Prayer Circles

MARGIE,
Thank you for the words to that song! I heard it yesterday and cried all the way through it. What an awesome day that will be when we are reunited with our family that's already there!
Be glad that your dad is crying instead of holding it all in. I know it's hard to see a grown man cry like that, but he's setting a good example for other guys that don't know how to show their emotions. He's being very 'real' to be able to cry like that. All you can do is pray for him and give him hugs when you can. He's going through a cleansing of his soul right now and he needs your support. Love him as much as you can.
I hope your kids are doing okay and escaping the flu that's hitting the kids hard this year.
God bless you today Margie!
Love and (((HUGS))),
Charlene

CHARLENE,
Actually, 2 out of 3 kids have had the flu. My oldest and my youngest. Emily has somehow managed to escape it. I have missed so much work already this year because of the kids being sick. But, everyone is healthy again and I hope it stays that way. The flu has been really bad this year. My son came home one day, just before he got the flu, and said that they only had 9 kids in their class-they usually have 22!!! I am really enjoying our weather. It is sooo beautiful. I love spring-I already have some flowers popping up through the ground. Anyway, I should probably get going(I'm at work again). Much love to everyone today!!!
Margie

Dear Margie,
I heard that song while I was pulling into the mall where I work. I stayed in my car to hear it all, and prayed for you and your family. Love, Jane

Dear sisters,
I wanted to check in before I leave for a long weekend. I am going to visit my son and his family in Arizona. It is his birthday Saturday. The second birthday without his very much loved brother Wesley. I pray everyone is doing well and will be praying for all of you. God bless!
Kathy

Dear Barbie, Just wanted to let you know that our prayers are with you on this your Garry's (HD). We don't always get here to post on time, but I can assure you that we always try, and I know deep in my heart that all are sending up prayers for you today. May our Lord and Savior give you peace, fond memories, and may you feel the results of our prayers.
Love,prayers, & (((HUGS))) from heaven.
Verna

I thought I would share this for those who have lost a baby.
Keepsake of My Heart
By Kelley Crisanti

My husband didn't understand.
"Why now?" he asked, confused. The scrapbook page I was working on wasn't of our infant daughter, precocious toddler or teenage son. It was a page in honor of the baby I'd lost two years earlier to miscarriage.
"I need something tangible to honor my memories," I offered as an explanation. The subject made him uncomfortable - rightfully so. The days following our loss were some of the darkest in my life. My grief was torrential and very private. Sympathy only deepened my wound. I was unable to accept it, especially since I already had two healthy children. Who was I to grieve this way when there are women who will never have a child? I felt ashamed of my grief - afraid that I was ungrateful for the many blessings in my life. The few reminders, like the skirt I'd worn to the fateful ultrasound appointment, had been discarded as I'd tried to gain some control during an uncontrollable event. We were blessed with a healthy pregnancy immediately following the miscarriage, and my tears were replaced with unfounded fears for the new baby's safety. I felt guilty mourning my loss and accepting my new blessing at the same time. The miscarriage was swept under the rug.
One day as I was journaling about my darling baby, Olivia, my thoughts turned to my lost baby instead. I started to write - not the pages I'd wrung out from the bottom of my soul before - but words of tribute. I decided to do a full-fledged layout. Simple papers, pens, ink, words and trinkets became magical devices. Subconsciously, I created a very symbolic layout. I was finally able to use my sister's dramatic photo of the sky - storm clouds and a ray of sunshine - to symbolize hope. The snow-white silk shantung was innocence and purity. The clear beads were my tears. The torn, textured papers were my pain. A shadowy, translucent image of a woman stamped on mica, her arms empty, her gaze forlorn, was a self portrait, I suppose.
On occasion, someone opens this page of my scrapbook, and there is a silent understanding and sometimes tears. My hobby gave an outlet for my lingering grief to escape. I was able to revisit the devastation and explore it from a new perspective. I allowed myself to mourn without guilt. There were fresh tears . . . new sorrow . . . and, finally, peace.

Reprinted by permission of Kelley Crisanti (c) 2005 from Chicken Soup for the Scrapbooker's Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Allison Connors and Debbie Haas. In order to protect the rights of the copyright holder, no portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent. All rights reserved.

Dear Kathy,
I pray you have restful and fun time with your son. I know it will be hard without Wesley's presence, but I pray that the celebration of life will balance it. Love, Jane

Dear Kathy,
I pray you have restful and fun time with your son. I know it will be hard without Wesley's presence, but I pray that the celebration of life will balance it. Love, Jane

Sorry about the double post (blessing). Waited 10 minutes and still did not submit. So I hit it again and bingo, 2 posts!

