The summer is quickly slipping away. Summer will soon turn into fall. And whether it has been a week, a month, or a year since the loss of your loved one, you will soon realize that life still goes on. As much as we feel that the whole world should stop when our loved one dies, (for ours certainly did) the seasons continue to come and go. And we are forced to adjust.
All the feelings that overwhelm you when a loved one dies deserves your attention. They are important openings to greater awareness: about the relationship you shared, your own needs, the meaning of life. And they take time!!! They are also the steps to your recovery, for there is no way out but through. Only by letting yourself experience grief can you move beyond it. Beyond-not to your old way of being or what once was “normal”, but beyond to fully integrating loss into your life, to richer understanding, renewed purpose, and deeper spirituality.
Grieving is painful and demanding. But healing does come. The deep pain will subside, and you will find yourself able to reflect on your loved one, how your life was and how it is now, and begin to think about how your life will be in the future. Personally, I have lost some very good friends. The void still exists when I can no longer share the excitement and pictures of my grandkids or just pick up the phone and talk about my day! A BIG sigh…but I can testify that the pain has lessened in intensity. It no longer consumes me, but I will never forget them. They, in many ways, helped shape me into how I respond today. They will always be present in my life.
You don’t have to go through this time alone. As part of our Hospice family, please take advantage of the services we offer. I am also available by phone or appointment.
August Activities
August 8: Lunch Group to meet at Barnesville Park at Noon. Bring your lunch.
August 10: “Lunch Bunch” at Mr. Lee’s at Noon. Lunch on your own. It is a time of food and fellowship with others who have suffered a loss.
August 24: Breakfast Support Group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9:00 AM
August 30: Coffee with Chris: Men’s coffee/support group at 9:00 AM. They meet at various places around the community. If interested, contact me for details on the upcoming month’s location.
The month begins with a BANG-a strong reminder of freedom. For many, the July 4th celebration means a picnic and fireworks. Sometimes the real meaning of the holiday is lost. Freedom can mean different things to different people. For some it does have the meaning of being able to live as we do in this country. For others, it may take on a new connotation. At this time in your life, you may view your loved one as having been set free at last from their suffering. The hardships and illness that led to this time in your life are past, and now you must find a way to go on. Freeing yourself from living in the past is sometimes very difficult. Establishing a new norm for your life is essential and often requires energy you may not feel you possess. Others may be needed to help you along the way to healing. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We are also here to help in any way that we can. We offer various programs that I hope you will consider.
July’s Upcoming Events Include:
July 11-Lunch Group at 12 Noon at the Barnesville Park; Bring a sack lunch
July 13-Lunch Bunch at 12 Noon at Mr. Lee’s in Cambridge
July 22-FLAMINGO MEMORIAL RUN: Sometimes doing something tangible is a special way to honor your loved one…You can do that with us in a one mile walk or a 5k. All monies will benefit patient care and bereavement services. (Check out our Facebook or website)
July 26-Coffee with Chris: Men’s coffee/support group meets at 9 AM at various places in the community. If interested, contact me for details of upcoming month’s locations
July 27-Grief Support Breakfast at 9 AM at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley
Remember that I am also available for one-on-one time. I hope this season in life has you choosing to focus on the positives. BLESSINGS!
I just now looked a head at the weather forecast for the week. It promises to be warm and sunny on the outside, but I know that all of you are not feeling its warmth on the inside. Because it may be stormy in your present circumstances, you may have to dig deep to find some hope of sunshine. But without hope, our spirit withers and dies! I am here to remind you that there is also hope in the stormy season of grief. The following sums it up for us:
The Hidden Power of the Heart
When the heart is enlivened again, it feels like the sun coming out after a week of rainy days. There is hope in the heart that chases the clouds away. Hope is a brighter heart frequency and as you begin to reconnect with your heart, hope is waiting to show you new possibilities and arrest the downward spiral of grief and loneliness. It becomes a matter of how soon you want the sun to shine. Listening to the still, small voice in your heart will make hope into a reality.
