Date
Name
On This Date
Mom/E-mail
Aug. 1955
Gilbert Mayer Satinsky
Was Born
Joan S.
Aug. 1990
Joshua Michael & Jessica Renee
Were Born Angels
Kay S.
Aug. 2003
Unknown Angel
Was Born An Angel
Jennifer N.
Aug. 1, 2002
Brian Noah Snow "Bug"
Was Born An Angel
Amanda S.
Aug. 2, 1976
Steven Dale Walker
Was Born
Marie W.
Aug. 2, 1999
Dewitt "Clay" Biles
Became An Angel
Kathleen B.
Aug. 2, 2000
Seth Hansen
Became An Angel
Claudette P.
Aug 2, 2001
Jennifer Kay "Jenny" Weix
Was Born An Angel
Kay W.
Aug 3, 2000
Jillian
Was Born An Angel
Tammi M.
Aug 3, 2004
Wyatt Lee MIller
Was Born An Angel
Leah F.
Aug 4, 1972
James Micheal
Was Born
Karen H.
Aug. 4, 2001
Bobby "Bob" Richard Welch, Jr.
Became An Angel
Sharon W.
Aug. 4, 2003
Bethany Grace Allen
Was Born An Angel
Nancy S-A.
Aug. 4, 2004
Corey Dylan Clark
Became An Angel
Deborah R.
Aug 5, 1982
Lindsey Anne Hendrix
Was Born
Renee B.
Aug. 5, 1989
Paul Woyame
Became An Angel
Debra W.
Aug. 5, 2003
Christina R. Ribucan
Became An Angel
Donna O.
Aug. 6, 1993
Christopher McElvain
Was Born
Susie H.
Aug. 6, 1993
Brianna
Was Born
Karyn G.
Aug. 6, 2001
Christal Gayle Gibson
Became An Angel
Sandy B.
Aug. 6, 2002
Osiris Dakota McKain Meyer
Was Born
Heather S.
Aug. 7, 1977
Michael Jason Evans
Was Born
Debby
Aug. 7, 1978
Jeanmarie Wallendorf "Jamie"
Was Born
Christine B.
Aug. 7, 1989
Derek William Bufkin
Was Born
Deneen B.
Aug. 7, 1999
Keith Lucker
Became An Angel
Donna S.
Aug. 7, 1999
Kenny Keogh
Became An Angel
Cathy
Aug. 7, 1999
Joshua Lionel Caleb Rostek
Became An Angel
Miriam R.
Aug. 7, 2003
Janalynn Solomon
Became An Angel
Janelle S.
Aug. 8, 1971
Michael Lee Schilling
Was Born
Julie C.
Aug. 8, 1977
Devon Patrick Schultz
Was Born
Teresa L.
Aug. 8, 1993
Catherine
Was Born
Jenny L.
Aug. 27, 1997
Christopher
Became An Angel
Cathy L.
Aug. 8, 1999
Joshua Kroeker
Became An Angel
Velvet S.
Aug. 8, 1999
Jonathan Douglas JR (JD) & Austin
Were Born Angels
Sheri J.
Aug. 8, 2000
Steve Reynolds
Became An Angel
Cathy R.
Aug. 8, 2001
Jay Thomas Struck
Was Born
Joanne S.
Aug. 9, 2002
Dustin Matthew Drury
Became An Angel
Judy T-D.
Aug. 9, 2002
Taylor McDade
Was Born
Grandmother-Melanie H.
Aug. 10
Michelle Elise
Was Born
Melissa
Aug. 10, 1984
Joshua Kroeker
Was Born
Velvet S.
Aug. 10, 2000
Kaylee Renee Wilkins
Was Born An Angel
Alyssa W.
Aug. 11, 1977
Carrie Lee Anne Lauzon
Was Born
Shelley L.
Aug. 11, 1987
Kari Renee Davis
Was Born
Suzanne B.
Aug. 11, 1984
Nathan Addisson Boyer
Was Born
Syrena G.
Aug. 11, 1994
Jake Russell
Was Born
Nikki R.
Aug. 11, 1998
Greg Watts
Became An Angel
Eileen O.
Aug. 11, 2001
Jordan Bryce Majeski
Became An Angel
Beth A.
Aug. 11, 2001
Keith William Carrie JR.
Became An Angel
Cindy C.
Aug. 11, 2003
Kyle Christopher Hingle
Became An Angel
Sandy H.
Aug. 12, 1984
Lindsey Renea Ogle
Was Born
Donna O.
Aug. 12, 1998
Caleb Pinto
Was Born
Marie P.
Aug. 12, 1998
Chad Henry Jenkins
Became An Angel
Jan
Aug. 12, 2000
Destiny AnnaMarie Miller
Was Born An Angel
Tina M.
Aug. 13, 1984
Mashanda Nicole Taylor
Was Born
Michelle
Aug. 13, 1985
Tyler Williams Powell
Was Born
Lois P.
Aug. 13, 1993
Sheldon Shand
Became An Angel
Marge S.
Aug. 13, 2000
Billy Smith
Was Born
Denise S.
Aug. 13, 2002
Jessica Lynne Wacker
Became An Angel
Monica J.
Aug. 13, 2003
Dustin Scott Rhodes
Became An Angel
Christina B.
Aug. 13, 2004
Alex Christopher
Was Born
Monica C.
Aug. 14, 1958
Michael Duane Massey
Was Born
Linda M.
Aug. 14, 1984
Katherine Marie Williams "Katie"
Was Born
Kathy M.
Aug. 14, 1992
Cruz
Was Born
Tracey P.
Aug. 14, 2002
Osiris Dakota McKain Meyer
Became An Angel
Heather S.
Aug. 14, 2003
Steven
Became An Angel
Cherie
Aug. 14, 2003
Angel Marie Gann
Was Born An Angel
Trish G.
Aug. 15, 1994
Kelsey Olgers
Was Born
Amy O.
Aug. 15, 1995
William Harvey "Beau" Cox, II
Became An Angel
Beverly C.
Aug. 15, 1998
Jason Drass
Became An Angel
Brenda B.
Aug. 16, 1977
Wesley Dale Gilmore
Was Born
Tracy H.
Aug. 16, 1995
Bryan Cody Smith
Was Born
Stacy S.
Aug. 16, 1995
Bryan Cody Smith
Became An Angel
Stacy S.
Aug. 16, 2002
Brooklynn Hope Hall
Was Born
Angela H.
Aug. 17, 1982
Adam Doughty
Was Born
Sharon D.
Aug. 17, 1997
Hunnar Florine
Was Born
Eva F.
Aug 17, 1999
Jeff
Became An Angel
Lorraine
