be held in Reston, VA the end of this month. It's not too late to register if you would like to attend. http://www.bereavedparentsusa.​org/Gathering.html Come for a weekend of sharing and caring. A place where no words need to be said, for all share your broken heart and understand. Find comfort and support in healing workshops and inspirational speakers. The conference will end with a dove release on Sunday.

Beyond the Veil

How wonderful it must be,
To return to pure energy,
Unencumbered, happy and free,
Having shed the earthly body.

No more physical aches or pains,
Heartache, resentments or emotional strains,
Only love and joy prevail,
When we move beyond the veil.

Reconnected to our source and shown,
All the answers we longed to have known,
Beyond the ego and multi-dimensional,
Able to see our greatest potential.

While in the body here on earth,
Experiencing the years from our birth,
It’s hard to see past the illusion and live,
With the greater wisdom that is God’s to give.

Open my heart and my mind,
So while I’m here I may find,
Strength from Spirit to understand,
My soul’s purpose and divine plan.

Into the Light

Life has many mysteries I long to have revealed,
Teachings and truths that seem concealed,
Traveling through time we gradually see,
What we thought was hidden has been waiting to be freed.

It’s our vision that changes,
When perception rearranges,
For when we start to awaken,
Old thoughts and views are shaken.

Mysteries suddenly become more clear,
When we listen with a divine ear,
We learn the greatest teaching hides in plain sight,
Love is what brings us all to the Light.

Happy Father's Day

     This is a picture I took of my husband with our children in the summer of 2006.  Graham only had one more Father's Day with us after this picture.  We miss you, Graham, every day.  Thank you for making Father's Days so special.  We love you.

Butterflies and Dragonflies basket

I have been collecting items with butterflies and dragonflies on them for a themed basket. The basket is for the silent auction/raffle that will be held at the Bereaved Parents of the USA national conference next month in Reston - http://www.bereavedparentsusa.org/Gathering.html. A dear and talented friend artistically arranged the items in the basket and beautifully wrapped it. Here is a picture of the basket.

 

Searching for You

Lord, hear my heartfelt soul's lament,
I fear my tears will never be spent,
Aching, soul-deep despair and sorrow,
It’s so hard to care about tomorrow.

 True agony of the soul,
What now will be my goal?
No longer will there be,
The plans and dreams I hoped to see.

I still look for you each day,
How could you have passed away?
I look for you in the house and yard,
Nothing I could imagine would be this hard.

Without the sense that you are here,
Only in a different sphere,
The pain would be much too deep,
For my soul to ever keep.

Stay always by my side,
A loving, helpful spirit guide,
And when my time here has passed,
Together we will be at last.