~Sara Paddison
I particularly like the line that says: “It becomes a matter of how soon you want the sun to shine.” We do have control over much of it. I pray that you will listen to the small voice in your heart as you move towards healing. And remember, we are here to help.
June Events:
June 8 – “Lunch Bunch” at Mr. Lee’s at 12 Noon. Come share lunch with others who have suffered a loss, and make a new friend.
June 13 – ***The support group that meets at the Barnesville Library Annex at 12 Noon will be meeting at the Barnesville Park In June, July, and August due to conflicts with scheduling of summer reading program.
June 19-21 – Kids Kamp at Deerassic Park from 10AM – 2PM each day. Kids ages 6-12 who have suffered a loss are encouraged to attend. Cost for the kamp is free. Call Terri for more info.
June 22 – Breakfast support group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9AM
June 28 – Coffee with Chris Dyer (Men Only) at Wheeling Ave McDonalds at 9AM
I pray God’s blessings on you as you continue to “reconnect with your heart”.
Just as we have always heard that April showers bring May flowers, it is also true that we grow as we walk along the path of grief. Buried inside each of us is the potential to blossom into something beautiful after we have come through the rain. As I write this, I am taking time to look back over the last few years and reflect on the losses I have experienced. You see…I have lost my Mom, Dad, and my dearest friend since working here at hospice; BUT I have learned that I must leave the rains and storms of yesterday behind me and move into a new season where there can once again be flowers in bloom. My life must go on, and I have concluded that my loved ones would want that for me. It is my desire for you to learn the meaning of this as well.
May brings with it Memorial Day and a time of honoring those we love. For the average person, Memorial Day means a three-day weekend, and a time of rest or relaxation. But you probably do not feel like the average person at this time in your life, so I encourage you to do something that will honor the one you love in a different way than might be the norm. You may choose to plant a tree or shrub in your garden…one that will remind you of the one who is no longer with you. In time, it will be a comfort and a joy to behold. It is a living, breathing thing-something with life…just like you will remember your loved one as it ushers in precious memories of your times together. Plant it and water it with love! Enjoy it for years to come!
Upcoming events:
May 9: Barnesville Lunch Bunch at 12 Noon at Barnesville Library Annex. Bring a sack lunch.
May 11: Lunch Bunch Support Group at 12 Noon at Mr. Lee’s
May 25: Support Breakfast at 9 AM at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley
May 31: Coffee with Chris Dyer (Men Only) at 9 AM at Wheeling Ave McDonalds
I hope to see you soon. And as always, I’m available by phone at 740-432-7440.
April showers bring May flowers…March excites me for it brings with it the promise of spring. Then comes the rainy season! April, for me, is the tunnel through which I must pass to reach the other side of winter. It may be dreary and cold, and at times a little tiresome; but it is necessary to get me to the warmth and joy that summer offers. So, here I go. Follow me if you will.
As you move into the summer of your grief journey, you will have left behind cold and rainy days. You will experience hard times before experiencing the joy and sunshine of tomorrow, and those times will change the person you are. They will mold you into the person you are to become. I pray that as you begin that journey and continue to walk along the pathway, you will have a hope of better tomorrows and sunshiny days. Allow someone else to walk beside you and be your friend. Let them hold your hand or cry with you. Allow someone else to be your strength if needed. Allow yourself to change. Also, remember we are here if you need us in the months to come. There are always events offered to lend support. Feel free to take advantage of them. We want to help you on your journey towards healing.
Upcoming events:
Women’s retreat at Salt Fork. Call for more info
April 11: Support group meeting at Belmont County Library Annex, Barnesville at Noon (bring your own lunch and we can eat together)
April 13: Lunch Bunch at Lee’s in Cambridge at Noon
April 26: Coffee with Chris Dyer: Men’s group at Wheeling Ave. McDonald’s at 9:00 AM
April 27: Breakfast group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9:00 AM
As always, if you have any questions or if you need to talk, I am available at 740-432-7440. With warm thoughts…
Spring! The calendar says 3 weeks. But we can hardly complain. It has been a mild winter. But there is something about the promise of spring and the week ahead does look promising for mild temperatures! Hopefully March will bring an early spring and more of the the sunshine I so love. The days are becoming longer and I would love to begin to think of outside chores and activities. I always begin thinking about decorating the outdoor patio at this point in time (at least in my mind). One of my favorite spots is the old porch swing. I love to sit on it and watch the world go by. It gives me great peace, and occasionally I’ll grab a nap after a busy day at work. It is my get-a-way for a few needed moments.
