DECEMBER'S SUPPORT MEETING POSTPONED

DUE TO THE STORM AND THE DISTANCES MANY DRIVE TO SIT WITH US DECEMBER'S SUPPORT MEETING IS POSTPONED.

MAKE UP DATE IS NEXT WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH, 7PM COMMUNITY ROOM AT THE WHITING LIBRARY IN CHESTER VERMONT.

IF YOU NEED SUPPORT IMMEDIATELY, PLEASE CALL.

IF YOU WERE PICKING UP ANGEL ORNAMENTS AND WANT THEM MAILED, EMAIL ME.

IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT NEXT WEEK, AND WANT SOMEONE TO CHECK IN WITH YOU BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS, EMAIL US.

STAY SAFE...

The Post Where I Make You Believe!

Not that I really need to, you believed when others didn't...

ALTERNATIVE TITLE: The Post That Affirms What We Already Knew

Yeah - that's better.

If you have followed my heart mission - Share Southern Vermont - from its grandios conception within my head then you might remember the posts where I:

• Built the Bridge
• Got Delayed by the Detour
• Danced Across the Bridge
• Wrote That Kickin' Time-For-Change Proposal (with some Mighty Blogger Help!)
• Came Full Circle - And Got....M.A.D!
• Took A Leap of Faith
• Had a newspaper article written abour our cause
• Opened a SSV bank account!
• Moved SSV to it's new bloggy home
• AND... (Hanging head ashamedly) Got really mad - again

And, if you haven't been following my journey then know that for whatever anger overtook me at times, flanked by frustration and envy - FAITH had them all beat by ten miles.

I have always KNOWN, not hoped or wished for or even thought possbile - but KNOWN that our mission will be fulfilled and our program will grow leaps and bounds throughout the years, touching countless hearts in every stage of their greiving process.

Well....(deep breath now, ok? You good? Sitting down?)

I am going to do this is vision : reality format, for your sake (read: it will keep it shorter) and mine (read: it will keep it shorter).

VISION: A well attended, professionally run support group that leaves people feeling like it is a safe place for them to come and share wherever they are in their grief process.

REALITY: We have had 4 meetings. People have been at everyone. New people are coming every month. We are getting the word out - we are making a difference.

VISION: We would have enough in our bank account to meet our start-up costs, gratefull accepting additional funds to further our cause.

REALITY: Check!

VISION: We would be categorized 501(c)3 Non-Profit to make the most of our outreach.

REALITY: The Eye-R-Ess has cashed our check and is currently reviewing our application. It's been a while...but hey - I guess thet are a little busy right just about now - right?

VISION: We would host grand community-awareness / fundraising events where bereaved parents are celebrated for the role they played in their baby's life. These events would open even more eyes to our mission, hence reach people who didn't know about our services.

REALITY: We are currently finalizing detalils for our First Annual Walk For Hope and Rememberance. An event of which the orginal board member and I had once said, "Heck - if it's just you and me, our husbands and our kids standing out there with a balloon - it will be a success!" Um...it's big - getting bigger everyday - almost overwhelming big - but that's the point, yes?

VISION: I would bring together a team of people who all Share the same vision, annually training another person as a program leader.

REALITY: It's happening. Our board of directors is strong. Two new bereaved mothers have just come into our group clearly saying what they envision their role to be, practially verbatim to what I have put out there into the faith ethers.

And the BIGGEST VISION OF ALL: I would create a friendly working relationship with the childbirth center at the local hospital. SHARE would be there from the time of loss - support the family as they make difficult choices and begin their grief road.

Still sitting down???

I got a phone call this last week that confirms my faith that it WILL happen. It affirms my belief that intended action with big, dedicated love behind it can NEVER fail.

Thank you for being there from day one - and holding my hand.

Thank you for picking up the story here - and becoming part of the vision.

I told you I'd share the 'happily ever after' with you- right? Consider this the 'happily...'

Last week I received this email from the very talented Birdie's Mama (her sweet girl is on The Wall of Angels. )

"Charlotte's Mama and myself are going to be working on a book, a book that will be for the young siblings of babylost parents, a book that talks about the baby who is not there but is talked about and cherished. However, we are looking for an illustrator, and I would like to find either a babylost Mama or Papa to be that person.

I have not had any luck in my calls for such an illustrator, and it seems so important to have the whole book be made by babylost parents."A book like this is so needed."

PLEASE...contact her if you feel like your talent might match their vision.

Finding Roots - And Burying Them!

I am pleased to announce that Share Southern Vermont has FOUND ITS HOME!

I would like to thank the Springfield Health and Rehab center for letting us meet there for the first two months. It was so kind of them to open their doors without question, but we have finally found a location that feels calm, quiet, and homey.

It is the perfect place to talk about our losses. It is also MUCH easier to find in the dark!

Share Southern Vermont now meets in the Community Room of the Whiting Library in Chester Vermont! Located at 117 Main St ~ Chester, VT 05143 (if you want to mapquest it)

This - is what it looks like.

This - is the sign out front.

However - park here - in the back lot

And enter down these stairs and in this door.

I don't have a picture of the meeting room - but trust me - it's nice!

So, PLEASE JOIN US – THE 2ND WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH – AT 7PM. Our next meeting is Wed, March 11th - 2009!

Yo! Check Us Out!

http://www.cnn.com/

put in zip code - 05153 - then scroll to the bottom inset that says...Local News!

And...spread the word.

The Wings of Time!

I cannot quite believe it but our next meeting is fast approaching. I sat in Carol and Greg's meeting on Jan 28th and the wheels-they-were-a-turning in my head.

I watched in awe as they fielded emotions and how-do-you-survive questions like pros. I marveled at how the maintained the perfect balance between "After Charlotte died" responses and blanket grief-based theories to support the needs of each hurting person in that room.

I loved seeing the vast sea of participants. The woman who has been there from day one and the one who just lost her baby last week. I loved seeing that couples come together. I could see what a great difference they were making and how our group would grow to do exactly the same thing.

I'm taking a page, or rather - a poster board - from Amy so if you are coming, look for signs in the entrance way and hallway to help you find the room. They might not be quite as awesome as hers, but they will do the job!

And - as always - there will be chocolate and tissues.

Hope to see you next wed - Feb 11th - at 7pm.

Call Me Crazy!

But nothing...not even THIS

is going to stop me from getting to Northhampton tonight. The plans were made two months ago to be a guest at their Share meeting, to watch and listen, to learn and (the best perk of all) to stay over at Carol's house and pick her brain about start-up until she felt like she'd taken three final exams in a row!

Ok - it looks nasty out. All right - it IS really nasty, but I'll go slow and I'll make it. And, what I take away from the experience will far more valuable than the effort it takes to get there!

Even so - want to shout out a quick prayer for my safe travel? (A confirmation of my nuttiness would be allright too)