Prayer Circles

Dear Margie, ~ when I read your post the other night about the loss of your brother, my eyes filled up with tears. I wanted so much to post to you that night, but I was too emotional at that time, plus my hands were in no shape after submitting the post I had just typed. But I prayed heartfelt prayers for you and family just as I always to when someone loses a dear loved one. Please know that you and family are in my heartfelt prayers.
Love & prayers,
Verna

Dear God,
I come to You tonight to ask that You place a shield of, compassion, love, and support around Margie, her little son, her parents, and her entire family during their most recent loss. Having survived the loss of several loved ones; including the tragic loss of my 36 year old daughter, Diane, and 2 adult brothers; Herman, and Charles, I can definitely relate to the MAGNITUDE of the grief, the pain, the shock of hearing the sad and unwanted news. I pray for this entire family because each had a very, very special bonding with Lewis, who is now in the presence of God in heaven; with his best friend, Isaac, and family members and friends who greeted him at the gates of heaven. Lord, please strengthen this entire family and help them throughout their grief journey; especially the beginning stages when it all seems so unreal. Father, please help Margie's little son to understand that it's ok to cry when a friend or loved one dies. Please encourage him to talk, record, or write about his feelings. Let him know that it is normal to feel sad, confused, angry, or whatever he is feeling and that he may feel this way for a long time. I also ask that you reveal this to all who miss and love Lewis so very much; and also Lord, please assure each family member that they will indeed see Lewis again when [like Lewis] they have finished all that You, God, sent them here to accomplish. Help them to understand they owe it to Lewis to live out the rest of his life; being loving and gentle with each other, just as he was to all; even as they grieve ... Always knowing that the love bond that they share will never, never die! Thank You, Father, God! In Jesus' name, I pray ... Amen!

Hi Angel Moms, ~ Thank you all for praying for me & family. I still have some health issues I am dealing with the best I can, with God's help. Please know that I am praying for all throughout the nights and days; and will continue to do so even when I am unable to post. May our Lord and Savior give each of you the strength you need to face what ever storm that arises as you continue on your grief journey; today, and in the days ahead. I thank God for each angel mom. You reach out to others even as you are grieving your own personal losses. Even when you are unable to submit a post for whatever reason, we are assured that your prayers are going up for all. I believe with all my heart that it is those prayers that keeps us keeping on, in spite of the many life storms we face on an ongoing basis. So, again, I thank each of you for taking part in doing God's work. To God be the glory!
Much love (((hugs))) & prayers,
Verna

Dear two Sammy, ~ I am so very sorry to read of your loss. I have begun working on a post to you, but probably won't get finished with it until later today. I am trying to recover from heart surgery and swollen hands, and must get some rest now. Please know that everyone here can relate to your heartfelt grief, and we are praying heartfelt prayers for you and family.
God's peace and blessings,
Verna

To all my sisters,
Thank you for the prayers on Thursday, they really helped me through. It was a sad yet strangely peaceful day. I know that prayer really works.

Margie, I'm still praying for you and your family. I know what you mean about your little boy not crying, I went through the same thing with Tyler after Josh died - they were buddies. Tyler has just now started to talk about Josh and how much he misses him. Give him some time dear sister, you're right about him crying after you call him down. That may be the only way for him to grieve.

Miss V.,
You are still in my prayers as well. Please try to rest and don't OVERDO things. You are a treasure to this circle.

Love you all,
Anita

Hello our dear Anita,
I'm so happy that it wasn't a very painful day for you and you experienced the peace from God that we've all prayed for on your special day, I always say God is so good to grieving Moms and He answered our prayers for you. Of course it would still be a sad day, how could it not dear one, but just knowing that you had peace as well, warm's my heart. Thank You God for answering all our prayers for our dear Anita!
Much love & Hugs,
Sandy

Our dear Miss V, I hope and pray that you're starting to take care of yourself again, you have to make yourself the number one priority in your life again! Please go with Pearl and exercise, or take up your walking again, and no more sneaking off for Taco Bell, :). We love you and care so much about you, so please go back to your healthy life plan. I don't want this to come across as a 'nag' just as a concerned sister/friend who love's ya,
Lots of love & {{Hugs}}
Sandy

I came across this Poem, it touched me, so I thought I'd share it with all,

Oh Sandy, that poem was beautiful! It made me want to go out and buy a granite heart to put at our granddaughters' gravesite. Then I remembered that I already put a carved heart there this year; it is hollowed in the middle with chimes hanging down to catch the breeze. The words of the poem are so appropriate! Thank you!
Love and (((HUGS))),
Charlene

That poem was so nice and just the right thing for this time of year. I think I will copy it and put it on a heart to put on my son's grave.

