catching up with the group-warning long!!!!

What a candid and wonderful note to let us know how you are doing. It certainly sounds like you are making intelligent and productive decisions for your future. Continued condolences and congratulations on your progress.

Launie, you've lifted my heart today. It is so wonderful to hear about the positive steps you are taking to make life better for you and Hunter. It can't be easy for you, but bless you and your family for moving forward in spite of the pain. It sounds as though you have some terrific support both from within your family and from outside, and I can tell you realize how important that is.

Continued good luck - even though I don't *know* you personally, I sense from your words that you're a caring, compassionate person, and I think you'll be the kind of nurse we all want to have caring for us!

((((( Launie))))) I am glad to hear you're moving ahead with life. I'm sure you'll be an incredibly good nurse.

Sunny

It is such a pleasure to read such a positive and intuitive message from you Launie. I do think of you often. and know you will look forward to your new career next year. More new things and people to meet head on. All your family must be so proud of you. Estelle uk "simpleseven" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@v39g2000pro.googlegroups.com... Therapy and the bereavement classes are helping me a great deal. I will always miss my beloved Terry (and I miss him deeply) and carry sadness with me, but I?m starting to think about my future and new beginnings. My DS, Hunter is a great young man with an old soul like his dad and I. I have a strength within me like I?ve never had before and that is a great gift my beloved Terry blessed me with his unconditional love, compassion, strength and his presence. I guess what I?m saying is he will always be a part of who I am, who I?ve become. He gave me the greatest gift of learning to love myself. It?s because of him that I can think about taking steps forward to learn to live with this new beginning I was forced into.

Last week I was hit with two occasions, as if Thanksgiving and Christmas weren?t enough! My birthday and Valentines Day, however I had family that made sure I wasn?t alone and both occasions were celebrated. Although I do have to say my birthday was celebrated twice on each of those days. My daughter came with her boyfriend, along with my Aunt, Uncle and Daddy and of course Hunter. We went to Red Lobster last night and everyone in that part of the restaurant sang happy birthday to me. We had not one, but two Chocolate cakes from Costco. I think they weigh five lbs a piece and boy are they rich. My aunt was thoughtful enough to send two pieces to a young couple at the next table. It?s that kind of kindness that I appreciate and love dearly about my Aunt. She always makes me feel special. Afterwards I had to stop by the jewelry department at Fred Meyers and pick up some jewelry I had fixed for my daughter and came across a ring that I absolutely loved. At the last minute I decided to buy it for myself. My DS, said to new beginnings Mom! I agreed. He is nine years old, going on forty sometimes! My daughter and her boyfriend agreed I deserved it. It was a fair price and I knew Terry is looking down smiling at me.

I?m throwing Terry a Spirit of Life party at the end of March (his birthday would have been on the 30th.) It?s going to be a pot luck, open house kind of party. I?m renting a hall and a couple of the gals that are members of the hall have decided to help me out with serving the food, so I can be a part of the celebration and not have that to worry about. The writing on his cake is UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN??..

I?ve also decided to go back to school. I?m looking at becoming a RN. I know my DS won?t need me forever and I will have to find a way to support myself and my future. It?s because of Terry?s illness that I was thrown into the medical aspect of life and took to it like it was a natural process for me. I?m scared about starting school again (probably a year from now), but also excited and know I can do it.

As far as quilting/sewing type things I haven?t been working on the things I should, but I?m warming up to my projects just waiting for my attention.

I have been busy cleaning out, organizing, rearranging, etc. and of course giving myself time to go through the process of grieving and remembering.

I want to thank everyone for the support and kindness during the darkest days of my life.

Launie, in Oregon

Hi Launie,

I know we chat each day in email, but I really enjoyed reading your "essay" that eloquently puts together all of the things we've discussed in bits and pieces.

Your fortitude and positive attitude is an inspiration....

Michelle in NV

I was so moved reading this, Launie. Whether your dear terry bequeathed such strength to you or not, you now have it and you are going to use it for the benefit of others. Fantastic! What a legacy. What a great girl you are.

(Studying again will be a doddle, after what you've been through). . In message , simpleseven writes

Launie,

You sure have been through a lot in the past few months. I'm praying that you will continue to move through the grieving and through your new beginnings.

Nursing is a wonderful field. You will always have a good income! You can buy LOADS of fabric.

Have you heard of grieving quilts?

You might want to consider that. I did that after my mom died and found it very helpful.

Warmest thoughts,

Lenore

Up above you in Washington

Last week I was hit with two occasions, as if Thanksgiving and Christmas weren?t enough! My birthday and Valentines Day, however I had family that made sure I wasn?t alone and both occasions were celebrated. Although I do have to say my birthday was celebrated twice on each of those days. My daughter came with her boyfriend, along with my Aunt, Uncle and Daddy and of course Hunter. We went to Red Lobster last night and everyone in that part of the restaurant sang happy birthday to me. We had not one, but two Chocolate cakes from Costco. I think they weigh five lbs a piece and boy are they rich. My aunt was thoughtful enough to send two pieces to a young couple at the next table. It?s that kind of kindness that I appreciate and love dearly about my Aunt. She always makes me feel special. Afterwards I had to stop by the jewelry department at Fred Meyers and pick up some jewelry I had fixed for my daughter and came across a ring that I absolutely loved. At the last minute I decided to buy it for myself. My DS, said to new beginnings Mom! I agreed. He is nine years old, going on forty sometimes! My daughter and her boyfriend agreed I deserved it. It was a fair price and I knew Terry is looking down smiling at me.

I?m throwing Terry a Spirit of Life party at the end of March (his birthday would have been on the 30th.) It?s going to be a pot luck, open house kind of party. I?m renting a hall and a couple of the gals that are members of the hall have decided to help me out with serving the food, so I can be a part of the celebration and not have that to worry about. The writing on his cake is UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN??..

I?ve also decided to go back to school. I?m looking at becoming a RN. I know my DS won?t need me forever and I will have to find a way to support myself and my future. It?s because of Terry?s illness that I was thrown into the medical aspect of life and took to it like it was a natural process for me. I?m scared about starting school again (probably a year from now), but also excited and know I can do it.

As far as quilting/sewing type things I haven?t been working on the things I should, but I?m warming up to my projects just waiting for my attention.

I have been busy cleaning out, organizing, rearranging, etc. and of course giving myself time to go through the process of grieving and remembering.

I want to thank everyone for the support and kindness during the darkest days of my life.

Launie, in Oregon

Actually, I have been thinking about that as well. I designed two quilts for my beloved Terry's class scholarship fund raiser and have actually purchased the fabric for it. I'm thinking about making one for the scholarship and the other design in a smaller version. I could used fabrics from some of his shirts for the backing and maybe some photos of him as well. I don't know yet, but I am thinking about it. He liked one design better then the other. He had made a comment that he was going to purchase $100 worth of tickets, just because I was the one who'd made it. lol

So, Lenore where are you at in Washington? You can write to me privately if ya want.... simple 7(spelled out) at wildblue dot net.

Launie Launie, in Oregon

Launie, I'm so glad to hear you are on the road to recovering. Grieving is a process. Your Terry would be proud of you. sending good thoughts to keep you going!

amy in CNY

I teach chemistry at a community college, and most of my students are adults returning to classroom education.

Launie, *everybody* is scared the first class or two!

A few decide that classroom education is not for them, and go on to more practical things, like apprenticeships.

But the vast majority do *fine*! and that is no matter what they did in high school.

Go for it!

[I would just mention a plug for starting at community college: cheaper, more people like yourself in the classroom, professors whose job it is to teach, not do research, etc.]

Martha