Prayer Circles

My dear sister Marci, yes, the 15th is also a special day for you as well as our dear sister Selva.
You have yet another trial in your life, the recent loss of your dear mother-in-law! That's 4 family losses to deal with on top of losing your beloved Sean-Michael in the past two years! So much sorrow in such a short time, my heart and love go out to you as well as my prayers. May God give you His peace, His comfort, His strength to get you through this. And you ALWAYS have us,
Lots of love, prayers & Tender Hugs,
Sandy

Our dear Donna and Suangels, Donna, I'm so happy for you that your marriage is much better now, what a blessing from God!
Suangels, I always love reading your Post's and how you reach out to other Moms, both of you are such a blessing to this Circle of Love!,
Much love, prayers & Angel Hugs,
Sandy

Hello again our dear sister Charlene! Thank you TOO for being such a blessing to this Circle, you're a big part of it now too and I love you too!
This Circle of Love belong's to everyone - God whispered in my ear to start it and Miss V and Selva have been here the longest, sharing their love, support and yes, their own 'valley days' at this safe haven for all of us. And i pray you, Donna, Suangels will continue to bless us all with your postings and become long-time sisters as well!
Gosh yes, I agree with you, only our Awesome God that we love and serve could bring about something good out of our shared trgedies. I love You God and thank You for blessing this Circle of Love!
May He give you and your family the same dear Charlene,
Much love, prayers & Angel Hugs,
Sandy
e-mail: sewhalen@yahoo.com

Thank you, Sandy! You all have been such a blessing to me. I thank God for you, Sandy, that you listened when He whispered in your ear! And He keeps bringing others to this healing place; that's what I call this prayer circle: the healing place. Even though we can't see each other or touch each other, we can see inside each others' hearts and touch each others' hearts by the love and ((((hugs)))) and words that are shared here. I praise Your Holy Name, God, and thank You for bringing me here to this healing place; all good things are provided by You and even though this place in my life hurts, You have brought good from it. I praise You and thank You for my sisters here who share in this pain but who also share in the joy of healing that You are bringing to us. In Jesus precious name I ask all this. Amen.
Love to you all today!
Grandma Charlene
Baby boy: 2-25-89 (adopted 3-89)
Michael: 3-27-89 (stillborn)
Casey Marie: 1-7-92 to 12-1-04
Carey Grace: 3-18-94 to 12-1-04
http://www.mylovelygarden.com/sisterscareyandcasey.html

Dear sister Sandy, I have been doing some reading in my Greek dictionary. (Bear with me, this might get a little lengthy.) I looked up the word grief and it says: 'signifies pain, of body or mind; whatever causes sorrow'. Then I looked up sorrow and it says: 'grief, heaviness, pain, distress, whether of body or mind'. Then I looked up heaviness and it says: 'grief, sorrow, sore-troubled, heavy-laden'. That last word HIT ME between the eyes because that is part of the verse you mentioned, "Come to me, all you who are weary......". The next part of that verse is "...and heavy laden..." What an awesome God we have!! I never made the connection between heaviness of heart (grief) and heavy-laden before. I always thought that verse meant physical burdens. Thank you for mentioning that verse; now I know more than I knew before. Aren't those Greek definitions so appropriate? We all have pain, both bodily (because of the shock of loss) and mentally (because of the loss, period). We have sorrow and tears, too. And we have heaviness (of body and spirit); some days, at the beginning, we thought we couldn't even lift our head off of our pillow. And my body some days does seem heavy, like I want to just lie around all day and do nothing. But the GOOD NEWS is that we can take that HEAVY burden to God and He will bear it for us. In fact, He has already borne it through His Son on the cross! The end of that verse is that He will give us rest. Thank You, Jesus, for rest! That's what we all need; rest from our burden of grief.
Thank you so much for your encouragement and help!!
Love, Charlene

Hi my dear Angel sisters. I'm sorry that I have not posted in a few days, but I am so proud of you my Angel sisters, you have kept our Circle of Love alive, thanks so much for your posting, you are really Angels. I just lost my aunt (87) who I really loved very much, she went to Heaven, yesterday at 4:30 am, she was doing fine and in about 2 weeks, liver cancer took her life, in just 2 weeks, she did not go through pain Thank God, she passed in her sleep, we were trying to get Hospice for her but Tank God she did not had to be moved from the hospital, the funeral is today, and I just could not make it, my brother and sister are there, but I just can't take another funeral, my cousins understand, and yes, this brings many memories and valley days.I just want all of you to know that you have found a family in this Circle of Love, we are all in this together, and Thanks to my dear dear sister Sandy, we can come here and just let it out and we all understand one another like nobody else will. Thanks my dear new sisters, you are doing a tremendous job may God Bless You. Love Selva