Aug 17, 2004
Mia Angelina
Became An Angel
Lori
Aug. 17, 2004
Ralph De Jesus " Pito"
Became An Angel
Sandra L.
Aug. 18, 1971
Kevin Bogert
Was Born
Gloria B.
Aug. 18, 1976
Jason
Was Born
Brenda B.
Aug. 18, 1984
Jerad Kelley-Brown
Was Born
Rosa B.
Aug. 18, 1995
Meaghan Nichole Wells
Became An Angel
Kerri W.
Aug. 19, 1996
Michelle
Became An Angel
Shelly M.
Aug. 20, 1977
Jeremiah Barlow
Was Born
Lori R.
Aug. 20, 1980
Nicky Chiarizia
Was Born
Penny C.
Aug. 20, 1992
Amber Elizabeth & Alicia Marie
Were Born Angels
Tammy L.
Aug. 20, 1997
Hailey
Was Born
Traci W.
Aug. 20, 1999
Isaac Michael Wright
Was Born
Shonie Y.
Aug. 20, 2003
Brendan Carr
Became An Angel
Colleen C.
Aug. 20, 2004
Kristopher Aubrey Farr
Became An Angel
Kimberlee F.
Aug. 21, 1977
Ricky Harris
Was Born
Joanie H.
Aug. 21, 1995
Chantelle
Became An Angel
Tammy
Aug. 21, 1996
Donald Christopher
Was Born
Pamela H.
Aug. 22, 1969
Jana Brasher
Was Born
Pam F.
Aug. 22, 1981
Mia Balentine
Was Born
Kathleen B.
Aug. 22, 1983
Seth Hansen
Was Born
Claudette P.
Aug. 22, 1990
Robert Edmond Allen Gartrell "Robbie"
Was Born
Christy G.
Aug. 22, 2002
Travis R . Mendoza
Became An Angel
Maura M.
Aug. 23, 1973
Todd Wehunt
Was Born
Wanda W.
Aug. 23, 1973
Doug Cohen
Was Born
Laurel B.
Aug. 23, 1980
Nicky Chiarizia
Became An Angel
Penny C.
Aug. 23, 1983
Brandon
Was Born
Jill W.
Aug. 23, 1990
Wesley Dale Gilmore
Became An Angel
Tracy H.
Aug. 23, 1997
Jacob Oakes
Was Born
Twila C.
Aug. 23, 1999
Laci Kae Washburn
Became An Angel
Anne H.
Aug. 23, 2001
Tara Gaff
Was Born
Lisa G.
Aug. 23, 2001
Tara Gaff
Became An Angel
Lisa G.
Aug. 23, 2001
Diamond Natasha
Became An Angel
Laura T.
Aug. 23, 2003
James David Mawson Jr.
Became An Angel
Christine M.
Aug. 24, 1970
Tracy Lyn Sartin
Was Born
Mary B.
Aug. 24, 1976
Dustin Fitzer
Was Born
Irene F.
Aug. 24, 1979
Jennifer
Was Born An Angel
Jill W.
Aug. 24, 1983
Jodi Elizabeth Smith
Was Born
Pat S.
Aug. 24, 1999
Autumn Rae' Kirby
Was Born
Michelle K.
Aug. 24, 2001
Shane Ellis
Became An Angel
Dana E.
Aug. 24, 2001
Analyssa Santana
Became An Angel
Rosie S.
Aug. 24, 2004
Unknown Angel
Was Born An Angel
Jennifer N.
Aug. 25, 1984
Jered Paul Morales
Was Born
Cindy M.
Aug 26, 1998
Sara
Became An Angel
Sherri C.
Aug. 26, 2002
Lee
Became An Angel
Michelle
Aug. 26, 2004
Meadow
Was Born An Angel
Shannon R.
Aug. 27, 1980
Christopher
Was Born
Cathy L.
Aug. 27, 1984
Derek S. Thibodeau
Was Born
Laurie T.
Aug. 27, 1984
Andrew Paul Whiteman
Was Born
Beverly H.
Aug. 27, 1995
Unknown Angel
Was Born An Angel
Jennifer N.
Aug. 27, 2002
Alaina Michelle Moyers
Was Born
Tiffany R.
Aug. 28, 1984
Amy Rose Fithen
Was Born
Shirley F.
Aug. 28, 1997
Rico Medina
Was Born
Jennifer M.
Aug. 28, 1999
Gabriella Danielle Nikole Makley
Was Born
Shaunda M.
Aug. 29, 1985
Cody Allan Clark
Was Born An Angel
Sheila E.
Aug. 29, 1997
Steven
Was Born An Angel
Marie I.
Aug. 29, 1986
Joshua Callow
Was Born
Mary S.
Aug. 29, 2000
Hope
Was Born
Shelly C.
Aug. 29, 2000
Hannah Molly Guerino
Was Born An Angel
Mary G.
Aug. 29, 2001
Caleb Pinto
Became An Angel
Marie P.
Aug. 29, 2001
Christopher McElvain
Became An Angel
Susie H.
Aug. 29, 2001
Cariana Gonzales
Was Born
Janis G.
Aug. 29, 2002
Stephanie Jean Drinnon (Phillips)
Became An Angel
Becky S.
Aug. 29, 2003
Daniel Anthony Marcum, II
Became An Angel
Loretta M.
Aug. 29, 2004
Austyn James Dudley
Was Born
Candi D.
Aug. 29, 2004
Karl "Benjamin" Gustav Sandberg
Became An Angel
Johanna S.
Aug. 30, 1964
Russ Tidman
Was Born
Marlene T.
Aug. 30, 1974
Candace Lamica
Was Born
Connie P.
Aug. 30, 1982
Joe
Was Born
Grace H.
Aug. 30, 1986
James Michael "Jimmy" Dickerson
Was Born
Beth D.
Aug. 30, 1999
Gabriella Danielle Nikole Makley
Became An Angel
Shaunda M.
Aug. 30, 2004
Chloe Michelle Duyck
Was Born
Michelle D.
Aug. 31, 1980
Daniel "Danny"
Became An Angel
Arlene D.
Aug. 31, 1992
Cassie Hubbard
Was Born
Carolyn A.
Aug. 31, 1993
Catherine
Became An Angel
Jenny L.
Aug 31, 1998
Steven Lindsay
Became An Angel
Robyn B.
Aug. 31, 2000
Jake Russell
Became An Angel
Nikki R.
Aug. 31, 2000
Todd Wehunt
Became An Angel
Wanda W.
Aug. 31, 2000
William Hamilton Proctor "Bill"
Became An Angel
Diana Y.
Aug. 31, 2004
Angel
Was Born An Angel
Lara Y.




