Chinese Lantern Launch

A few nights ago our local chapter of the Bereaved Parents of the USA held a potluck dinner and Chinese lantern launch in honor of our precious children.  I was inspired to write this poem for it.  The lanterns were white hearts!  It was a very special evening.

 

Chinese Lantern Launch

A special Chinese lantern night,
To reflect our children’s love and light,
Launched into the evening sky,
Glimmering among the stars on high.

Amidst the clouds, up to the moon,
Ascending for our children gone too soon,
Carrying our prayers and all our love,
To our dear ones in the heavens above.

Magical, luminous, sparkling glows,
Like our children’s lives we were blessed to know,
We love you, we miss you, feel our hearts’ wishes,
Sent to you with our love and kisses.

Donna's Photo Graphics

A friend of mine on facebook has a group of 5 ladies including her that make graphics and videos without charge for people who have lost their beloved ones. She just posted this lovely graphic using my Graham's picture.

The name of their group is Donna's Photo Graphics - http://www.facebook.com/groups/691347610891854/ It's a closed group, so you need to ask them to approve a friend/join request before sending them an image for them to work with.

Love's Eternal Flame

Love’s Eternal Flame

The years pass and time ticks on,
The world still turns although you are gone,
The pain of losing you cuts deep,
A sorrow forever that I keep.

Love is the cure and the splendor,
Opening doors of faith and wonder,
It’s love that gives strength to move forward with time,
With trust and messages from the divine.

A mother and child united in love,
Here on earth and in Heaven above,
Our hearts beat one and the same,
Shared in love’s eternal flame.

Father's Day 2013

I posted this special framed picture of my husband and children on my facebook page this past Father's Day week end.  It is from the summer of 2006.  My son passed in 2007.   I gave this to my husband for Father's Day 2008.  As so often happens with grief, a wave of sadness suddenly overcame me as I posted this.  The tears flowed.  A little later my husband and I went out for a little while. We stopped at a Starbucks to buy a latte.   I was thinking about Graham and how a person can feel reasonably fine one minute, and then be very sad the next.  As I got out of the car, I saw this small white feather!  I had my husband take this picture so I could share it with everyone.  I am so grateful for my heavenly message of love and comfort today.  We are never alone.  Love to us all on a bittersweet day for many. ♥

Leave a Trail

This quote is very meaningful to me.  I feel that it describes my son, Graham, and the way he lived his life.   I saw this plaque with this quote on it not long after Graham passed.  I bought it and have it in the bathroom my son used.
A few days ago while I was out I decided to have lunch at Panera Bread.   I was by myself and sat at a small table by one of the windows.  I was almost finished eating when I happened to notice the poster that was in the window where I was sitting.  I was very surprised to see the poster had this quote on it!  When I was leaving I looked at the posters in the other windows and they all had different quotes.  Was it coincidence that I sat at this particular window?   I know it was not.  :)  Thank you, Graham, my dearest son.   I am following your trail. ♥

Wings of Angels

I just discovered this heartbreakingly beautiful song, "Wings of Angels," by Judy Collins.  She wrote this for her son who committed suicide.  With love and tears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNittvHI-SY

Remembrance

I keep this framed Remembrance poem on my son's bedside table.  It's a beautiful message that I work on every day.  I am so grateful for every moment that I had with my son.

New Memorial Garden Flag

I just bought this special garden flag for Graham.  It is beside his memorial water garden in our back yard. 

Annual Memory Walk, Picnic, and Balloon Release

Two weeks ago our local chapter of the Bereaved Parents of the USA had their annual Memory Walk, Picnic, and Balloon Release. My husband and I attended. It's always a very meaningful time. No words need to be said with other bereaved parents. Our hearts are connected in shared love and sorrow.  It means so much to have these special events to honor and remember our precious children. I read my Balloons of Love poem for the balloon release and our messages to heaven. I included a balloon for the children in spirit of the members of the facebook group I work with, Signs From Our Loved Ones.
 

Balloons of Love

Today under a clear blue sky,

Wiping tears from our eyes,

We will release our balloons,

Commemorating lives gone too soon.