Oh, what a touching poem, Sandy. The words really express how we angle moms feel especially so this time of year. It kind of reminded me of the beautiful gift that Cindy sent to us one year. I still treasure that poem and the beautiful ornament with Diane's name, special dates, and verse from the poem Merry Christmas From Heaven. They only come out of the box during this time of year, but I keep them in view right next to her photo all year long. :) I will treasure it always as I know you and the other angel moms who were a part of our circle of love at that time will too.

Sandy, believe it or not, I am very ready to begin exercising again. I am waiting to hear from the director of the health center to find out when I can begin. The paper work, assurance of insurance pmt. has to happen first, always! But I can wait because it's a lot less expensive. Until that happens, however, I am just taking walks in the mall, on days when the weather is rainy, or too cool to walk in the park. And you'll be pleased to hear I've ALMOST put fast foods AND the other bad habit down. :) Having trouble breathing and reoccuring chest pain, has helped make a believer out of me! Ha-ha! And, no more Reeces & delux honey buns or coffee with 3 creams and six sugars late at night! As the words of a favorite poem reminds me, [God willing]of course, ... "I have miles to go, before I sleep." :)
Anyone remember the words of an old Negro Spiritual ...I'll Be Waiting Up There??? I remember it as being a lively upbeat type song
that was performed in our church - in days gone - by with a lot of clapping of the hands and a lot of spiri. :)Anyone remember??? It goes ...

If you miss me from singing 'round here
You can't find me no where ...
Come on up to bright glory,
I'll be waiting up there!

I'll be waiting up there up there
I'll be waiting up there ...
Come on up to bright glory ...
I'll be waiting up there!!!

Much love & angel (((HUGS))) to all,
Verna

Y'all, I'll Proof read and spell check next time! :) right now my top of the stove meatloaf is calling out to me! :)

Hello dear sisters,
I'm glad it touched you as well. I don't know who the Author is but they certainly must have also lost a child to compose this Poem.
Lee Ann, I think that would be a lovely gift to leave at Ryan's grave for Christmas.
Much love & hugs to you all,
Sandy

Hi dear Miss V, gosh yes, that was such a wonderful gift from Cindy, it always goes front and center on our tree, :-). Yes, I'll treasure it always too! Oh, that's wonderful to read Miss V, YES, until it's approved you can be a Mall-walker as so many other's do, even in the summer when it's too hot outside, I walk in the Mall just for the air conditioned comfort...I do my walk first, then go back and look at the special's on in some stores...the important thing is to just keep walking! It does a body (and a heart) good, :). That's also terrific to hear, you're weaning yourself off the junk food and slowing way down on the other. I have every faith in you, Miss V, I KNOW you can do it!!
I don't remember that old Spiritual, but it's definitely an upbeat, hands a' clapping one :).
The only one I do remember is "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot....." and we are NOT going there, ha, ha.
Love ya Miss V & Hugs,
Sandy

Hi All,
I'm not MIA on purpose. I have been having major car problems and get stuck too often. However, today when I was stuck there was a mechanic that helped. He was going to charge me 50.00 to get me started. All he did was bang on my fuel pump, and bingo, my car started. My friend Betty, who I am now calling Bold Betty, convinced him it was his Christmas present to me and I would bring my car to him tomorrow. He is right in my neighborhood so hopefully I can get there without a tow.

Sandy, that was a beautiful poem. It does speak for all of us. Unfortunately, my daughter doesn't even have a headstone. At the time of her death my husband wouldn't buy one. A few years ago I talked with the cemetary to arrange for one. They were going to put me on a payment plan, but I never received the paperwork. I guess when they looked at my finances they thought I couldn't swing it. I would have no matter what. It saddens me that there is just a number marking her site in the infant section. I've only been there once, that's when I talked to the cemetary personal. My friend and I placed flowers there, but were told that they would be removed since there was no headstone with a flower holder. Oh well, I know my Elizabeth is not in that grave, she's in a much better place.