This month we are rerunning our Featured Mom for October 2002, Irene "Reeny" Fitzer. Sadly, on July 30, 2005, Reeny lost her second child, her daughter Becky to cancer. We wanted all of you who have not met Reeny to get a chance to know her a little better. Our thoughts and prayers are with her during this very hard and sad time.

This is Reeny's write up as it appeared in October 2002
To begin with I was completely blown away by being chosen as Angel Mom for the month of Oct. To me this is such an honor. There are so many angel moms that are so much more deserving than me for this honor. I join Angel Moms in Feb. of this year and there has not a day gone by that I have not thanked the Lord for this group of caring moms. I went to retreat this year as most of you know and met ten angel moms that I had not met before. It was an awesome experience. Each and every one of you need to attend retreat at least once. It is an experience you will never forget. Our Leader Judi Walker is and awesome person to meet in person as well as the rest of the staff at Angel Moms. There isn't a lot to tell about me other than I am 64 years old and am the mother of six children, Terry, Yovonne, Ron, Leslie, Becky, and Angel Dustin. My husband Ray and I have been married 38 years last April. My first husband died from acute alcohol poisoning. Ray has helped me raise my three older children, the three youngest are ours. At the present time we are living apart. We remain on speaking terms. We adopted my one and only granddaughter when she was 18 months old. She lives with me and turned 11 this past May. She has a little brother named Nicholas that I care for most of the time. Ray and I have five grandsons. Trent, Braden and Bailey(Leslie's). Briton and Bryson (Becky's). In closing this I wish to thank the staff or who ever gave me the honor of being Oct. Angelmom. I am very humbled of this.