Our dear Margie,
That's so very sad to read about your Father. He has lost a precious child and he's in deep grief. Charlene is right, bravo to him for letting it out, most men keep it bottled up. He's filled with pain and I wouldn't exppect things will 'return to normal' for quite some time yet. Offering him your unconditional love and understanding, talking to him or bettter yet, allowing him to talk to you are the very best things you can do right now to help him. Prayers for your Dad and you and your family,
Much love & Hugs,
Sandy

Our dear Kathy, you've probably left by now, but I wish you a wonderful weekend and safe travel. Let us know how it went,
Much love & Hugs,
Sandy

Oh, our dear Chris, what a beautiful and inspirational story and so appropriate to post here! Thank you for sharing it with all. I love most of the "Chicken Soup" Books that are out there, there are some very wonderful stories in them, :)
God bless
Much love & Hugs,
Sandy

Hello our dear Anita,
My thoughts, love and prayer are with you today on yet another special day for you, God bless you. Today is your one year Anniversary of your precious Joshua's passing and I know it must be painful for you. Our mind's and hearts go back to that day not so long ago and 're-live' the memories, forever locked in our hearts. You know this Circle is here for you though, encompassing you around it and offering our love and support. Please let us know how you're doing, we all care!
Much love & {{Hugs}}
Sandy

Dear Anita,
I want to also tell you that you are in my thoughts and prayers today. One year anniversaries are so hard. In one thought you think wow one year already, then you think like it just happened. I agree with Sandy we do go back and relive those awful memories. My prayer today for you is that you will also relieve the good memories. I pray you will feel God's loving and Compassionate Presence wrap around you today and in the next few days. It's been my observation that the days leading up to a special date are filled with anxiety, the days afterward are sometimes filled with emptiness. I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill all those places of emptiness. Love, Jane

Dear Anita,
I want to also tell you that you are in my thoughts and prayers today. One year anniversaries are so hard. In one thought you think wow one year already, then you think like it just happened. I agree with Sandy we do go back and relive those awful memories. My prayer today for you is that you will also relieve the good memories. I pray you will feel God's loving and Compassionate Presence wrap around you today and in the next few days. It's been my observation that the days leading up to a special date are filled with anxiety, the days afterward are sometimes filled with emptiness. I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill all those places of emptiness. Love, Jane

OK, On almost every site I have been on the last week there have been double posts. Don't know what's going on, but know it's not just me. I hit submit, nothing happens, hit it again, bingo double posts. Anyone know what's going on. Also I have not received any e-mail newsletters from bnet. I signed up again, and still nothing. Is this happening to anyone else? Jane

Dear ANITA,
Sorry I'm just now getting here to post, but we've had thunderstorms today with close lightning and I haven't even had the modem connected all day. Now the sun is shining brightly even though it is VERY windy.
I've been praying for you today and it very much echoes Jane's prayer, that you would remember the life of your Joshua today. I didn't realize that today was the 1 yr. anniversary so that's got to be hard; maybe you're still in sort of shock from his passing. I do ask God's blessings on you today, that He would surround you with His love and comfort and peace as only He can. May you just rest today in His presence and don't overdo physically or emotionally. Today is an acceptable day of rest for you; you're entitled to it! May God bless you with peace today!
Love and (((HUGS))),
Charlene

JANE,
When the site doesn't seem to be accepting when I click on 'submit', I just go back a page and then forward a page to see if my post is there. Usually it is. I have a dial-up connection so sometimes it's slow anyway, but not as bad as this has been lately. I usually play a computer game while I'm waiting for my post to appear; I know that sometimes slows down the process, but it gives me something to do with my hands while I wait. :o)
Hope you are well and enjoying your weekend!
Love and (((HUGS))),
Charlene

Thanks for the advice Charlene, I'll try that. Our winter/ice storm wasn't as nearly as bad as they predicted. Thank you Lord! I'll be able to make it to church with my own car. Will catch up later. Love to all, Jane

Ah, our dear Charlene,
Today is a special day for you - your little Grandson's Birthday, born in 1989. I know you must wonder what he would like like now, how his life would have turned out, and if the tear's come, let them, these special days are always so difficult for us.
You know we all care and our love, support and prayers are with you, especially today. And of course to your daughter as well,
Much love, prayers & Tender Hugs,
Sandy

Dear Charlene,
Just wanted you to know that you are in my prayers today a special day for you. I pray you will feel the peace of God surround you and your family the entire day. Love, Jane

Dear Charlene,
I'm sorry I haven't posted before now,but you were very much in my thoughts and my prayers on your special day.
Love ,Anita

To all my sisters,
Thank you all for your prayers and your kind words. You are all such a big blessing to me.
I've had alot of thing's going on these past couple of weeks and I just haven't been able to put it aside.
Adam, Kim's husband tried to commit suicide on Kim's birthday. Then he tried it again on Sunday after her birthday. I'm really scared he will try it again. Please pray for him.
I finally got a chance to talk to him last week and even though he had remarried and had two beautiful children with his new wife I never knew how unhappy he really was without Kim. Add the closeness he had with Josh, "he used to say Josh was his little brother" and according to Adam everything just built up. He told me that he was going to get a divorce and go from there. But I still worry.
Keep us in your prayers;
Love you all,
Anita

Dear Anita,
I'm so sorry to hear about Adam. I pray he gets professional help. It sounds like he is stuck in his grief over Kim and Josh. Getting a divorce right now might signify another loss or it might free him to explore what's really going on with him inside. I'm glad you're able to still be an influence in his life. I will definitely pray for both of you. Love, Jane