January Cold in the Middle of December on a Monday

Jinx in SD

Good Monday Morning

from a daggone chilly Florida

Those dearHearts on Lily The Black Bear fan page

just overwhelmed me last night

and opened a virtual candle page

for

DRSES

where they could go and light

candles across the world

to

Remember the Children!

As I discovered this and sat here realizing that they had done that, my heart is full.

Thank you to all who took the time to do that.

Wado!

You have filled my heart.

http://www.bear.org/

to see what they are up to out there in Ely MN

as they are close to installing the den cam

so we can be once again captivated by

Lily and HOPE in their den!

Coffee is hot this morning as I hear of record colds

and much much snow and the deep freeze

in the Midwest.

The metro dome of the Vikings collapsed out there in Minneapolis while their opponents were

snow-bound at the airport in Kansas

luckily no one was harmed.

Snows have fallen across our lands

and the freeze is hitting, now

being compared to winters of January

and

here we are in the middle of December!

Out in South Dakota

in the Black Hills, Kelly 2Wolves reports that

Jinx (in the photo) is loving it!

Last night

in NewPort Richey

Parents, Grandparents, siblings from the little of the little, to those I have watched grow from little to big

arrived

at the

World Wide Candle Lighting

of

The Compassionate Friends.

The wind was blowing and the chill was in the air there.

Each greeted warmly, given a program and a candle in a royal blue holder... finding their way to the lovely buffet of goodies and coffee/soda/water

before taking a seat.

Old friends, new friends gathered. Some for the first time, you could see the anxiety and the sadness in their faces; some losses recent, some anniversaries once again all for the same holidays mixed with dread of facing without those precious children.

Some arrived alone, others with friends or family.

The came, they stepped out of the warmth of their homes, out of their comfort zones

to participate in something

greater then self

an event that was taking place around

the globe

REMEMBERING

and

HONORING

The Children.

The Creators' Children.

The program began promptly,

The first candle was lit

7:00pm EST here.

The Compassionate Friends

World Wide Candle lighting

2010

Began

with the Mom of

Duke Limongello

my friend

Jean Limongello,

the Chapter Leader

welcoming all.

If I were to guess, there were more than 200 there.

There were readings as each of the candles were lit

by the steering committee of the

chapter,

AND

then the invitation

for all to come forward

to light their

candle for

their precious child.

It was moving, tearful.

It was real and it was powerful.

I was moved again as I saw those precious children

from the youngest to the oldest,

each seemed to come to life

most with a "twinkle" of knowing in their eye

knowing that they were seeing something that no one else could see.

As if they were seeing us at that moment in time,

differently in some way.

BUT

then I could sense their presence there with us.

It was powerful, it was spiritual,

oh how I prayed that others could feel their children

beside them in that room

that very special night

of

HOPE and light

that was being shared.

The video slide show of all the children named yesterday was shown, this year it seemed even more alive somehow as we all watched, those waiting with their eyes filled with tears, waiting to see their precious child.

My reading was of

"From One Who Knows"

which I always add to each time it is read,

adding in words that somehow seem to tie in to what will be my remarks for the evening.

FROM ONE WHO KNOWS

I promise you, my friend...

I promise you

that you will feel the warmth of spring again

(I hope you will feel that perhaps this night)

That you will touch the hands of children

And the lips of lovers (perhaps real or dreamt)

And feel the tenderness of Christmas again

(I HOPE it is this night)

But here and now, my friend

I promise only small consolation

Some morning you will see beauty in your sorrow

(I hope you will see in some ways this night)

Comfort in the wealth of love remembered

Courage in the aching tide of days

I promise you, my friend,

(I promise you now)

I promise you that you will understand

Someday… Someday...

This pain which taught you

What greatness and devotion one life can hold

YOUR life, my friend

(I HOPE it is tonight that you feel the HOPE)

By Sascha Wagner

The evening ended with my closing remarks on

HOPE

through the visions of knowing that these

precious children are here, they were

with us in that room,

within each heart right there.

There is NO DISTANCE,

for with each one sitting there,

those precious children were within each

beating heart

of each parent,

each sibling

each grandparent

and

friend.

You could feel them there as the room became so very hot there.

With each flicker of each flame, you could sense their presence, see their reflection in the eyes of those who love them.

Perhaps last night across the world,

many knew

There is no distance.

I feel strongly

HOPE filled that civic center

and the hearts of those that gathered there.

For that I give great thanks,

and

on this cold morning in Florida,

I give thanks

and

so it is~!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcpBwB5ruu0

The above,

Precious Child

is the song that was played during the powerful slide show of the Children

that was put together by Diane Smallze, Mom of Joe

and member of the steering committee, who once again did an outstanding job!

The fire is burning brightly, the sage and cedar are filling the air and on the way to all this morning

as we Remember the bright lights that continue to burn for the Children.

Great thanks to all who lit those candles at 7p your time, and whose lights burn brightly.

Prayers and thoughts for all and to all gathered here and in the prayer bowl.

Walk In Beauty,

DRSES

That is the

HOPE

of

Healing Heartaches

http://www.drsherryeshowalter.com/

see you tonight at Tiffanys in Palm Harbor FL

at 6p

"Hope for the Holidays and Book Signing"

Still time to order

Healing Heartaches for yourself and for gifts.

Shipping in 24 hours!~