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Message from the Executive
Director - Anne D’Ambrosio
Well, it’s May already, are we all seeing those flowers coming
up. They’re in full bloom here. I hope the rest of you are beginning
to enjoy the spring or adjust to the change of time and seasons.
I would like to spend some time and ask us all to remember that
the most important person in the room is the newest person. I
ask that the seasoned members join in and welcome the newcomers,
maybe put that little chat that you were all having about your
cats or roof on hold for a few minutes and let the new member
know why we’re all here and why you still visit GROWW. We all
make friends and that is wonderful, I love going to gatherings
and meeting people in person but for the new person who has maybe
never been in a chat room before, they could easily get confused
and wonder hey I thought this was about grief. We all know it
is, and that we don’t talk about grief all the time; but think
back to when you joined. It took a while for each and every one
of us to feel safe and comfortable and see the same people and
begin to form a bond with them. That’s what I ask. When we see
a new member join us, let’s all welcome them and try to get them
to join into a conversation - even if it means changing the subject
for a while. I know they’ll appreciate it, feel welcomed, and
want to keep coming back.
April marks the end of GROWW’s fiscal year. Next month, hopefully
I will have the taxes done and give a brief outline of how GROWW
was funded, how much we’ve spent, and what I’d like to do with
the remaining funds.
Until next month Good Grief
AnneGD
Message from the Director
of Branches - Libby Morningstar
No article this month.
Phil’s Corner -
Phil D’Ambrosio
Hi Guyz. Sorry about last month, I was really swamped and before
I realized it the deadline had came and went. Yup, that old time
thing just bit me. Between work, baseball, band and other curricula’s,
April was a blur.
We also addressed some home projects that have been on the “to
do list”. Anne will be happy to know that the tenants who were
living in the attic have been evicted due to the long overdue
roof repairs. All of the shrubbery has been cut back so we no
longer qualify as a National Park, and we are getting quotes to
have the house painted. So hopefully Anne will give me a little
time off for good behavior, There’s that time word again.
Time can be our friend or our worst enemy depending how we use
it. I found a site that comes up with 10 suggestions for overcoming
grief, sort of like A Ten Commandments:
1. Take time to accept death
2. Take time to let go
3. Take Time to make decisions
4. Take time to share
5. Take time to believe
6. Take time to forgive
7. Take time to feel good about yourself
8. Take time to meet new friends
9. Take time to laugh
10. Take the time to give
Each of them has an explanation well worth reading; but due to
space restraints, I can’t fit them here. So here is the link to
the site so you can read them at your leisure. www.griefrecovery.net/overcoming.html
Folks, ain’t no rocket science here just easy reading that will
hopefully make this process a little bit clearer.
See ya next month.
Guest Column:
Not this month. If you’d like to submit a guest column, please
submit one to newsletter@groww.org
Poetry by Members (submitted
by Patti):
A mother is a special gift from above
With all sorts of talents and all kinds of love.
A mother works hard, giving each day
Thinking of others when she bows to pray.
She gives unselfishly hugs and kisses
And stays in close contact with those that she misses.
She speaks kind words to friends and foes
She keeps us warm from our head to our toes.
She cooks, bakes, sews and cleans
And when she's exhausted on God she leans.
A mother is precious in a very special way
Giving of energy through each night and day.
Giving of skills learned from the past
Sharing God's love in a world that is vast.
Yes mothers are special and they too need love
With the kind of compassion coming only from above.
Host Interview by Pat Sirni – (PatS): GRHostKirby
I am GRHOST Kirby.
My family and I are long time residents in Spring, TX. I was
an oil field brat growing up, so I lived in many places. Spent
my high school in Europe; then returned to the US for college.
In 1981 I met my wife Cherlynne. We just clicked when we met.
Like coming home and finding all the love you could ever hope
for. We married 6 months after we met, and are still married after
23 years. I spent the next 7 years working in south America.
In 1988 I found my purpose in life. I became a dad. We had 3
children in quick succession. Jessica, Ryan, and Sarah. The five
of us had so much fun as the kids grew up. We did everything,
fished, went to the beach, snorkeled, and just had fun. My children
excelled at sports had a passion for baseball & softball.
It literally took over our lives. I coached and found that I loved
it as much as my children did. We were so happy and our lives
were very busy & fulfilling.
The week before Thanksgiving in 2003 my children went to visit
their grandpa. On Tuesday November 25, 2003, I received a phone
call that changed our lives forever. I learned that my son Ryan
(13) had been in an ATV accident and was being life flighted to
Hermann hospital in Houston. Things looked good at first, we were
told that Ryan was going to be fine. After 5 days I noticed a
change. Doctors started avoiding my wife and me, and would no
longer look at us in the eye. We were finally told us that Ryan
was not going to make it. December 6 , 2003 our wonderful boy
Ryan Andrew Kirby was “Drafted to the field of dreams.” The devastation
is indescribable. This could not have happened to my boy, my family!!!!
One month later I stumbled on a place call Groww on the computer.
I suddenly found people who had a clue about what I was going
through! Through talking to people here I slowly learned that
keeping everything it all in was not going to work. I learned
that talking about it can make the pain a little less painful.
We are learning to live again. Our lives never will be the same
with out him! But I do believe that my family can be happy again!
I became a HOST in January 2005. My wife (Cherlynne) is also
a HOST. Both of us can be found in the GR room. This Grief is
the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, it will be for
you as well! My only advice is don’t give up, don’t despair for
you are not alone in this journey. With hard work love and sharing
with others we can make it through this terrible time in our lives.
Life as we know it well never be the same, but it can be good
again. Ryan loved life like you wouldn’t believe. We have to carry
on with that in mind and make the most of our lives too.
Thank you Growwies for helping my family to see the sunshine
again. Life can still be beautiful.
The Kirby’s
.
Thank you Judy Divers!!
Thank you Groww staff that keep this wonderful place going!!
Recipe of the month (from
Patti):
This is a Pennsylvania Dutch dessert and is awesome !
Shoo-Fly Pie
Ingredients:
1 unbaked 9" pie crust (not graham cracker crust)
1 c. boiling water
1 c. molasses
1 tsp. baking soda
Crumb Topping: 2/3 c. sugar, 1 1/2 c. flour, 1 stick of margarine,
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves, 1/2 tsp. ginger
Directions:
Bring 1 c. water to a boil then add the molasses. Once well mixed
add 1 tsp. baking soda.
Use a large saucepan as the baking soda will make the molasses
mixture fizz up.
Stir then remove from heat.
Crumbs: Mix the dry ingredients together. Cut the margarine into
the dry mixture until crumbly.
Cover the bottom of the unbaked pie crust with crumbs, then spoon
molasses mixture over crumbs.
Continue to layer crumbs and molasses, saving enough crumbs to
cover the top of the pie.
Bake at 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes.
**** Be sure to use a deep pie pan. The mixture tends to bake
over.
If you would like to submit a recipe or poem for publication
in this newsletter, please send your submission to newsletter@groww.org
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