Dear sister Selva, May God surround you with His love and peace today and in the days to come; may He give you grace upon grace and comfort knowing that you don't have to do anything that you don't want to do right now. May He sustain you and feed you manna from His word to carry you through these days. We love you, sister.
Charlene

Sisters,
My husband and I just got back from eating lunch with our daughter, granddaughter, and grandson (the family who lost the two girls)--our son-in-law had to work today. We had a really good day; we laughed a LOT which helped. The two grandkids are a girl-9 and a boy-6. They had funny memories of Carey and Casey that they talked about and we laughed and laughed. Then we laughed with them about what's going on in their lives now, too. It was a very good time! I was especially glad to see our daughter laughing and having a good time too. Thank you all for your prayers; I can feel them today! My husband and I went to the cemetery this morning to put some more flowers out for Carey's birthday and all I could feel was peace and calm. Angela sent me an email scripture with the music in the background that I had been humming all morning: "Where Could I Go But To The Lord?". God knew just what I needed; it's very encouraging to know that He tells someone else, too, so that they can encourage me.
God bless you all!
Grandma Charlene
Baby boy: 2-25-89 (adopted 3-89)
Michael: 3-27-89 (stillborn)
Casey Marie: 1-7-92 to 12-1-04
Carey Grace: 3-18-94 to 12-1-04
http://www.mylovelygarden.com/sisterscareyandcasey.html

Hi dear Charlene,
OMG, that is amazing, what you discovered in the Greek Dictionary about the words 'heavy ladened' that are in the Scriptue piece and how it so aptly describe's our feelings in this Journey of Grief! That's what I call an 'AHA' moment when our eyes are opened and we understand something fully for the first time, :-). You must have been prompted by the Holy Spirit to look through all the definitions! Thanks so much for sharing that, it really hit's home, especially in the beginning when we're in the 24/7 all-consuming pain and grief.
I'm so happy for you and your daughter, family, that Carey's Birthday was filled with some laughter and good memories, especially for your daughter, it must have made your heart lightened to see her laughing as well on one of the special days that we have. Your precious Carey, remembered with lots of love and laughter, I'm sure she was there laughing along with all of you :-).
As well as you feeling a sense of peace when you and your hubby put flowers on her gravesite, Praise God!
Much love, prayers, & Angel Hugs,
Sandy

Hi my dear sister, I know you're up to your neck in taxes and valley days, but it's still really great to see a post from you! Yes, I wholeheartedly agree, our new sisters on this road we're all travelling together are wonderful, amazing women, we're truly blessed they found their way here!
You remember to get some rest and take care of yourself too, those are orders from the Head Office, :-)
Love you my dear sister,
Sandy

Thank you, dear sister Sandy! I feel much better today; yesterday is passed and I MADE IT THROUGH IT! ;o) Another milestone behind me, and tomorrow to look forward to. Thank God for all of you and your prayers and support!!
God bless you all today, give you peace and comfort and rest.
Grandma Charlene
Baby boy: 2-25-89 (adopted 3-89)
Michael: 3-27-89 (stillborn)
Casey Marie: 1-7-92 to 12-1-04
Carey Grace: 3-18-94 to 12-1-04
http://www.mylovelygarden.com/sisterscareyandcasey.html

Hi dear sister Charlene, oh, I'm so happy for you that you feel much better today, yes, you made it through another special day!! Thank You Lord for answering all our prayers for Charlene and her family on their sweet Carey's Birthday!
The very same to you, dear one,
Lots of love, & Hugs,
Sandy

This is for all of you, dear sisters!
http://www.dayspring.com/movies/view.asp?moviename=comfort.swf&movieheight=485&moviewidth=726
Charlene