A tribute to Reeny's daughter becky
Rebecca Fitzer Groves

Reeny's son Dustin
Dustin Fitzer





MOM Please Listen To Me

Mom please listen to me
As I take time to write.
I see parents struggling daily.
Their pain is such a fight...

All of us who have gone
And left the rest of you behind…
We’re ok. Mom, I promise…
Heaven is beautiful, and God is kind.

You used to tell me that one day
God would call and take you home.
You told me you’d make me strong
So I would stand tall when alone.

But things happen sometimes, Mom
That does not go in our plans,
I wasn’t scared, Mom,
When God held out his hand.

I didn’t want to leave you.
I didn’t have time to say Good bye
When the angels said, "Come with us"
There wasn’t time to question why.

I’ve watched you daily, Mom.
It hurts to see you cry.
I don’t want you to be unhappy,
Just because we didn’t get to say Goodbye

Tell the others what I’m telling you,
So many parents need to know
That Earth was just a lay over
We had another place to go.

I know you miss me, Mom
I know your heart was broken in two.
But God really needed me
Because my earthly life was through.

I’m always alongside you…
I smile and touch your hair.
I whisper "Mom, I love you"
You just can’t see me there.

I’m the one who gently touches you
On your shoulder when you’re sad
I’m Happy now that you finally found
God again, and are no longer mad.

Tell the parents, Mom, for me
That all of us kids are okay.
God had plans for our lives
When he called us home that day.

I love you, Mom, I always will
And remember I’m not far away.
We’re going to be together
When God calls out your name.

~ Author Unknown~





A- Angels live among us, most times we are just not aware of their presence.
N- Never let a love one walk away with having told them you love them.
G- Growing up and Growing old are things we all take for granted, until it does not happen.
E- Every tear I have shed is worth every minute I had.
L- A Mothers Love will last until the day after forever.

M- Make each day count, dance in the fields, look at the moon. Hold onto your dreams.
O- Only a Mom can feel the pain, happiness and joy for a child she brings into this world.
M- Memories left behind are like kisses blown in the wind.
Being an AngelMom makes us look at others in a whole new way.

We tend to be critical yet gentle to others.
We love yet we hold back.
We never forget yet long to not know.
We can cry and laugh at the same memory.
We fill empty, yet our life is full.
We look for meaning to explain what nobody can understand.
We trust only ourselves to carry the heavy load, even when we wish someone somehow could lift it from our shoulders.
We may never fully live again, but we will live each day to the fullest.
We hold onto our loved ones, and still push them away.
We long to be with our child, yet are not ready to go.

There's a definite way of life for an Angelmom, a vacant stare in her eyes, a softness in her heart. Yet an emptiness inside and a sadness only she sees. She will hold you upright, lay your down to rest. Awake you with a smile and a kind word for your ear. She's an AngelMom and the best friend anyone could have.





Friendships and Grief

This month I want to reflect on friendships. After returning from our 5th Annual Angel Moms Retreat, friendships are fresh on my mind. When I think of old friends, to me that means the friends I had when Josh was alive. Many have come and gone now, was it because of losing Josh? Because of me being different now? Because of how different my life is now? Probably a good combination of all. Those friends knew the "me" when I had all my 3 kids with me, when my life was so called normal. After Josh left, those friends, I don't think, knew what to do with me anymore. They didn't know what to say or react around me. So some just literally dropped off the face of the earth. Some stayed around awhile, but uncomfortable, I could tell. Was it their fault? No, was it mine? No. It wasn't really anyone's fault. My life and myself personally just dramatically changed after Josh died, so now I see that everything around me basically had to change. Yes, it hurt, but now I come towards my "now" life and my now friends. Of course not all of my friends now only are Angel Moms, but I relate more to my Angel Mom friends. I am friendly with most of all people around me, for those that have met me, know this, but I am very picky about whom I call my "friends." Maybe it is a protective mechanism inside me now. Who knows. I have been hurt beyond repair in some of my areas of life, so now I feel that I do have this control of who I confide in, who I trust and so forth. My heart is raw, I can't help it. I don't know where I would be today if it wasn't for some of my good friends. I have bonded in different ways, to many Angel Moms. Some are because of maybe our children passing in the same way (suicide), some maybe because my now life circumstances (surviving kids) and another Angel Mom have more in common. Some I have been with since the very beginning of my grief, some I have come to love over the years and I can't imagine being without. Some come into our lives because of an instant need of comfort. Some go as quickly as they come. Some we give comfort to, some give us comfort. Bottom line is how important it is to not go down the road of grief alone. There is no need to, if you only can reach out. Someone is always willing to hold your hand...:)





