The Necklace. UPCOMING EVENTS Monthly Meetings April 11 May 9 June 13

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1 Chapter Leader Becky Barch Volume 10, Issue 2 April - June 2016 Newsletter Editor Marian Lambeth The Necklace By Marian Lambeth I noticed the beautiful necklace that hung gracefully on a long gold chain around her neck. The blue background with the white cameo of a mother and son. I knew it had special meaning, as she, like me, had lost her son. What a beautiful necklace, I mentioned. Oh yes, it holds my son s ashes she replied, and his pictures too. She carefully reached down and opened the locket to reveal the photo of her handsome son. I reached to my neck and shared that I had one too and it held my son s ashes. We continued to chat about how so many of us have something we wear that binds us to our children, that we feel empty without, and how the weight and the coolness of the charm resting on our chest is a constant reminder of the love we shared with our child. Later that day I was playing Legos with a little girl. She looked at me and at my necklace and said, what a beautiful necklace. Thank you, I replied and then asked if she saw what was on it. I held up the charm and showed her the engraved dove. That s really pretty, what s inside it, she asked. I hesitated what do I say to this four year old child. I thought for a moment and said, love. Her eyes widened and she replied, Open it! With a bit of surprise, I told her, I can t, it doesn t open, I just have to wear it and know it s there. She stared at me for a moment with a sweet and curious smile and then returned her attention to the Legos. I moved on to Legos with her, silently knowing my son and my friend s son were sharing in our day. MONTHLY MEETING St. Stephen Lutheran Church 2198 N. Meridian Road Tallahassee, FL tcfot@yahoo.com Second Monday of each month Meeting time 7:00 8:45 pm UPCOMING EVENTS Monthly Meetings April 11 May 9 June 13 REGIONAL COORDINATOR Becky Barch tcfot@yahoo.com NATIONAL OFFICE The Compassionate Friends PO Box 3696 Oak Brook, IL (877) nationaloffice@compassionatefriends.org

2 In Nancy's Garden The Compassionate Friends Credo We need not walk alone. We are The Compassionate Friends. We reach out to each other with love, with understanding, and with hope. The children we mourn have died at all ages and from many different causes, but our love for them unites us. Your pain becomes my pain, just as your hope becomes my hope. We come together from all walks of life, from many different circumstances. We are a unique family because we represent many races, creeds, and relationships. We are young, and we are old. Some of us are far along in our grief, but others still feel a grief so fresh and so intensely painful that they feel helpless and see no hope. Some of us have found our faith to be a source of strength, while some of us are struggling to find answers. Some of us are angry, filled with guilt or in deep depression, while others radiate an inner peace. But whatever pain we bring to this gathering of The Compassionate Friends, it is pain we will share, just as we share with each other our love for the children who have died. We are all seeking and struggling to build a future for ourselves, but we are committed to building a future together. We reach out to each other in love to share the pain as well as the joy, share the anger as well as the peace, share the faith as well as the doubts, and help each other to grieve as well as to grow. We Need Not Walk Alone. We are The Compassionate Friends COME SIT WITH ME Come sit with me awhile and let me Hold your hand, I understand your Sorrow and know you need a friend. I understand the pain that lies within your heart, I have felt the silent screams that tear you all apart I know about the sleepless nights that last so very long, I understand the emptiness when you hear that special song. Come share with me your memories and let me be Your friend, you can cry, laugh or say nothing at all, And I will understand. Come sit with me my friend, I ll try to help you through. I understand my friend, for I have been there too. Judy Peckinpaugh TCF Inland Empire, CA I know a place where Beauty lives If you happen upon it, what peace it gives I traveled there down a river of tears On the back of a dragon called "Rage and Fear" Its walls are made from iron-will parts But its gate is fashioned from a tender heart And there at that gate a voice in my ear Bid me to enter, "I'm so glad you are here" The rich scent of roses filled the air A riot of color was everywhere "Come and lie down on the soft, green grass In a moment all your confusion will pass" Then I heard her laugh, a small choir of bells Light silver notes that rose and fell I could almost see each one as it danced And I followed along like one in a trance As I lay down on the grass as she'd asked I sensed a shift in the air as near me she passed Felt the silk of her hair as it brushed cross my cheek And the warmth of her breath as she started to speak "I was a spirit in human attire And now I've come home and laid rest desire It's unfulfilled yearnings that steal away peace But here in this place, I've found release" "In your time you will join me, not early or late At just the right moment the eternal awaits" The sky there was dazzling, brilliant and white Tho no sun seemed to cast its light Then just for an instant in that magical place I caught a glimpse of her sweet, lovely face And she said, "From your grief, let your soul take pardon For I am so happy here inside my garden" Then she kissed me farewell, as I closed my eyes And when I awoke, to my surprise On the pillow on which I had been crying A single red rose was now lying. Janna Jewel, TCF Nashville, TN In Memory of Nancy Conway, Daughter of Mike and Mary Conway