On wings of love we set them free,

For our angel children to see,

Floating through space and time,

Past the staircase we wish we could climb.

A symbolic gesture that helps us heal,

From the sorrow that we feel,

Another means for us to say,

They live in our hearts every day.

Balloons filled with laughter, balloons filled with tears,

Balloons filled with memories for the time they were here,

Dancing in the sunlight on currents of air,

Brimming with thanks for all that we shared.

We imagine our children on the other side,

Catching the balloons as they glide,

Red and yellow, purple and gold,

They know which balloon is theirs to hold.

We know they are happy, they are dancing now too,

And we want to celebrate all that we knew,

Forever our daughters, forever our sons,

Only temporarily parted, our precious ones.

 

"Dance to the beat of your angel's wings."

 

My husband and I were in Barnes and Noble earlier today. I happened to see this in the store. I feel it was a message from my son. It brought tears to my eyes. I purchased it to have as a reminder every day. It's been a melancholy weekend. Thank you, Graham, I am listening. ♥

Memorial Water Feature One Year Later

Our memorial water feature that was installed just over a year ago is starting to look very pretty again.  The azaleas are blooming and the plants in the pond are coming back.  The four koi are happily swimming and appear to be healthy.  We are looking forward to seeing the 

lotus and the lilies bloom once more.  Graham cleared this area originally and planted the azaleas and day lilies for us.   It was a lot of work.  No one could have imagined it would become his memorial garden.  A beautiful spot of love, connection, and comfort with our treasured son.

Angel's Calling Card

I had a wonderful surprise today. When I returned to my car in a store parking lot I noticed something on the driver side rear door. It was a feather! I couldn't understand how it was able to stay on the door. It didn't rain today, there was no wind, and the car was in the middle of a bare parking lot. I had to peel it off of the door. I believe it is a mockingbird feather. I didn't have my camera with me. I brought the feather home so I could take a picture of how I found it. I just now tried to put the feather on the car door to take a picture and it wouldn't stick. I had to wet the feather to make it stay on the door. I love my feather sign and message today! Thank you, my dear Graham, and thank you angels. ♥
Here is a link you might find interesting about bird symbolism -
http://www.starstuffs.com/animal_totems/dictionary_of_birds.html

Mother's Day Signs and Messages

My husband and I were blessed with a series of signs and messages on this last Mother's Day weekend.  We were driving to my parents on Saturday.  As my husband was driving he happened to notice the tripometer reading, and told me that it was on 444.4!  I said that was a heavenly message.  The fours are always about angels.  My husband then changed the radio station and the song "Stairway to Heaven" was playing on the new station.  We thought that was interesting too.  About 10 minutes later as I was going through the news feed on my facebook on our smart phone I gasped as I saw the post I'm sharing here with the picture of the cat and the name GRAHAM!  Validations just kept on coming.  A little while later a song that I have on my itunes playlist for Graham, "I'm Going Home" by Chris Daughtry came on immediately followed by a Nirvana song, "Come As You Are."  Graham really liked Nirvana. We thought it a little odd that on the same radio station a country song played and then a rock song.  This all occurred within the hour and a half driving time.
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s480x480/486667_10152455487775942_141296016_n.jpg

That evening we went out for dinner with my parents to celebrate Mother's Day.  When we returned to our car there was a Mazda Miata with pop up lights parked near our car.  That is an older model of the Miata and the model that Graham had. As we were driving back to my parents house we saw a rainbow in the sky!  When we pulled up to my parent's house there was a car parked at their next door neighbors that had the name of a car dealership on the back- it was STEVENSON!  Our wonderful son certainly wanted us to know that he was with us for this special day. Thank you, Graham, my sweet boy.  You show us that love is truly always and forever. ♥

Birthday Memories

This first picture of me with my son is from my birthday in 2007.   I love this picture - look at the joy on my face. Graham had come home for the week end from college for my birthday.  I never imagined this would be the last birthday we would spend together.
These other pictures are more from my birthday last week end with my parents and my daughter and her family.  I love my family, here and on the other side.  Always and forever.