Angel Moms Retreat 2005

Just recently I went to the Angel Moms Retreat 2005. It was wonderful to see old friends and meet new ones, renewing bonds and making new ones. Retreat is awesome, it is a place you can be yourself, talk about your angel anytime you want without getting "the" look. You can cry, laugh, sometimes all in a few seconds. You share photos, videos and special memories of your child with others and they share their's with you, we share a part of ourselves that we usually hold back from others. There is a comfort in being with others who know and share your pain. There are pranks played, you never know what to expect. You soon learn to check your bed before you get in it (if it is still there :o) ), you go around corners cautiously, fight you way through toilet paper when you wake up, watch for wild Toads in the middle of the night, water coming from places you don't expect it, yells of surprise, stolen hamburgers, the smell of squishy bananas, and so much more. Some of us have decided that our children's personalitys take over and they have fun.

Some moms come to retreat for the first time nervous about meeting new moms, but immediately feel comfortable, shyness disappears, you feel like you are with people you have known forever. The reason is our hearts have already met, now the rest of us meet. All of us take a part of each other home with us and leave a part of us in the mountains at a place called Woodhaven.....





Will this sadness ever go away?

I have heard some of you ask this. I have also asked the same question myself. I remember when my pain and grief were fresh. You feel as though you're in a deep, dark pit, cold, isolated. There doesn't seem to be a way out of this pit either. Each day looks as though the dark clouds are here to stay, and withdrawal becomes a lifestyle. I couldn't leave my house back then. I couldn't trust myself to be "OK" in public. The Wal-Mart greeting guy with his smiley face stickers that Valerie loved, the toy section with little kids begging "Please, can I have... momma?" Even the cheese isle in the grocery store would set me off. Life seems meaningless and hopeless.

Will this saddness ever go away? No, but it won't always be this intense. It is baby steps. I started going to Wal-Mart through the garden section, as not to see the sticker guy, avoiding the toy section at all cost, and sending hubby to buy the cheese for awhile. Little by little I was able to move forward. Eventually the suffering I experienced at this time, lead to a kind of resurrection within me.

Grief can awaken a strength, a dormant talent, a never used ability, a never before discovered perspective on life, a new sense of compassion for the struggles and hurts of others. For those of you saying "Yea, right!" All you have to do is look at our own Angel Moms, to see I'm right.

Judi, creating this safe place for us to grieve, Debbie, creating a memorial tree for victims of suicide. Brenda and Lynn, creating scholarships for students in their childs memory. Deb, making memory quilts for ill children. Loni, teaching driver's safety classes. Diane, fighting for grandparents rights.... These are just a few examples. They are our role models. They teach us that in time our life can be enhanced by our sadness. They have taken the energy of pain and rage and directed it toward meaningful activities. They are the result of a journey, one of pain and growth.

For those curious about mine, it was a dormant talent. Not as noble as the above mentioned Mom's, but it's my meaning and hope. Painting and creating things.

Will this sadness ever go away? No, but in time, with baby steps, you too will find new meaning and hope in your lives.





We are happy to welcome Laurie Miersonne to our newsletter staff!

Let me being by saying thank you to the newsletter staff for their warm welcome. I am truly honored to be a part of it and I will do my best to add something that I hope will help in some way the far too many moms who never wanted to be a part of such a support group.

For my first time here I really didn't have to think very long about what to write. I will start by briefly saying my angel is Jill who we lost to leukemia in 2001 at the age of 20. I have only one other child, Brian who is age 27. This week I am enjoying an unplanned vacation spending every day with him exclusively. He is recovering this week from surgery and will be just fine but it gave me a chance to bond with him even more than we already had. It brought back all the emotions I went through in watching Jill fight for her life. Those feelings none of us want to experience again.

We as grieving mothers with surviving children tend to be overprotective of them. We are afraid of losing them too. After all, it happened once and we all know it could (and to some of us sadly) has happened again. And if you are like me, I know you will continue to worry about them no matter how old they get. But in the midst of the worry, please make time to rebond with them. Spend some quality time with them if at all possible. They very possibly act like they have "moved on" with their lives. I suspect that most try to hide their grief from you so as not to hurt you more than you already are. But deep down inside they are still grieving too. So if your angel's surviving siblings are young, pick a day and make it special for them in some way. Maybe do something to remember their brother or sister angel on an ordinary day, not just their birthday or heaven day. If they are older, I highly recommend just spending time together and talking and rebonding. We all know how precious they are to us. If only we had one more day to spend with our angels how grateful we would be!

These past few days have been some of the most precious to me. Brian and I are making memories that will never be taken away. I hope you have the chance to do the same.





Living Life

My new favorite song is Live Like You Were Dying sung by Tim McGraw, on the album of the same name. It may have been out for months, but I have just discovered it. I think about the lyrics a great deal.

