Prayer Circles

For those of us who do not know Yvonne, her posts start on page 41. As I was going back through the posts to find this, I was amazed at how many people this prayer circle has helped. So many people who no longer post, but who were so encouraging while they themselves were hurting. I wish there was a way to have a reunion of everyone who have benefited from this prayer circle. It would be great to celebrate the successes of those who preceded us here.

Sandy, thank you for doing such a suburb job of keeping this circle going, always welcoming new people. There had to be times when you felt discouraged when people stopped posting. Thank you for hanging in there for us. Love, Jane

Dear Yvonne,
I am one of those who do not know you. I just visited Joe's memorial. It's been 7 years and if you're anything like me, it seems a lifetime and yesterday all together. My daughter died 27 years ago and sometimes it still feels like it just happened. I haven't read all your posts, but enough to know of your strong faith in Jesus. It's that faith that gets you through another day and year. Know that you are in my prayers today. Love, Jane

Hello dear AngelMoms, sisters,
Wow, its wonderful to see everyone posting! I was offline this weekend, save for a half hour, and am just able to post now. Lee Ann, I'm so sorry I missed your son's heaven date, but you and he were in my thoughts and prayers.
I read all the post's since I last posted and Miss V, loved the poem as well. I'm very happy to see all the post's from so many, but for those who just can't, no pressure, I know your Thanksgiving is in a few days. All of you are in my love and prayers and you will get through the day! Thank you for your loving words and (((Hugs))) to me and of course your prayers, yes, as our dear Selva say's, prayer does work! All of you are such a big blessing to me and to this Circle that God whispered in my ear to start, all of you make it what it is and has become.
Yes, dear Jane, a lot of history in the back pages, some I still hear from via e-mail and other's I do wonder about......yesterday actually I was thinking about one of the young Mom's who posted frequently and had lost her baby daughter, Sarah. You may have seen her name back there, Sou, she was such a sweet young woman and posted to everyone else as well.....I wonder if she and her hubby went on to have another child. And of course our dear Yvonne.lot's of memories,
Much love & Angel Hugs to all,
Sandy

Our dearest Yvonne, I pray you're still reading here from time to tome and today especially on your precious Joe's Anniversary. I'm sure he and his Dad are together and I pray today that you feel their love and warmth around you, particularly your Joe. I also hope you're still seeing your doves, your special sign :).
Your grancuties must be getting big, have there been any new additions for Grandma? Are you still living in your home?
We miss reading your wonderful posts and the beautiful prayer that you'd always add at the end, but we do understand, first losing Joe, then your husband's illness and his passing away too, life has held some hard trials for you and your family. I know you're a woman of great faith but I also know you still have your moments, valley time's, God love you. I hope you do post sweetie, you're always a member of this Circle and we'd love to know how you're doing, coping.
Dear Lord, please wrap Your loving arms around Yvonne today and may Your love and peace flood her soul,
Lots of love & Angel Hugs, Yvonne,
Sandy

I am Angela christie's sister. I was shocked and dismayed to see a message about how she was alive. Unfortunelately, this is not the case. Angela died July 24th/2006.

Does anyone know who Angela Christie is?

Dear poolqueen,
I am so sorry to hear that our dear Angela is gone. She did a webpage for my granddaughters and for many other children of mothers here at this prayer circle. She will be very much missed! I would like for you to email me at mct1@ckt.net and tell me more. I look forward to corresponding with you.
Love, Charlene

Hello Sue (poolqueen),
So sorry to hear that. Shame on the person posing as Angela telling us she had passed away and then posing as her to tell us she was very much alive!
I wish you had joined earlier to tell us about Angela, again, very sorry to hear it,
Love Sandy

Dear Jane, Angela as Charlene said created webpages for grieving Parents and did many for one's here. Actually if you click on Charlene's Profile you can read what Angela wrote to Charlene at one of her Memorial sites. We were the victim's back then of a cruel joke played on us all back in the summer, and now Angela's sister Sue is letting us know that it's true, Angela did pass away in August of this year.
Love & Hugs,
Sandy

Dear Sandy,
Charlene updated me by e-mail. I am sorry for all who knew her here that you had to find out this way. I have read some of her back posts. She was a great encourager and will be missed by all. My prayers are with all who are just now grieving her loss. Love, Jane