3 The Unfinished Path Gifts to the Chapter When we were young, under your wing I was kept. As I grew older, on your shoulder I wept. With a problem I could come to you, day or night. Just knowing your answers would always be right. You joined the Marines and "Semper Fidelis" you barked. I could see right then my path was marked. It was a path to perfection or so I thought. To be like you is what I sought. Since your prints have ended, I don t know where to go. I ve asked Mom and Dad, but they don t quite know. So I ask your advice just one more time. Because your prints have ended, The rest must be mine. Tim Maloney, USMC, TCF Hingham, MA Printed with permission by the author Capital City Bank in memory of Jonathan Barch St. Stephen Lutheran Church for providing our meeting space Did you know? Sometimes compassionate friends want to visit outside of the meeting. We encourage you to foster friendships with each other. At different times throughout the year we offer opportunities for friends to meet. Please watch for s on future meet-ups Tallahassee Chapter All Rights Reserved

4 2016 Love Gift Form Consider making a Love Gift to support The Compassionate Friends of Tallahassee Your gift will help defray the cost of chapter expenses and allow us to provide outreach in our community related to the unique needs of those who are grieving the death of a child or grandchild. The Compassionate Friends is a 501c (3) non-profit organization and your donations are fully tax deductible. To make a love gift the Tallahassee Chapter, complete and print this form and mail it with your donation to: The Compassionate Friends of Tallahassee C/O St. Stephen Lutheran Church 2198 N. Meridian Road Tallahassee, FL Contributor s Name: Address: Phone: This gift is made In Memory of: This gift is made In Honor of: This is a Chapter Gift (without memorial or honorarium) We Need Not Walk Alone A self-help organization offering friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved families that have experienced the death of a child.

5 April May June 01 - Nathan 05 - David Morales 13 - Colin Angel Miller 14 - Gregory Corder Hranicky 22 - Sylvia Marie Richardson 03 - Ashleigh Diane Jacobs 04 - Justin Patrick Murphy 05 - Ronshay Dugans 09 - Frank Donofrio 09 - Gregory Paul Burris 10 - Miles Kent 13 - Christopher John Mazza 21 - Lauren Barfield 26 - Eric Shaw 02 - James Edward Jowers 02 -Morgan Christine Hooper 07 - Bronwen Ashley-Cooper 08 - Baby Green 09 - Jadyn Burch 16 - J Joshua Cox 21 - Frank Furey 21 - Margaret Wedlake 22 - Justin Timothy Petynia April May June 01 - Robert Thea Robinson 03 - Brent Blaisdell 05 - William "Will" Ryan 13 - Colin Angel Miller 14 - Ivan Adams 14 - Kris Ann Jones 24 - Christa Little 26 - Gregory Corder Hranicky 04 - Justin Timothy Petynia 10 - Gregory Paul Burris 10 - J.J. Goodman, Jr Harmony Caroline Hobbs 13 - Perry Ward Chandler 16 - Darrielle Monique Copeland 16 - Billy Powell 18 - David Owen Crapo 20 - Clint 22 - Andrew "Drew" Thompson 23 -Sherry Lynn Fulcher 24 - Elizabeth Lauren Butler 28 - Joshua Floyd 28 - Michele Carter Mays 30 - Shelly Greenberg 01 - Jason "Sun" Paris Scribner 07 - James Edward Jowers 08 - Baby Green 09 - Ja'Marcus Christian 11 - Bronwen Ashley-Cooper 12 - Nicholas Irving 16 - Garrett Hughes 24 - Amy McDonald 2016 Tallahassee Chapter All Rights Reserved

6 Have you heard of a Mandala? A mandala is a spiritual symbol that originated in Indian religions, and represents the universe. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas are used for focusing attention, for establishing a sacred space, and as an aid to meditation. Drawing and coloring the mandalas is a creative, meditative, and often healing exercise, While you can draw your own mandala, below is one you can color. Go ahead, try it!