After you have viewed the above movie, you will better understand the story I am about to tell you. In the fall of 1988 I was working in a dr.office with my sister, three other ladies, and my oldest daughter. My middle daughter was 15 and not feeling well so I made an appt. for her with the dr.I worked for. After he had checked her, he called me into his office and told me she was pregnant. To say the least, I was shocked. Then I went into the exam room and she wouldn't look at me, just broke down crying. All I could do was hold her; I don't think we even said anything for quite a while. There was a lady counselor in the same office bldg. as the dr. I worked for, and I immediately made an appt. with her at the dr. suggestion. My daughter and I met with her all through that fall and winter. She continued to go to school and I could 'feel' everyone looking at me whenever I went to any of the school activities; she was active in choir and concert band. Now I knew what every parent felt like who had a daughter 'like that'. (Our school district is very small--around 600 in first through 12th grades--and "this" didn't happen very often in our town.) I felt humiliated, but worse, I felt like I had failed as a mother. I had taken all three of my daughters to church since they were babies; how could she get so mixed up? Anyway, seeing the counselor, we decided to give the baby up for adoption. My husband didn't want anything to do with the baby or our daughter at that point; he gave the ultimatum that she couldn't live with us any longer if she kept the baby. I spent many nights crying and praying to make the right decision. Then one night the thought came to me so clear that I thought it had to have come from God: I had had three very healthy babies in my marriage, but there was some woman out there who had cried buckets of tears because she couldn't even have one baby. I wanted her to have a baby, even if I had to give up my grandbaby to her. Our daughter agreed that it would be hard for her to finish her schooling (she was a sophomore in high school at the time) with a baby to take care of; so we signed the papers. It was a closed adoption--we didn't know too much about the whole process at the time, we just wanted to get it over with. In January 1989, we found out that our oldest daughter was pregnant; she wanted to get married. I put together a wedding in about 3 weeks and she got married on Feb. 4th. On Feb. 25th, our middle daughter had her baby, a boy. She got to hold him for a little bit then she was moved to a floor away from maternity and couldn't go back to see the baby. The hospital would let me go see him, though, so I took my oldest daughter and we went to visit. I wanted my oldest daughter to hold him while I took pictures but the nurses wouldn't let us do that. They said only I could be with him. So, I took my camera and unwrapped him, took pictures, held him, and then took him back to the nursery. That was the last time we saw him. (The adoption became final and we got the paperwork in the mail in March.)

A week later, our oldest daughter had an ultrasound and found out that her baby, a boy, had anencephaly. That means that he didn't have a brain. He had a complete skull like any normal baby, but he didn't have a brain inside his skull. All he had was a brain stem, and the drs. explained that he would grow and thrive as long as he was inside his mother's body; but when he was born, he couldn't live on his own for more than a few hours. She got a second ultrasound to make sure. Since we worked in the same dr. office, I could hear her making phone calls during her breaks and lunchtime; they were to funeral homes to make arrangements for her baby that wasn't even born yet. That was a very hard time. She carried him until he was born; he was stillborn the day after Easter, March 27, 1989. We had a funeral, the first 'personal' funeral I had ever attended other than for grandparents. During all that time I don't think I allowed myself to grieve even one day. I had the mistaken idea that as a Christian I wasn't supposed to grieve. That's why I said in one of my first notes here that I think I'm just now grieving for all four grandkids. The first one we have no idea where he is: I wondered about him all the time for the first two years until we started having other grandkids--all healthy. Then I just thought about him once in a while until recently. He was the older half-brother of Casey and Carey so I've been thinking about him a lot lately; wondering if he's even still alive or if we'll ever get to meet him. I'll have to leave that up to God, but I've started praying for him again. After Michael was stillborn, God gave me a verse (the one about comforting others with the comfort that we have received from God--in the movie I sent to you all) and that helped. But I didn't really get to put it into practice until 2 years later when a young couple in our church had a baby just like Michael. He lived a few hours, but died in his mama's arms. At his funeral I realized what the 'comfort' verses meant as I held the young lady and cried with her.
That's my story about the first two grandchildren in my life. I thought at that time that I was going through hell and torture, but I realized after the girls' wreck that I hadn't even begun to suffer like that then. You all know what I mean.
I hope this was okay to share with you; I've told this story to only one other person before. You are TRUE sisters; we are family now and I wanted you to see that I'm having a hard time with more than just the girls' deaths.
Love to you all!!
Grandma Charlene
Baby boy: 2-25-89 (adopted 3-89)
Michael: 3-27-89 (stillborn)
Casey Marie: 1-7-92 to 12-1-04
Carey Grace: 3-18-94 to 12-1-04
http://www.mylovelygarden.com/sisterscareyandcasey.html