“He said I was in my early forties
with a lot of life before me
when a moment came that stopped me on a dime
and I spent most of the next days
looking at the x-rays
Talking bout the options
and talking bout sweet time
I asked him when it sank in
that this might really be the real end
how's it hit you when you get that kinda news
man what'd you do?
And he said,
I went sky diving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchu
and I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter
and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying
and he said someday I hope you get the chance
to live like you were dying.”

I wish I could be like that. However, there never seems to be enough time or enough money to live like I am dying. I guess if I did know the exact date, then I could live with more abandon. But since I have to plan for today, tomorrow, next month, next year, it makes me more conservative. I am trying to put the pedal to the metal more, though. I started to wonder what Mike would want to do if he had just one more day or one more week. At 20 there were years of experiences that he would never have.

“Like tomorrow was a gift and you got eternity to think about what'd you do with it what did you do with it what did I do with it what would I do with it' “

I don’t want to say my last day was spent grocery shopping or doing laundry. I want my last day to be spent happily with my loved ones, not shouting about the wet towels on the bathroom floor, the smelly sneakers under the kitchen table. I want to remember meaningful conversations, strolls on the beach at sunset and other magic moments.

I guess I am struggling with the ideal and reality. It would be nice if I knew how to bridge that gap better. I don’t want the last memory my sons have of me to be of an angry woman, asking why no one can put their plates in the sink, much less in the dishwasher! And by the way, would it kill you to lift the toilet seat?

I want to live like I am dying, but am forced to live in ignorance of the invisible expiration date stamped on me. I am pulled by the everyday chores, aggravations, frustrations, responsibilities and joys. Well, that is my story and I am sticking to it!

Enjoy the last days of Summer!





Baby Lost

Recently, a dear friend lost her baby. She was only 2 ½ months along. I cried with and for her. I’ve tried to tell her that it doesn’t matter how long we carried our babies, they will forever be a part of our hearts. I’ve tried to let her know that she has every right to grieve for the little life that wasn’t meant to be. This was a much-anticipated pregnancy. The couple had tried for 1-½ years to get pregnant.

The loss of a child is gut wrenching enough, but to lose a little one either by miscarriage, still birth or within hours of birth, to me is a cheat. These moms get cheated out of all the firsts. Some get cheated out of the first breath, first cry, and first wiggle. Others get cheated out of the first smile, first steps, first everything including the first temper tantrum. If you’re in this group, I’m here to tell you that it hurts like hell not to have the memories that others cherish.

I’ve attended 4 or 5 retreats, and up until this year it tore my heart to pieces to look at photographs and videos, to listen to the other moms recounting their memories, good and bad, of their Angels. I made a promise after Retreat 2004 to have something to share at Retreat 2005. It took me many months and many tears, but I made a Memory Book for my Angel. I had poetry that I had found, or had been sent, pictures of his burial site and anything that I (or he) felt should be in there. It was a very healing experience. It brought back memories that I had forgotten and gave me a chance to once again cherish the memories that I did have.

For those of you who have lost little ones, this might help in your healing process, as it did for me. If you’d like any help or suggestions, please feel free to contact me.



A Special Letter

This is a letter that was sent to Debbie after someone visited her son Josh's web site. She is sharing it with us all in hopes it will bring some comfort to us grieving moms.

Ma'am,

I apologize for the informality of that greeting but I dont know your name. I added a friend of mine to the Lovedones.com site and came across your tribute to your son, Josh.

I felt compelled to write to you and chat for a while. Please don't think I'm insane, truly I'm far from it. But as we both know, death brings people closer to the edge of places we never dreamed we could go before in our hearts and minds. It makes us capable of doing and saying things we would never have otherwise thought of doing. And that's ok. It's healing and evolving beyond what we were.

I wanted to share with you your loss and my own. I'm a medic in Colorado. Last year in early January a fellow medic and friend lost her life in a car accident while rushing to work late on a country road. Up until recently I had the inclination to think how unfortunate it was that our company had to respond to that scene, not knowing it was Andi who was involved. (I apologize... Her name is Andi Whitlock) Death is always tragic regardless the circumstance. I will be the first to admitt that in my line of work you desensitize yourself to it because we have to cradle it in our arms so very often, and its the only way to make it through the days following without losing your mind. ~ Andi was the company clown. We all loved her. It was always her laughter you could hear when you walked into the office. It was always her water fights that soaked you right before you had to respond to a 911 call. You could count on a practical joke.... having your car wrapped completely in saran wrap or something of that effect. Haha.

Andi's funeral service changed my life. She touched so many people in so many ways at just 20 years old, it was truly a miracle for me to witness the extent of her love. There were on the upside of 1000 people at her service. Firetrucks and ambulances came from 100's of miles to pay tribute to this medic. We are truly a brethren of our own in this field but I think it goes beyond that.

