So 2013 is almost done and will be our history in a few more sleeps....
The high lights of 2013 are amazing and I want to share some of those moments on this page:
In February at SPRC we started a support group for survivor's of suicide.
Those families who have lost a loved one to suicide and I have to say it has been an amazing journey. For them and for me. Suicide is a death by another name, the consequences are real and very painful. These individuals have been "torn apart" and with much
love and compassion it will be possible to move forward and find a new normal. Seven beautiful individuals braved the fear of the group and became fast friends in our 6 weeks of meetings. It was an honor to be with them and see the changes that happened over
the weeks. After they were done the six weeks they decided to stay close and do a book study with Dr Alan Wolfelt's "Understanding your Suicide Grief". And it still goes on even into Dec.
Baby Linden arrived, early in March and I was able to be there
to help out with big brother Easton. And of course with baby and Mommy. Daddy got spoiled too.... I love my role as grandma and my heart swells every time I see them or think of them.... I am blessed....
My trips to Fort Collins were amazing once again
in 2103. First one was in May “Shadow of the Ghosts” of grief. The person living in the shadow of the ghosts of grief has symptoms that suggest that the pain of grief has been inhibited, suppressed, converted, or denied.
I also learned about:
The concept of “carried grief”
Socio-cultural contributions to “carried grief”
A five-phase wounding process
Categories of “complicated mourning”
Family system influences: trans-generational passing
down
The process of “catch-up” mourning
My second trip was in Sept, this inspiring class gave me confidence to further support people impacted by the death of someone to suicide.
Topics include:
The language of suicide
Misconceptions
Special features of suicide grief
Dimensions of grief response and the caregiver helping role
Application of Dr. Wolfelt’s six needs of mourning
Exploration of the transformative nature of suicide grief
Suicide
Grief: Companioning The Mourner
And it was my fifth course so on this occasion I received my Death and Grief Certificate. My husband and daughter and grandsons came with me and it was a great trip. Two days into the course a large amt of rain came down
and made it a bit of a trick to get around, but the family made the best of the situation for the 4 days. A few individuals did not survive the wrath of the flash floods so it was not so good for some......
In October, Dawn Jaravata, Eunice Friesen
and myself got busy setting up a monthly event called the Death Cafe..... it is a movement that has been started in many cities across Canada and many other country's. At a Death Cafe people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death.
The objective of Death Cafe is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives'.
For me it is a topic that used to scare me, and in my learning of the last few years it has come to my mind as a fearful
topic that needs discussion before one is faced with it, fear is dispelled with open conversation about death and all that means to each of us.
Almost forgot we had a big celebration for my mom who is 80 now. A great number for family and friends arrived
to wish her well and we all helped her eat cake!!