One good thing about being stuck so many times is that I have plenty of time to pray. All of you are in my prayers. I know how hard this season is. We do have choices though. We can either focus on our loss or focus on Jesus who is the reason for this season. His reason for coming was redemption. That includes redeeming us from our sorrow and depression. That doesn't mean that we deny it, it means we invite Him to come along side us and bear our burdens. Right now I think I'm preaching to myself. It's late, I have to get up very early to get my car to the shop and then get to work. Good night all. Love, Jane

Hi my dear sisters. I'm sorry for not posting sooner, I have been so down in the Valley!.
My dear Ms. V. so great to hear that you are taking care of yourself, like our dear Angel in Chief said, we all love you and need you and I am happy that you are really trying.
My dear dear sister. What a beautiful poem and how true, it defines our feelings so well, I have never been back to the cemetary since that day, I just don't believe that Solange is there, my family and her friends go, but I just don't, I will carve a heart and put it in front of her picture, that is such a good idea and so beautiful.
Dear Jane I'm sorry that you are having car problems but so glad that you found an honest mechanic, that my dear is a miracle. I don't know if where you live they have a good transportation system, here in Miami it sucks, so having a car is not a luxury but a major necesity.
My dear Anita I am convinced that prayers work, we managed to have calm and Peace thanks to our dear sister's prayers, now we have to pray hard so that all of us will find some Peace during the Holidays.
Margie, please know that you and your family are in my prayers, losing a loved one is always hard but when is tragic and unexpected it is just worse, may God wrap His Arms around you and your family and give you comfort and strenght, we will Storm heaven for you my dear sister.
My love and prayers to all of you my dear sisters. Selva

Good Evening all my moms. I know I have been mia as well. I am over my girlfriend's house posting. I try to keep up the reading at work, but now they are getting strict about what we access on the internet. I will continue to P.U.S.H.{Pray Until Something Happens) regarding me getting new computer. Margie my prayers are still with your family and I will pray without ceasing. My heart aches for your son because someone special was taken from him and your brother really sound like a positive role model. I will pray for him as well.
Sandy, I love that poem. It brought tears to my eyes because as some of you mothers are, I am still in shock. I put on a brave face but this upcoming holiday is bringing in so many memories that I just cry and cry. Everyone will be over here on Christmas Eve. I prepared a small gift bag for everyone to show how precious life is and no one should not ever take it for granted. I dont anymore. One of my prayers I used to pray every night was for God not to take any of my children or grand children before me. God knew better because He did. I know He had a reason for this and He needed my son and that my son's job on this here earth was finished. I will always love my God because He loves me more. Verna you take care of yourself because you have a wonderful spiritual gift that needs to be shared over and over. My church choir just sang that song this pass Sunday and I love it. There were no dry eyes in the church. Selva, we were all down there with you. However, God prevailed in lift us all back. Like the old footprint poem stated, when we only seen one set of footprints, He was carrying us. Jane I am so glad things worked out for you. When it rains it pours doesn't. I miss having that male around here to do a lot of those things. This is the first time in my life I lived along and its strange. Next month will be a year since I've been living alone. My prayers are still with all of you and I praying that we all make it through these last two weeks. I will sign off now until I get another chance to post again. One Thing I know for sure, God Love Us All! MUCH LOVE AND BLESSINGS.

Good Evening Everyone,
Well, I think my car is fixed. It will take me about 7 months to pay it off, but for right now I have reliable transportation. Selva, I live in the burbs and transportation here is very limited. I loved it when I lived in Chicago. I could get anywhere on public transportation. Connie, I'm sorry you're having such problems getting to the site. I will pray that God will supply you with a new computer ( a good used one will do!). I know you count on this site for encouragement. During this your first Christmas you need all the support you can get. I have lived alone for a little over a year. Before that I had roommates. Actually, I have roommates, but it's a house share, so we don't see each other very much. Right now my roommates are men. I did get one to come up and change light bulbs for me since I'm not suppose to climb. Most of the time I am content with my living arrangements. However, the holidays remind me of all I have lost. I do prepare for the alone time. Christmas Eve I will have my family over, but on Christmas Day I'll be by myself. I have already invited my neighbor over. I'll hit the library for a good book in case she chickens out. Then the next day, it's back to work. Selva, prayers not only work, they are our lifeline. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who doesn't go to my daughter's cemetary site.