Over the past year and a half I have come to the conclusion that people have destiny's here. We arent just helter skelter without purpose. I think that just as birth is a blessed moment to witness in the lives of mothers (I have two sons as well); death also is a moment to be embraced. My company is better for having been there with Andi at her end.

Your son, Josh, I have no doubt, was and is, an incredible child. His purpose clearly was to teach, Just as Andi's was. He taught you unconditional love... how to smile and laugh. He taught you how to be humble and grieve...and mostly he taught you perseverance. ~I have seen a thousand times how easy it is to give up on life when a parent loses a child. You feel like you cant and dont want to go on without them. Every breathe is a struggle, every new day brings the guilt that says you're alive and they arent. Every moment brings questions without answers. ~ Josh was an angel for you on Earth and that was his purpose. That is the answer.

I believe that life doesnt end here. I have held children as they passed on in my arms. I have been the last voice of comfort to them and the last face they look into. With that, I have found extreme faith and trust in that this is not our end. Death is merely a doorway that we all have to walk through. It hurts those of us left behind but I promise you the ones who move on are without pain and still very much alive in the literal sense.

If you ever have the inclination, please research the books written by "James Van Praag". You have every right to be skeptical on the subject of Life After Death but I with all my heart believe, and this man will give you so much comfort and solace in your pain. I cant urge you enough to read his work.

A friend respectfully,
Elizabeth M-Sanborn



Acts Of Kindness



Acts of Kindness for April were presented to:

Melody Hill by Debbie Ruttencutter & Judi Walker
Pat Gobel by Debbie Ruttencutter & Judi Walker
Lyndie Sorrenson by Debbie Ruttencutter & Judi Walker
Rosa Delk by Melody Hill
Diane Craddock by Melody Hill
Karen Miller by Melody Hill
Judi Walker by Melody Hill
Beth Dickerson by Melody Hill
Carin "Toad" Furgison by Kelly Henderson


The Act Of Kindness Award will be given to an AngelMom that was nominated for their kindness and thoughtfulness. It will not be a contest, it is "Thank You" kind of award. Anyone can be nominated. If someone has touched your heart by doing something special, please nominate them by emailing Debbie. There is no exclusions, everyone is included. We will list each member that has received an Award.

Angel Mom's Acts of Kindness



We seem to be on different timetables!

Mothers and fathers do not experience grief in the same way. For a moment, right after the death, grieving parents seem to grieve together, but from then on, move at different rates and have different feelings. Furthermore, grief is intensely personal and directed inward. Reaching outside this inner world to help each other is difficult.

Women tend to show their feelings by talking about them. A mother may begin to bond with her baby as soon as she thinks she is pregnant. This bond is powerful and deep. She may feel the loss of her baby in her heart forever.

Men tend not to express their feelings as openly. This is cultural - men must be 'strong.' So a deeply felt loss might not show. And men seem to move through grief faster than women. They soon go back to work and into the business of life. But if a man accepts the differences and offers his partner time, understanding, and a listening ear, he has given gifts that will never be forgotten.

Grieving Mothers

"All I want to do is talk about what happened, about our baby, but he doesn't seem to want to talk. Doesn't he care about me? About our child? He doesn't realize how much that hurts."

"He went right back to work and seems like he's doing fine. I feel jealous that he's okay and I'm not."

"After a couple of weeks, everyone told me to just put it behind me, to forget about it, to go on. The support I'd had just disappeared."

Grieving Fathers

"I know she wants to talk about the baby, but when she starts crying, I don't know what to do. I feel so helpless."

"Everyone asked me, "How is she doing?' No one asked how I was doing. I lost my child, too."

"Men are supposed to 'fix' things, and this is something that cannot be fixed. How I wish I could make things better!"

Often a woman interprets her partner's tearless silence as lack of caring. He probably does care greatly but has difficulty showing it. Communication may be strained and tedious. Commit to working through this together. Your relationship depends on it.



Here are some recipes that were shared by other members and made at retreat.

Seafood Salad:

1 package imitation crab legs--flaked or cut into pieces
1 package salad shrimp--thawed
1 pound pasta--whatever kind you like
8 oz. cheddar cheese--cubed
About 1 cup of mayonnaise, pour about a 1/4 cup of milk in and stir. Keep adding a little milk at a time until the mixture is smooth and creamy, not runny.

I then shake Beau Monde seasoning into the mixture--enough to lightly cover the top.
Stir everything together.
Enjoy!



Itilian Love Cake

Ingredients:
1 box chocolate cake mix
2 lbs ricotta cheese
4 eggs
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla

For the frosting:
1 small box of instant chocolate pudding
1 cup milk
1 12oz pkg of Cool Whip (but the 10oz pkg is usually enough)

Make the cake batter according to directions. Pour into a 9 x 13inch pan.

In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Pour over cake batter. Bake at 350 for about 1 hour. Cool cake.

For the frosting, mix the pudding, milk and Cool Whip, then spread on cooled cake.