As March brings springtime, I hope it also brings for you sunshine and hope in the new season. It is only natural to have dreary days mixed in with the sunshine, so don’t be discouraged when they creep in. Just try to stay focused. Plan an activity that will bring you joy, and act upon it. Have lunch with a friend, feed the ducks, or take a walk. But whatever you do, look for that moment or activity that gives you a few minutes of peace, and bask in its warmth. It may be what gets you through the next season.
But no matter where you find yourself as you read this, remember that we at Hospice of Guernsey are here to lend you support along the way. Our upcoming events for the month of March are as follows:
March 9- “Lunch Bunch” at Mr. Lee’s at Noon
March 14-Lunch Bunch at Barnesville Library Annex at Noon
March 23-Breakfast support group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9:00 AM
March 29-“Coffee with Chris” MEN ONLY coffee group to meet the last Wednesday of the month at 9:00 AM at the East Wheeling McDonald’s in Cambridge. Chris Dyer was our former Chaplain and will be leading the group.
April 21-23-Discovering Joy in the Journey women’s widow retreat. Thanks to a grant from The John W. and Edna McManus Shepard Fund through The Columbus Foundation. Hospice of Guernsey will be hosting it’s first ever women’s retreat at Salt Fork Lodge. Cost is suggested minimum donation of $25 and spaces are limited. For more info call me.
If you have questions about any of the events, or you just need someone to talk to, call me at 740-432-7440. I CAN meet with you one on one. May spring shine upon you!
By now you have had time to settle in to the new year just a little bit. Christmas decorations are down and tucked away for another year. To many, that may seem like a relief. Many emotions are flying at the thought of what the new year might hold. To some, it may mean a new beginning…this year has to be better than the last. Others might wonder how they can possibly go on…face the new year without their loved one. By now you have come to the realization that the world does not stop for you, no matter if you feel that it should. I am here to encourage you that things will get easier. You will in some way adjust. But I want to encourage you not to go at it alone. Find someone that will be a support and encouragement to you in the days and weeks ahead. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If on person falls, the other can reach out and help.” If you feel you need someone to talk to, I am available for one on one time. There are also many events that take place throughout the month that you might find helpful. Give some of them a try.
February events:
February 9-“Lunch Bunch” at Mr. Lee’s at Noon
February 14-ATTENTION-Lunch Bunch in Barnesville will meet at Georgia Gallagher’s house due to conflict at the annex
February 23-Breakfast Support Group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9:00 AM
If you have any questions about any of the events, or you find yourself just needing a listening ear, call me at 740-432-7440.
A new year is upon us! Where does the time go? When I was young, I hated it when someone said how fast the time went, for as a child, I didn’t believe it and I couldn’t wait for the years to pass! Now it is sometimes just a reminder of what was. It is sometimes hard not to wish those days and years back. But, as we are so aware, we cannot! We do, however, need to remind ourselves to make the most of today and pray for a happier tomorrow.
For many of you, this New Year may only be a reminder of who will not be with you as you face tomorrow. A friend once shared four little words with me that might help to make a difference in your days. They are “I have a choice”. We can choose to worry and be upset at life’s circumstances, or we can choose to move ahead one day at a time, making our life count for something. It has been said…”Those who grieve well–heal well! They also live well-living in the now! I hope we can begin to do that together in the coming year.
Upcoming events:
January 10-Lunch Bunch at Barnesville Library Annex at Noon. Bring your lunch
January 12-Lunch Bunch at Lee’s at Noon
January 26-Breakfast at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9:00 AM
If you have any questions, call me at 740-432-7440. I am also available for one-on-one time. Remember that together and with support, we can make it through each new day.
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