Natural Bridge

My husband and I were out doing some errands a few days ago.  We came to a stop behind a car that had a scenic license plate that caught my attention.  It's not one I've seen before. Virginia has many different kinds of license plates available.  Some are a lot more popular than others.  The numbers on it were 2224.  Doreen Virtue says in her Angel Numbers book that the number 222 means "Have faith, everything's going to be all right.  Don't worry about anything, as this situation is resolving itself beautifully for everyone involved."  Her book also explains that the number 4 means "Angels are with you.  Call upon them for help, guidance, and feelings of love and security."  As I was telling my husband the meaning of these numbers, he pointed out that the license plate also said Natural Bridge.  That's when the deeper significance of this really hit me.  I ask every day to be a bridge between worlds connecting with my son. I used my poem copied below, Rainbow Bridge, as a preface for my book, http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-Tears-Poems-Heartbreak-Discovery/dp/1453716947/.   I felt this was a wonderful message.  A sample picture of the Virginia Natural Bridge license plate appears at the end of this post.

Rainbow Bridge

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.

Wild Horses - Susan Boyle

This Rolling Stones classic song, "Wild Horses" really speaks to my heart.  I especially like Susan Boyle's poignant cover of it.  Wild horses couldn't drag me away, Graham.  I love you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-p7K_VVntM

Angels Across the USA

Last week Alan and Denise Pedersen were the guests for our local Compassionate Friends chapter monthly meeting.  Alan and Denise each lost a child from previous marriages.  They have a wonderful grief ministry that they take across the country to comfort the bereaved.  Alan is a singer-songwriter and has recorded four beautiful CDs of his songs inspired by his tragic loss.  Alan and Denise are able to do this by people sponsoring their "angels" to travel with them.  My son, Graham, is one of the angels.  

A video of collages made from pictures of all of the angels plays at each of their performances on a TV screen.  There are hundreds of these collages.  At the performance I attended last week, I would look at the TV every so often to see if Graham's collage would be on.  It wasn't until Alan directed everyone's attention to the TV to explain how their ministry was possible that Graham's picture suddenly appeared!  I knew Graham orchestrated that for me.  2013 will be the final year of this special ministry.  I would highly recommend attending one of their events if they are in your area.  Check out their website for details and dates -
https://www.facebook.com/angelsacrosstheusa

The Grief Toolbox

The Grief Toolbox, http://thegrieftoolbox.com/, is a wonderful resource for inspiration and comfort in bereavement.  They have just added an online store to their site.  They now have memorial Christmas ornaments to order.  I have found a lot of comfort in having special ornaments for my son, Graham, on our Christmas tree (note that the picture above shows an ornament I already had; it is not one sold by The Grief Toolbox).  Here are the links for the two ornaments available from The Grief Toolbox if you would like to have your loved one honored and remembered in this way.

http://thegrieftoolbox.com/products/personalized-ornament

http://thegrieftoolbox.com/products/ceramic-photo-ball-ornament

Dr. Heidi Horsley article on her near death experience.

I am sharing this amazing article that Dr. Heidi Horsley, of http://www.opentohope.com, has written. She is a psychologist who works extensively with the bereaved.  Heidi describes in this article how she lost her only brother and a cousin together in a car accident.  Years later Heidi was in a car accident and underwent a near death experience that I think has given her greater insight into the process of dying.  I found it very comforting.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-heidi-horsley/near-death-experience-_b_1954653.html

If I Were a Painter, Norah Jones

Enjoy this beautiful song by Norah Jones -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX_dSVlkTBY

Bereaved Parents of the USA newsletter

Here is the latest quarterly edition of the Bereaved Parents of the USA newsletter.  There is no charge for this newsletter.  If you would like to receive it, you just need to subscribe to it.  I think it has some helpful articles and resources for grieving parents.  See what you think.

http://www.bereavedparentsusa.org/BP_NatlNews.htm

This is a famous writing by Henry Scott Holland.  I find it profoundly beautiful and comforting.  Henry Scott Holland was an English clergyman (1847-1918).  Here is a link if you would like to read more about him.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Scott_Holland

Death is Nothing at All

Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
That, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same that it ever was.
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you.
For an interval.
Somewhere. Very near.
Just around the corner.

All is well.

Henry Scott Holland

"So Much" song by Newton Faulkner

I love this song, even though it makes me cry.  I have been listening to it a lot today.   It really speaks to my heart.  Graham, "There's so much of you in everything I do, just wish that you were still around."
So Much, by Newton Faulkner