Keep refrigerated (that is, if there is any left!).
Enjoy!



Chocolate Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups sugar
6 tablespoons dry cocoa
1/4 lb. margarine
1/2 cup milk
pinch of salt

Mix these ingredients in a saucepan and cook till margarine and all ingredients are melted and dissolved.. Remove from heat.

Then ADD
1tsp. Vanilla
3 cups Uncooked quick oats
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped nuts

Mix well and drop by tsp. onto wax paper.. Set till cool then flip gently and cool on other side.





Hope, Love, and Trust

To my sweet angels in heaven watching over me!

Hope came with our two bundles of joy
First came the bouncing baby boy,
Four years later on New Years Eve
Our baby girl arrived on the scene.

Love was shared in everything we did,
Then our sadness came, God forbid...
After a mere thirty one years
Our son's human life disappears.

Can you imagine, a brief four months later,
Our daughter goes home to her creator.
Yes, we love and miss them so,
But unfortunately it was their time to go.

Faith helps us understand,
Dear Lord, You took their hand,
Trust in my Lord helps me believe,
Only He can give solace as we grieve.

Written by Diane Craddock
Copyright 2005

Author's Comments: "This poem is dedicated "in memory of" my children; my son, JJ--31, that died on January 26, 2004 and my daughter, Michele--27, that was killed instantly on May 20, 2004."



My son Christopher will be gone 8 years on August 8, his birthday is August 27, 1980, he would have been 25.

We miss you Chris so much, we wonder what you would have looked like, you were such a handsome young man, we wish you didn't have to leave us. I wrote a poem to you a long time ago, it goes:

My little man Chris please take care.
I know in our hearts you'll always be there.
We remember your smile and your loving ways.
You were always there to help your dad all of those days.
You were his helper and wonderful son..
You know what we said you were the funny one.
Let God take care of you now till we see you again.
We love you Chris over and over again.

Love, Mom And Dad,
Jason and MIchele
Happy Birthday Chris, our funny little man, hi Chris, we remember! ha



In Memory of Bree Catherene
Due August 2nd

You're just supposed to be getting here, but you've already gone....
Mommy loves and misses you so much.



This is the poem I had in the newspaper for Joey's second anniversary

July 19th 3:05 on the clock
Losing you was such a terrible shock
Each day the harsh reality strikes
Each day the pain continues to spike

Two years ago was your heaven day
Many many days since you went away
When my thoughts become a torrential sea
They bring me down right to my knees

All the minutes have turned to hours
Days come and go tears pour like showers
I miss you more than words express
My heart will never ever hurt less

I need to know once again
That someday this pain will end
That I will see your smiling face
My heart and soul knows of this place

So as the months become the years
As I continue will all of these tears
When my life here on earth is finally done
We will be together again, mother and son

In loving memory of Joey Sorenson
Jan. 5 1982-July 19 2003
Lyndie Sorenson
Copyright June 2005



Daily message from Healing After Loss by Martha Whitmore Hickman

No one is asking us to forget, to turn away from all that we loved and cherished in the one we have lost. We couldn't do that even if we wanted to.

The task before us - and it can take a very long time - is to incorporate this grief and loss into the rest of our lives, so that it doesn't continue to dominate our lives. It's no longer the first thing we think of when we wake up in the morning, or the last thing we relinquish before we sleep.

A child said to his mother, in regard to the outpouring of kindnesses after his father's death, "There are so many good things. There's just one bad thing."

The "bad thing" will always be there, but when it begins to take its place among the good things life offers, we're on our way.

Even in my sadness I will be open to new adventure.



Some Links To Share

No Tear Is Lost
In Memory Of Decals
Grieving A Child's Death
The Breast Cancer Site : Fund Mammograms for Free



Angel Moms Poll

This months poll: Since losing your Angel, what has been the most comfort to you in your grief?

Please go here to take the poll: Angel Moms Poll



People in mourning have to come to grips with death before they can live again. Mourning can go on for years and years. It doesn't end after a year; that's a false fantasy. It usually ends when people realize that they can live again. That they can concentrate their energies or their lives as a whole, and not on their hurt, and guilt, and pain.

~Elisabeth Kubler Ross~



Memorial Donations

We have had a few moms donate money to our Angel Moms site in memory of their Angels, and we decided that others might be of interest of doing this for their loved ones also. All donations go towards the cost of maintaining the Angel Mom group. We run solely on donations and we appreciate any amount given. Your name and the loved ones' name will be listed on this page, without showing what amount was given. Thank you for allowing us this honor of helping to remember your loved ones!

Memorial Donations



Angel Moms Newsletter-August 2005-(Printable Version)

If you have something you would like included in next months newsletter, please e-mail Judi

Editor: Judi,
Staff: Toad (Carin), Deb, Debbie, Kelly, Chrissi, Lynn, Brenda, Laurie

Angel Moms Web Site

Counter