Oh, that's really beautiful dear Charlene - and it really applies here, doesn't it! Thank you!!
I'll put it into a link for you and everyone else: CLICK
Love & Hugs to you and all,
Sandy

I pray that you will always be comforted by the Holy Spirit. I pray to for Johanna who is facing the loss of her child who is missing. He is her only one. I pray for all mothers and fathers for continued comfort from the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Father God, I bring Johanna before you right now along with her child who is missing. Wrap them both in your comfort right now, surround them with your peace and hope. Send your angels to clear the path between them so they will be together again. Give those helping the insight to know what to do and where to look. In Jesus name I ask this. Amen
Charlene

Dear God in heaven, Father of all, ~ I join my sister in Christ, Charlene, and all the other angel moms in storming heaven with prayer for the safe return of this precious and beloved child to her Mom. Father, You know our end from the beginning. Therefore, we pray that it is within your divine will that this will turn out to be a happy ending. In the holy name of Jesus, I pray this humble heartfelt prayer, Amen.

Dear Angel Moms, ~ Thank you for all the lovely cards & emails; but most of all your prayers. :) I had a pretty good day today at rehab. I go three times a week and exercise for about an hour or so.
They also provide counseling for this type of major surgery. My emotions have been all over the place; but I am told that this is normal after open heart surgery. My strength seems to be returning slowly, but I still must take it real easy; especially on days when I am feeling ok and tend to overdo. :( Not to worry though because the pain reminds me to slow down and follow doctors orders. :)

I continue to thank God for allowing me to hang around here for a while longer. Yes … To God be the glory! Please know that I still read almost every day, but due to carpal tunnel syndrome, and sometimes chest pain, I just can't do too much typing. The doctors say it takes about six weeks for the sternum to heal; but I beg to differ! Ha-ha! I feel it's not happening fast for me because I have difficulty sleeping on my back. I do have the comfort of a hospital bed and [recently] have found that it helps to prop those long pillows on the side I keep trying to roll over and sleep on once I doze off. :) So far, that has really helped. So keep praying y’all, and maybe before long, I'll be feeling up toposting one of my ramblers again. :)
Much love, and heartfelt prayers for all,
Verna
Diane's Mom :)
Website: www.thespearofstrength.com

I see I took us to a new page. Y'all be sure to go back to the previous page to read and pray for the safe return of a beloved child to her Mom.:(

Father, I join with my sisters here, asking that Johanna's son has been found and is safely back with his Mom. If it hasn't happened yet, Father, I ask you to surround this child with Your Angels to keep him safe, and to please reunite him with his mother and family, I ask this Father through Your Son, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus, who live's and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, Amen. Thank You, love You.
Sandy

Oh dear Charlene, not only is it alright! but we're honoured that you shared your story with us all here!
Yes, now I see how the Movie has a special meaning to you. Your poor daughter too, not only having to give up a child but losing one as well. Be proud of her though, she chose LIFE for her baby with your loving support.
We'll all had trials, storms in our lives and we thought at the time this is the worst that we're going through - until the day came that forever changed our lives. And you're SO right, Christians aren't supposed to grieve, we're supposed to be happy that our loved one has gone to Heaven. You know what I say to that? B.S.! I actually had this said to me by an elderly lady that we knew at the time, but she had never had children so she couldn't possibly understand. I do find it's getting better, our Parish now has Bereavement Group's for those who have lost a loved one and a separate one for those who've lost a child.
Your grief has been delayed, but don't feel alone, we've had other Moms here experience the same, Only by talking freely about it, sharing how you feel and being validated for your feelings will you (and any other Mom) start to grieve in a healthy way. It take's more courage to talk about it, cry, than it does to hold it all in, so you see, you're a courageous woman!
This is a 'for your information' only, if your daughter ever decide's she want's to find the baby she bravely gave up, there is a National Adoption Registry where you can enter your name, personal details about the birth and if or when the child decide's he would like to contact his biological Mom, he would do the same and they'd match you up. Perhap's you're already aware of it, I'm just solely telling you for your information, NO pressure whatsoever, :-).
Thank's again dear one for sharing your story and now you're on the Journey bless you, to grieve for your precious grandaughters at this Circle of Love,
Much love, prayers & tender Hugs,
Sandy