I went to a great party tonight. It was held for the leadership at my church. If that party was taped, we all could be blackmailed! We played this game, kinda like hot potato, but a pillow was passed around. Whoever had it when the music stopped had to reach into a bag and grab a piece of clothing and put in on. You couldn't see what you were pulling out so the results were really funny. We had men wearing women's underwear on their head! The food was good, the fellowship great and the worship was awesome. A good way to end the frustration I have had with my car.
Well, morning is going to come too soon. Good night to all. Love, Jane

I woke up yesterday morning, and when I went out to feed the mini-donkey, it was cloudy, a very dreary looking day. So I asked Marcus if he could go and ask Jesus for some sunshine. Being his birthday, I thought that would be okay. And sure enough, it wasn't long before the clouds left and the sun was shining!

Sandy,
I, too, really love the poem. It captures how we all feel during the holidays. In 2001, Marcus was the BEST Christmas present I could have asked for. I only wish he could have been here for more than one Christmas.

Thanks for all the prayers on my special day. I could feel the love across the miles.

(((HUGS)))
Donna

I'm SO sorry DONNA, that I wasn't able to post yesterday for Marcus' birthdate. I'm glad that you got sunshine, though. I hope that made you smile. I'm sure you had bittersweet memories of the day 5 years ago when he was born. I pray that God will grant you peace through this holiday, knowing that in a couple of months you will have to say goodbye to him again; yet you know that he is so close to God now that he can ask God to give you sunshine and He will. My love and prayers are with you through this season!
Love and (((HUGS))),
Charlene

Hi ALL, I've been MIA again and I apologize for that. A very hurtful incident happened at our family get-together this past Sat. and it put me into a deep, deep hole again. I found out that my daughter (who lost the two girls in the car wreck) had called my sister on her birthday--I didn't get anything from her for my birthday until a week later I got a card in the mail. I saw my counselor yesterday and I feel like I can go on again. I was ready to cancel Christmas at my house and leave the country until it was over; but now that I've aired my hurt and talked about it to someone, it doesn't seem so deep. At least I'm looking forward to Christmas again and I even did some shopping yesterday afternoon. I haven't slept well since Sat. so I'm hoping that that will get better soon too.

JANE, I'm so sorry that you've been having car problems; it was a blessing, though, that your neighbor found a job!
CONNIE, I'm praying that you will be surrounded by God's presence and His comfort through the holidays--and that He will send you a wonderful gift of a computer of your own. Being without something (or someone) makes us appreciate it more doesn't it? And I want to encourage you to cry anytime you want to; you're entitled to grieve for what you will never experience again in this life. My (((HUGS))) are being sent to you right now; that seems to be what I miss most of all so I send them and receive them back as much as I can.
SANDY, I don't envy you the mess in your house. That reminds me of the mess in my house 2 years ago when I left the chicken breasts on the stove and they burnt to charcoal. Hopefully your house will be better than new when they finish with it.

I've got to go and decorate some more; my front bow window curtains fell apart yesterday so I have to sew some more today with the material that I got yesterday. That should take most of the day, but I want to get it done so our living room isn't 'open to the public' any longer than necessary. :o)

Love and prayers and many, many (((HUGS))) to you all!
Charlene

Dear Donna,
I am so sorry I didn't post yesterday for Marcus' birthday. I pray for my sisters everyday. I was sick yesterday and just couldn't handle the computer.
But I am glad you had the sunshine.
Love, Anita

There's another sister MIA.
Kathy, WHERE ARE YOU?
We miss you when we don't see a post every now and then.
I hope everything is ok.
Love, Anita

"My First Christmas In Heaven"

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas
choir up here. I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices
bring. For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones, You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.
For I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ
this year.
Author Unknown

I got this poem in an email, and thought it was fitting for most of us.
Hope you all enjoy!

(((HUGS)))
Donna

Dear Donna,
Thank you! You are right it fits all of us here.
It was beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Love, Anita