E-Mail Newsletter
April 15, 2006	Volume 1, Number 2
	Taking care of you This was submitted by Cecelia Rice a few years ago, thanks Sharon for suggesting we rerun it. NORMAL Grief If you think you are going insane, that's NORMAL If all you can do is cry, that's NORMAL. If you can't taste your food or have any semblance of appetite, that's NORMAL. If you have feelings of rage, denial, and depression, that's NORMAL. If you find yourself enjoying a funny moment and immediately feel guilty, that's NORMAL. If your friends dwindle away and you feel like you have the plague, that's NORMAL. If your blood boils and the hair in your nose curls when someone tells you "It was God's will," that's NORMAL. If you can't talk about it, but you can smash dishes, shred up old phone books, or kick the garbage can, that's NORMAL. If you can share your story, your feelings with an understanding listener, that's a BEGINNING. If you can get a glimmer of your beloved's life rather than his or her death, that's WONDERFUL. If you can remember your loved one with a smile, that's HEALING. If you find your mirrors have become windows and you are able to reach out to other bereaved persons, that's GROWWING. This was submitted by Cecelia Rice (GRHostCece) a few years ago, thanks Sharon for suggesting we rerun it. AnneGD@groww.org Chatting Tips: staff@groww.org When you do get in to the chat room, are you finding you can’t keep up and the screen is too small, look up at the top right hand corner and click on the button which says FLOAT... it will open a new window... now MAXIMIZE that window by clicking on the square in the upper right hand corner... the square is between the "-" and the "x"... it will make the room larger, then type *chat font size 14 or 16 If you are having trouble connecting to the chat rooms, you may need to update your java. Are you getting that blue screen when you try to log on? Try this link and follow the instructions, it should solve your problem http://java.sun.com/getjava/download.html **** News Flash **** GROWW now takes paypal for donations and purchases. You can get there by clicking on the following link: http://www.groww.org/helpgroww/howtogive.htm GROWW Chat rules People keep asking what are your chat rules. Our chat rules are pretty basic and for the most part only require common sense. 1. Use common courtesy and greet people as they enter the chat room. 2. Remember the new members are probably not used to the bonds and friendships that grow in our chat rooms. 3. Refrain from discussing sex, politics and religion. 4. Don’t badger people about their faith or lack of it. 5. No lecturing or telling people they are not doing “it” right. 6. Do not attack members, if there is a problem person in the room, ignore them. 7. If there is a Host present in the room, let them take care of the problem. 8. Do not confront a Host and tell her she’s wrong about asking someone to leave, if they ask someone to leave, never say no don’t listen to him or her, stay…not acceptable. 9. Please speak up, we cannot see your face so we don’t know your mood, we need YOUR help to get you involved in the room. If people are just chit chatting and you want to discuss something, speak up, no one will be offended, our main purpose is to help new members. 10. Ask someone if it Is ok to private chat (pc) them, don’t just pc them. 11. NEVER give out personal information like address or phone number to anyone unless they are your personal friend. 12. Listen to the people who are trying to help, we don’t ask questions to be nosy, but to get to know you and the reason that brought you to us. 13. Be compassionate and caring. 14. If you get mad and want to yell at someone, count to 10 and think about it before you start typing. 15. NO Foul language.
	Web Links From Griefhelp.org You are at a crossroads in your life, having lost someone very dear to you. There are many people who understand the deep sorrow you feel and can provide comfort. http://www.griefhelp.org/default.html It has some great help tips, check it out! Thank you Richard for allowing us to share your site with our members. From Paula G-GRHostPaulaG The website for Parents of Murdered Children is: http://www.pomc.com/ and email is: natlpomc@aol.com The website for Love Never Dies is: http://www.loveneverdies.net/ and email is: sandy@loveneverdies.net. The below link was sent to us and we are sending a reciprocal link, they are a non profit organization that has some pretty useful information on it and sources. http://www.funeralandcemeteryinfo.org/index.php?s=home Gatherings By: Libby Morningstar Libby@groww.org Well many have asked how do I plan a gathering. Since I have been involved with several for Michigan, thought I would offer some advice. A gathering can be just a few people who live in same town or near each other who would like to meet for lunch or dinner. A gathering can be for a weekend. As a host the first thing you need to do is maybe post on the site to see if there would be an interest in your area. See if there is anyone who would be willing to assist you. Next you would need to pick a date. What we have generally done is pick a location that has easy access either by driving, air, bus and/or train. The location you select should have things to do in the area (that way you don’t have to plan everything and people can choose what they may wish to do, although having a few options for them to do as a group is also nice). Select a hotel that can accommodate your group and if possible would have a room you could use as a meeting room. Try to deal to get the best cost you can and reserved a block of rooms. Each individual is responsible for booking their own room and payment of that. You then need to decide if there, will be a dinner provided or a specific activity, or what snacks you wish to provide in your meeting room and figure out a cost value to establish a registration fee. That is the gist of hosting a gathering. If you would like to ever mull over the possibility of a gathering you can drop me a line. REMEMBER GROWW is a totally volunteer site and depends on donations from others to keep the site open. By sponsoring a gathering you can help this cause out by doing possible 50/50 raffles or getting door prizes donated for which you can sell tickets for that too. Poetry OUR STILL CHILD I held you ever so tightly Within my loving and trembling arms I was suppose to protect you Only death did its harm I never got to hear you cry Your little smile never got to be I cried out to God, why oh why Must you take my precious child from me Your dad and I shared much happiness The day we learned you were to be Excitement flourished a hundred fold We just couldn’t wait for you to see Our dreams of a family shattered that day When death came and took you away I know in my heart, death did not win In time my child we’ll be a family again As I kissed you with my last kiss I knew your precious soul I would miss Now in heaven with a life anew My love dear child was waiting on you By Doyle Alldredge © 2005 Doyle is one of our dedicated Hosts in GROWW’s Heavenly Angels chat room., and also a published poet. Thank you To Lori GRHostLolo for keeping our Newsletter subscriptions up to date, we appreciate it so much J Contact Information For information or questions about GROWW, please write to staff@groww.org Anyone who hasn’t signed up a password for the message boards and would like to do so please go to the following link and submit the information required, please remember we are all volunteers here and it may take up to 48 hours to process your request. http://www.groww.org/community/boards/passwordform.htm Note: Please remember to add us to your address book, each month Newsletters are not delivered because you do not accept mail from me, please add annegd@groww.org to your address book so you won’t miss an issue. You can also access our Newsletter on line, we will try to have it posted around the same time the actual Newsletter is mailed out. Have you missed an issue, no problem, you can see previous issues of the GROWW Newsletter by going to: http://www.groww.org/Newsletter/newsletterdb.htm If you no longer want to receive the GROWW Newsletter, please send an email to newsletter@groww.org and put unsubscribe in the subject. Welcome To Lyria = GRHostSharonS, our newest Host for Grief Recovery and GROWW for Widowed, please welcome her on her new role with GROWW. Thank you for your compassion and caring that you show for all of our members.