Be Thankful...

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,

for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,

because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,

because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,

because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who

are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,

and they can become your blessings.

~Author Unknown~

Blessed Release

For all the times I've cried
When Laura's death hurt so badly
For me to hold inside.
Tears freely flood my face.
The tears, the ones I keep in check all day
Releases the ache that builds up.
The tears are as vital as breathing for me.
Thank you God for tears

Discussion, Q&A, and I, Alex Cross Book Signing

November 16, 2009
Another adventure for Barbara and me. We never know where we will find ourselves going! There were a lot of people at the book signing in Paramus (100 had folks had wrist bands so they got seats), the rest of us had to stand. The crowd didn't complain; there was a lot of time to talk and of course laugh at silly stuff.

I believe that is Barbara's thumb print in the corner. Hey, atleast she got us in the picture!

St Francis statue in dedication to Laura's memory

October 22, 2009

Our friends selected such a beautiful statue of St Francis. We want to offer our sincere heart-felt thanks to them. They made it happen! Sr. Madeline planned the wonderful dedication ceremony. She invited the school children to sing, “Prayer of St. Francis,” in Colon Hall and it brought back so many enjoyable memories. We have so many from the years David and Laura spent there. During the ceremony I visualized Laura looking down and smiling on all of us.

We are so appreciative that the statue will live in Transfiguration Academy in Laura’s memory. (We will always remember it fondly as St. John’s school.) The statue is in a perfect spot--a corner where the students will be able to see him daily.

Angel Quest--November 8, 2009

One year…one year…it can’t be, but it is. The sun and the moon continued to rise, the waves continued to break along the shore, the seasons came and went. A year without my daughter and life still went on around us. A year without seeing Laura other than in our minds and photos, a year without physically touching her, hugging her…a year spent grieving for Laura and loving her always. We continue to talk to her and I continue to write letters to her hoping that she reads my thoughts. The first year without Laura…the most horrendous, painstaking year of our lives.


I haven't posted anything new in a while (although I do have things to post) because I haven't had the will power to do so until I read tonight's passage from "Healing after Loss" with edits by me:

Deeper and deeper we burrow into our grief. Desolations pile on one another.

We wonder if we shall ever see anything on the horizon

but this gloom and sadness.

Then one day, in some moment of quiet reflection (or in my case a room sitting with my dear friends and 30-40 strangers at a workshop), we find ourselves Thinking of Something Else (or validating our belief)! Is it possible?

Although we may feel alive today, we will move

back and forth many times--back into the deep, dark hole

and out again into light.

After a while we will realize it is all one world, that feelings of joy and sadness enrich each other--as a person who has been mortally ill has a new appreciation for the beauty of starlight, the taste of orange juice,the caress of love.

Is it all right? (Absolutely)

Is it being disloyal to our lost loved one--to savor our life afresh? (Absolutely not.)

Are we in danger of forgetting? (How could we ever?)

Not to worry. We would as soon forget to breathe.

Since Sunday on Laura's first anniversary at the Angel Quest workshop I became determined to be open to the possibility of joy in my life, and I will not be afraid or feel guilty anymore because Laura confirmed for me (witnessed by my friends) that she is happy and surrounded by love and light. She wants me to "pay attention to all the signs she sends me." I will try because on that afternoon I promised her I would and that I would go on living my life.


Angel Quest: http://www.lucelucina.com/