SHARE Atlanta

Dear All,

I have attached a pdf page of pictures from our May Women's meeting around our memorial tree in honor of our babies. At our May and October meetings and at our annual Women's Candleligthing, we share our mementos and pictures that we so treasure. Of course, we can do this at any of our meetings, but these three gatherings focus on these precious items. It is always special to share with those who understand how full of meaning our mementos from our babies are.

A reminder of the Women's Meeting coming up tomorrow...(directions to our Women's meeting included in this email.)

"Grief and Your Emotions" is our topic for July.

We will talk about how grief influences our emotions (sadness, anger, guilt, fear, etc.) and ways to identify our feelings and cope with them. We are on the "yo-yo" pattern of grief from the moment we learn about the loss of our child. These emotions tied with the secondary losses are what carry us down the path. Learning to understand what is happening *to* us and how to cope with these feelings and reactions makes grief "doable." We each feel that our pain and subsequent grief is unique to us. In our pain, we often believe that what we are experiencing no one else *really* could share. Our reality is different than others who are grieving. Society would like for us to believe this (and we are a part of that society). Yes, there are parts of each person's walk that are unique, but there is much common ground...more than most understand. As we come to appreciate our new reality and our new *normal*, we don't feel so alone and afraid. Healing gradually happens. While healing is an individual effort, joining together helps us sort through how we might travel our path!

Here are some links that you might find supportive...

Bracelets of Hope

Our very own Kim Shiflett is offering memory key chains and zipper pulls...please visit her site for her other treasures (beautiful memory bracelets) that she makes.

The Grieving Process: includes emotions and secondary losses

These pages are filled with my writings and those of other parents who have contributed through the years.

Coping Suggestions...Mementos, Ideas, etc.

(Kim's bracelets, Dana's Portraits and many more healing ideas are some of the many links found on this page.

In August we will be coming together both in Acworth (Men and Women's Group led by Adrianne and Coretta on the second Thursday of each month) and at our Women's Group (on the third Wednesday of each month) for the topic:

"Grief and Our Relationships"

We combine the topics of the two proceeding months (secondary losses - loss of: innocence - role or parenting a living child - self-worth - control - hope and the stages/emotions of grief: sadness, panic, denial, shock, release, confusion, etc) and see how every relationship is influenced by these losses and emotions and that our relationships are reflected in our emotions and losses. We learn more coping skills on dealing with these situations as we better understand the grieving process.

- Directions to our meetings - all meet from 7 to 9 pm.

Memorial Brick Orders...by August 1

August 1st is the date for getting your memorial brick order to Jennifer.

This link provides all of the needed information to make that happen.

Many Different Options...

We have had a very active spring and early summer with our March of Dimes awards and several new connections with area hospitals. And, many of our women met at Tammy White's home for a Blanket Workshop. Adrianne said she was pleased to learn how easy making our blankets is! Also, we are beginning our mission toward a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth (CBRS) for the state of Georgia.

The fall brings our Angel Garden Memorial Service (4th Sunday in October at 3pm), our annual Women's Candlelighting Service (3rd Wed. of November at 7pm), and our Festival of Tree's Memorial Tree (ornaments can be brought to any of our groups or events). Links to these events are on our Homepage. Hopefully, we will have a newsletter out in late August...early September with more details about all of these events.

If you know someone who might find support or a better understanding of the Pregnancy and Newborn Loss Community from reading this note, visiting our website or joining us, please pass it along. I will be putting this note on our site under Updates (linked from our Homepage). Thanks...

Know that we are thinking of you and are here as you might need us...

Take care,

Marcia

The love stays...forever in our hearts.

PS. I also send this out to interested prospective members and volunteers.