Well Sandy and Charlene, I guess that is why Angela was weighing so heavily on my mind earlier today. I sent her an email a few days ago, but as I told you, I had not heard back from her. I had hoped to have her to update the guestbook and add a few more pages to Diane's memorial page: www.thespearofstrength.com. She kept a file containing many poems I had written over the years. Naturally, the sad news of her passing has put me deeper in the valley than I already was. :( Sadly, there are some cruel people on this earth. What possible satisfaction could they get from playing on the emotions of people who are already hurting? Anyway, as my mother would say, "Pray for them who do all manner of evil against you." I recall counseling dear Angela many times on that very subject. It may take a while ... but right now, I am praying that God has His loving arms around dear Angela, and thanking Him for having shared her with us on this side of heaven. Angela, I wish you eternal joy in the sweet by and by. Sue, thanks for letting us know. You and family are in my thoughts, which places you in my heartfelt prayers. Y'all please forgive me, but I've been having a few problems with my heart; nothing major [I hope], so I may have to go to emergency tomorrow morning. I talked with the nurse earlier today and assured her I was in no great pain, but felt some discomfort which I feel is caused by picking up something heavy, and/or pulling on my seatbelt. She said she will call me in the morning to see how I am feeling. Thanking you all in advance for praying for me. My love and prayers to all. Yvonne, I thought of you today especially, and said a little prayer; that God would watch over you, and keep you in His loving care! [words from a favorite poem my mom shared with me many, many years ago. :)
Love and (((HUGS)))to all,
Verna

To our new angel moms, if you would like to view some of Angela's work, I invite you to take a look at the creative memorial pages she did for my daughter, Diane, and also a page dedicated to the memory of my mother-in-law, at: www.thespearofstrength.com. If you do visit, I ask that you please sign the guestmap and guestbook. Jane, thank you for caring and your words of compassion even though you didn't know dear Angela. Praying you are feeling much better and pampering yourself. :)
Love and (((HUGS))),
Verna

Hello my angel moms. I am sneaking and posting this at work. I emailed some of the moms and asked them to tell you all I miss you and let you know my computer is out of service. All of you have been in my prayers and I pray for nothing but the best for each of you and your family. All of the dates I have missed, please accept my apology and my heartfelt prayer for your special date. I want to share something with all of you before everyone comes back from lunch. This is what my pastor preached on Sunday about. He preached from 2Kings 4:18-21, the title was Shattered Dreams. I must say it was not a dry eye in the church and I bawled like a baby. It was so emotional and it was as though he was talking to me about the loss of Derrick. These are some of the pointers he emphasized: Don’t isolate yourself by staying on the inside. Satan will try to cut you off from yourself and destroy you if he can get you to put your life in neutral or reverse. Refuse to let go of yourself and your family. Talk to God constantly because when you drop the pieces and they are broken, give them to God. He needs something to work with. Just keep repeating with conviction, its well, its well, its well. God knows the pain we are going through, He knows our trials and tribulations, but if we can keep telling ourselves the pain and the tribulations are there, but all is well, God will handle the rest. He then stated with our loss, whether its from death, divorce, job, etc., all of our dreams were shattered, but with God’s help he will help us through it, just don’t stay on the inside, get yourself out, let it out, etc. but don’t let your shattered dreams take control of your life. The sermon was deep and there are more things, but this is just the gist of it.

All, I know this is long but I thought about all of you at the circle when he preached this. I bought the tape and I have played it everyday and this is the only thing that has been helping me this week with the upcoming Holiday. I wish all of you could hear this whole tape. It will be a while before I post again because today is my last day at work until next week. I work for a public school system and this is our holiday break. If I can get close to a computer before then, I will post. Much love to you all and I pray your Thanksgiving will be a joyous one. I know it will be hard for some of us, especially for us first timers, but ITS WELL, ITS WELL, ITS WELL. I still have a lot to be thankful for and I know my son is still watching over us all and God is in control. Connie

Hi dear Connie,
I didn't know your home PC was broken, no wonder we haven't heard from you - but at least you can post from work!It must have been a very profound Sermon that your Pastor gave, insightful as well, he knew that Thanksgiving is a difficult day for some people and ofered sound spiritual advice and practical as well. I'm so happy for you that the tape of it is helping you this week, a Divine gift for you and all! I wish you and your's a joyous Thanksgiving with love and peace from God helping you through as well.
Much love & Hugs,
Sandy

Our dear Miss V, praying that all is well with you and it was nothing serious with your chest discomfort. Please let us know what the Dr. said,
Much love & Hugs,
Sandy

Hi dear Sandy, Thanks for the prayers. I slept well last night and felt better today thank God. I waited around for the nurse to call, but she never did, so I got in my car and drove over there. The doctor was not in, but she gave me an appointment for next Tuesday at 1:30. She told me that if I felt any pain, to go to the emergency room. For now, I am just taking it easy and trying to relax. I wrote a poem today; which is one of the ways I relax. I've forgotten the title [senior moment] but I am going to go to MS Works and serch for it so I can share it with everyone.I think the sad news about Angela might have inspired this most recent poem. I wish we could get a copy of the obituary somehow. Maybe her sister, Sue, will send one to us.
Love and (((HUGS))) to all for now, and Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone! You too Sandy, although you all have already celebrated Thanksgiving. :)
Verna

In loving memory of our dear sister in Christ, Angela Dawn Christie

From: Prayers and Poetry for the Bereaved by Verna R. Clay

… And, the Holy Spirit said, “Go write this down!”

