I Remember ... I Remember
                By Joy Johnson

In the Spring, when the first crocus
pokes it's head tentatively out of the frozen ground I think of you and I remember...
                              I remember.

In the Summer, when the blaring heat wilts the rose petals and paints unsightly cracks in the ground I think of you and I remember...
                  I remember.                 

  In the Autumn, when the trees are ablaze in the glory of Fall and my shoes make crackling sounds as I walk
        I think of you and I remember...
                              I remember.

  And in the winter, when I stand at my window to watch a blizzard whirl snow around my    grief and loneliness then, too, I think of you and I remember...
            yes, I remember.

Tip For Easing The Pain of Grief

                Choose To Heal

From the very beginning, make the decision that you not only will recover from this loss but will be a better person because of it. Find guidance in this wisdom from Reverend Norman Vincent Peale in his book, The Healing of Sorrow: "The way in which you receive your sorrow may affect, for good or bad, your entire subsequent life. You can emerge from it stronger and deeper and more mature, as your loved one would hope and want you to be, or you can remain confused and weakened and embittered. The choice is yours." Choose to heal. Choose to remain healthy. Choose to be better, not bitter.

1. Sump Pump: Adjust the water level higher so the pump won't run as much.  This will save the wear on the switch.
   
   
2. Frozen Pipes: Wrap Pipes with warm wet rags until thawed.
   
   
3. Furnace: Change filters a minimum of 3 times a winter.  A drop of oil on the motor at the time of filter changing is also good.
   
   
4. Dryers: Unplug and clean motor with a vacuum.  Unclamp hose and clean that also.  Don't forget to clean the outside trap also.

When we are reaching out to the bereaved it is often common to feel helpless. It is sometimes hard to know what to say that might prove comforting to the bereaved person. Often in our discomfort we fall back on cliches. While well meant, they are often not helpful and sometimes anger producing for the grieving person.

                --------------- 

PLEASE DO NOT SAY:               
-    I know someone who had two family members die at the same time.         

-    At least you have other members in your family.

-    There are other people worse off than you.

BECAUSE:
These statements tend to discount the impact of the death for the bereaved person.

SAY INSTEAD:
-    I wonder if you feel like you will never get better.

-    Expressing your tears and your pain will help you feel better eventually.

-    Talking to the person who has died can help you sort out your feeings.