Page 1 of 10 WALKING THIS VALLEY- Tucson Chapter Vol. 38 No. 1 January-February 2020 Frost On a cold winter’s day, Frost etches a beautiful artistry On everything it touches, every blade of grass It glitters and sparkles, and for moments Before the sun comes out and the master piece evaporates before our eyes, we stand memorized cherishing the wondrous sight. Like frost, our children were only here for a brief moment But, while they were here Whether it was moments in the womb Days, months or many years They etched their beautiful artistry of love On our hearts and lives and all of those They touched. Unlike frost, what they etched is forever, It is something that we can cherish and hold onto always. We stand here tonight lighting a candle to remember children we will never forget. Their light, their spirits, their artistry lives on and like the flame of the candle gives warmth on a cold winter’s night And light in the darkness The love our children gave us still remains. It keeps us warm when the cold winds of grief blow. It lights our way through the darkness and loneliness That we feel, And it gives us hope! Julie Short 2007 Southeastern TCF Candle Lighting Ceremony In Memory of Kyra Tucson Chapter P.O. Box 30733 Tucson, AZ 85751-0733 (520) 721-8042 www.tucsontcf.org National Headquarters P.O. Box 3696 Oak Brook, IL 60522 Toll free (877) 969-0010 www.compassionatefriends.org Welcome! All bereaved parents, grandparents, and adult siblings are welcome at our support group meetings. Here you will find comfort, caring people, and most of all-HOPE. Coming to the first meeting is hard, but you have nothing to lose and much to gain. For many it is the first real step toward healing. Although it may seem overwhelming, we encourage you to come to several meetings to give yourself a chance to become comfortable. The hope of The Compassionate Friends is that those who need us would find us and that those that find us would be helped. TCF also provides information to help members be supportive to each other. We are not professional counselors. We are bereaved families who want to help each other.
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On a cold winter’s day, Frost etches a beautiful artistry
On everything it touches, every blade of grass It glitters and sparkles, and for moments
Before the sun comes out and the master piece evaporates before our eyes, we stand memorized cherishing the wondrous sight.
Like frost, our children were only here for a brief moment But, while they were here
Whether it was moments in the womb Days, months or many years
They etched their beautiful artistry of love On our hearts and lives and all of those
They touched. Unlike frost, what they etched is forever,
It is something that we can cherish and hold onto always. We stand here tonight lighting a candle to remember children we will never forget.
Their light, their spirits, their artistry lives on and like the flame of the candle gives warmth on a cold winter’s night
And light in the darkness The love our children gave us still remains.
It keeps us warm when the cold winds of grief blow. It lights our way through the darkness and loneliness
That we feel, And it gives us hope!
Julie Short 2007 Southeastern TCF
Candle Lighting Ceremony In Memory of Kyra
Tucson Chapter
P.O. Box 30733
Tucson, AZ 85751-0733
(520) 721-8042
www.tucsontcf.org
National Headquarters
P.O. Box 3696
Oak Brook, IL 60522
Toll free (877) 969-0010
www.compassionatefriends.org
Welcome! All bereaved parents, grandparents, and adult siblings are welcome at our support group meetings. Here you will find comfort, caring people, and most of all-HOPE. Coming to the first meeting is hard, but you have nothing to lose and much to gain. For
many it is the first real step toward healing. Although it may seem overwhelming, we encourage you to come to several meetings to give yourself a chance to become comfortable. The hope of The Compassionate Friends is that those who need us would find us and that those that find us would be helped. TCF also provides information to help members be supportive to
each other. We are not professional counselors. We are bereaved families who want to help each other.
Empty Places I drove the old way yesterday. It’d been a while, you see. And there, without a warning, the pain washed over me. I drove the old way yesterday and sadness came on strong, taken back by so much feeling, since you’ve been gone so long. Places seem to lie in wait to summon up the tears, to say remember yesterday, those days when you were here. Places where you laughed and played are places where I cry. These places hold the memories that will live as long as I. -Genesse Gentry TCF Marin County, CA In Memory of Lori Gentry
Angels Among Us Our Angels are among us
We see them everyday In all the forms that God created... They are with us along life’s way.
We see them in the sunrise, That brightens and warms our soul. We feel them in the summer breeze
That chases away our cold. They are there among the flowers... Their sweet scent a memory of love.
They soar with the eagles, As they fly so high above.
The night will find them in the stars, Lighting our path below.
And even in our dreams, Their presence we’ll still know.
As the snow melts with the sun, And spring flowers peek through their beds,
They come on the wings of butterflies, And flutter about our heads.
They are telling us they are with us, And will be forever more...
Until it’s time for us to meet again, As we pass through heaven’s door.
- Jacquelyn M. Comeaux Copyright 2001 Reprinted by permission of author
Steering Committee Meeting: January 29th, 6pm at Viscount Suite on Broadway. Quarterly on a non-meeting Wednesday. We thank the Viscount for the donation of a meeting room. All are welcome to attend.
Regional Conference-Honolulu, Hawaii Friday, March 27 7am-Saturday, March 28 2pm. Multiple workshops, luncheon, closing candle lighting.
April TBA: Annual Ice Cream Social and Remembrance.
National Conference. The Compassionate Friends National annual event. Workshops, Craft opportunities, Speakers, lunch, dinner, Candle lighting, and Walk-to-Remember event. Atlanta, Georgia. Check Facebook page or www.compassionatefriends.org to register and reserve rooms. The registration usually opens late January or early February.
The Compassionate Friends National:
Online Support information is available on the National Compassionate Friends Website at www.compassionatefriends.org. There are over 26 private Facebook groups available for parents, grandparents, and siblings. There are also “virtual chapters” through an online support community (live chats). Visit www.compassionatefriends.org/find-support/online-communities/online-support/ for more information and to register.
Remembrance Cards
In order to receive remembrance cards during your loved ones birthday month and the
death anniversary month, you must individually sign-up, with your complete information,
for the memorial book located on the national website found under the “Find Support” tab
after clicking on “To The Newly Bereaved” (https://www.compassionatefriends.org/find-
support/to-the-newly-bereaved/).
To contact the Tucson Chapter with questions on events, to volunteer, or to submit articles/poems to the newsletter please email us at [email protected]
Photo buttons: We no longer have a button machine. We have snap together kits so that you can make your own. If you don’t see them out, just ask at a meeting.