God’s Great Harvest

God planted seeds in His earthly garden,

Satan, out of envy, did the same.

God’s seeds grew love, joy, and

Compassion …

Satan’s grew hate, grief and pain.

Satan’s seeds tried to suffocate,

All the good works that God had done.

Fertilizing the seeds of hate, grief and pain,

Causing God to send His Son …

To weed out all the hate, grief and pain,

That Satan and his demons had sown.

God's Son sowed the Ultimate Seeds of: Hope,

Joy, Compassion, Faith, and Love ...

Before ascending to His Heavenly Throne!

Someday there will be a Great Harvest,

In God’s Garden of Love you see …

Filled with eternal love, joy, and happiness

Only then will our souls be set free!

So as Satan keeps sowing his seeds of destruction,

His seeds of hate, grief and pain …

We will continue sowing love, joy, and compassion,

Each day … in Jesus’ Name!

By: Verna R. Clay

Copyright 2006

[All Rights Reserved]

Dear Verna,
That poem was beautiful. Just last night my accountability group was discussing exactly that, Satan may plant his seeds, but when the Harvest comes only God's seeds will remain. I am so glad you are feeling better. I know you were especially close to Angela, therefore I'm praying extra for you. Tough time of the year to find out. Please be good to yourself. Love, Jane

To All,
I was just thinking of a topic that I haven't seen addressed here. The physical pain of grief. For all the new angel moms, if you are feeling physical pain, I just want you to know that it is normal. I remember for months I could not even swallow without it hurting. The pain in my chest felt like I was having a heart attack. Verna, not like the pain you're having, which is indeed a medical condition. I'm talking about the pain that doesn't have a medical reason. The commercial that says "Where does depression hurt? Everywhere" is true for grief also. I just felt I needed to let someone know that you're not going crazy because you have physical pain without a medical explanation. Grief work is hard physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

If I don't get to post again tonight, I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. We all do have a lot to be thankful for. Sandy, I realize you have already celebrated, but it never hurts to reflect on what you're thankful for. Blessings and Love to everyone. Jane

Yes, Jane is right, I know we've talked about it before here, somewhere in the back pages, so thanks Jane for raising it again, perhaps some of our newly bereaved Moms are experiencing this. Grieving can result in real physical pain, such as Jane herself experienced, you may suffer from more headaches, sinus pain from crying, a feeling of a tight band around your middle (your diaphram constrict's), it can also make existing health problems worse, such as arthritis and skin conditions. None of this is meant to scare you in anyway, absolutely not, but if you are experiencing physical symptoms, it is a very normal part of grieving, and this is just to let you know it is or can be physically painful and many of us have experienced physical syptoms, you are not alone, nor are you crazy in any way! On the other hand, don't ignore painful symptom's altogether, its a very good idea to be in touch with your family Dr., during the raw, biting 24/7 pain when you're newly bereaved.
Oh dear Jane, :) everyday is a day of gratitude and thanksgiving for me, tomorrow will be no different!
I wish you all a very peace-filled Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, may our Dear Lord give you His Peace, His Comfort, that surpasses all other's tomorrow. You will get through the day,
Much love, prayers & Hugs,
Sandy

Dear Sisters,
Wanted to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving holiday. I have much to be thankful for. I pray God bless each and every one of you and place his gentle loving arms around you all. Yes we will get through the day with God's amazing grace! I probably won't post until Monday as the only computer I have is here at work. (Family business so I can log on anytime :) I didn't mean not to post until now, we are just very busy. I am always praying for all of you dear sisters. God bless and have a wonderful day tomorrow.
Love to all
Kathy

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Love Chris

Hi all,
I just sat down to take a breather so I'm late getting this out to you all; my prayer tonight is that all of you will have a very blessed day tomorrow, either with or without family. May God turn His face toward you and give you peace as only He can give.
Love you all!
Charlene
(((HUGS)))

Dear Sisters,
I pray each of you have had a stress-free holiday.I'm late posting as usual, I went to my daughters for Thanksgiving dinner today. I couldn't bring myself to cook for everyone this year.It just brings alot of memories back.Thanksgiving was the last holiday I had with Kim and it was Josh' favorite. I guess this is one of my valley days. Pray for me.
Jane, talking about physical pain I actually thought I was going crazy after Kim's death. The dr. told me there was nothing wrong with me -it was all in my head.Needless to say I haven't been back to him. I learned to ignore it and it stopped. It came back when I lost Josh. I'm dealing with it now.
Miss V., I love your poems. They are so uplifting. I visited your daughters memorial page, she was really a beautiful person. I know you was proud of her.
Sandy, please keep those e-mails coming. I really look forward to them. I loved the one about the landlord.
Have a blessed day.
Love you all,
Anita