Rainbow Bridge

Today my husband and I were out on our deck.  We were so surprised when we happened to look up at the sky and noticed an upside down rainbow between two clouds!  We've never seen an upside down rainbow, or a rainbow just between two clouds. It was also unexpected because it hadn't rained.  Look at this amazing photograph.  I think the clouds look like angels.  I believe this is a message validating my Rainbow Bridge poem that I wrote a couple of years ago that is at the beginning of my book!

I’m going to meet you halfway, Graham, come take my hand,
I’m walking steadily toward the Promised Land,
I won’t let you leave me, I’m not far behind,
You are with me always, son of mine.

One foot in Heaven, and one foot on Earth,
I straddle both worlds now, a totally new turf,
Like a rainbow’s promise on a distant ridge,
Let us join together and make a bridge.

Amazing Communication

I am posting an email, with River's permission, to share the amazing after-death communication that she received from my son!  I met River at the Bereaved Parents national conference last month.  She was one of the authors and workshop presenters.  River has written the most beautiful, profound little book. It is called, "Morgan's List."   She wrote it for her 7 year old niece who was dying from cancer.  I highly recommend it to everyone.  It is also a story of the individual lists that we create to learn from in this lifetime.   I cry every time I read it.  I was so comforted by this email, and hope that you will be too.  I knew as soon as I read it that she had received a message from Graham - he loves to communicate through electricity, letting us all know that he is still here.   I love the messages and signs that our loved ones give to let us know they are always with us.  Here is her email:


Hi Claire Ann,
Thank you for sending the photo. It came out really nice! And thank you so much for giving me a copy of your book! I read it on the plane ride home. I cried many times in the beauty of it. The poems are beautiful. There is a sweetness and purity to them. Just lovely.


I was sharing the book and the story of your son to friends this weekend that were visiting from out of town. It was late at night, and just when I got to the part about the poems being divinely inspired, and sent from your son, the walkie-talkie that the children had been playing with that afternoon started ringing in the kitchen!!! It rang like it does when the other unit is calling (the other unit was OFF), and then there was lots of static and a broken up voice echoing in my kitchen! My friends were immediately panicked...I got chills and started laughing in delight! Spirit can be in a jillion places at once, so.......perhaps your son goes where your book goes, and he was just saying hello!


Hope things are well with you. Thank you for adding my book to your blog site. It can be ordered through my website http://www.butterflymoonpublishing.com.


Take care.
Love,
River

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.