May 6, 2009
Volume Three
Issue Five

NEWS

Gail has a few openings in her seminar tentatively scheduled to begin Tuesday, 5/19 or Thursday, 5/22, 7 to 9 p.m, depending upon availability of registrants:

“WHAT’s NEXT: Finding Your Calling, Passion or Purpose” at her Topsfield studio, four weeks, $50 per session (versus her private coaching fee of $200 per hour). Invite a friend. Class size limited to 10. For more information, contact Gail at 978-887-1911.

“OTHER THOUGHTS FOR MOTHER’S DAY: Click on this link, Gail’s article about a woman’s transitions through motherhood which is running today in The Tri-Town Transcript.”

HONORING MOTHERS:
A Daughter’s Celebrates Her Mother’s Life Gifts

***
"The mother is everything - she is our consolation in sorrow, our hope
in misery, and our strength in weakness. She is the source of love,
mercy, sympathy, and forgiveness. He who loses his mother loses a pure
soul who blesses and guards him constantly." -- Kahlil Gibran

***

March 23, 2009

Mom,

It is impossible to even initiate finding words that can justly describe either the depth of the relationship we share or the sadness I am feeling now that you are gone. I’ve had a tough time deciding exactly what I want to say to you and at first nothing seemed to work.

Mid Tuesday morning, Ryan and I decided to pull out each of our photo albums to start to sift; picture after picture, through every memory we have shared. Knowing my emotional ways, I told myself that I probably wouldn’t be able to last very long before I got too upset to look any further. Little did I know that the only tears that were going to come out of my eyes were tears from unadulterated laughter as we relived over two decades of memories. In every picture from the numerous trips we have taken, to holidays and birthdays, to snow days and camping, there is more joy and laughter between the four of us than I can even begin to try to explain.

Looking through these photos, I realize how much you have done for us as a family to keep us happy and content. Every childhood memory I have of the four of us, of all that we have done together is amazing, and we owe every ounce of it to you.

You are Bruce, Ryan, and my rock, the serious glue that has always kept us strong and united even during the hardest times, because you loved us with all of your heart and our family was the most important thing to you. I can’t even begin to thank you for the effort you always put in to make us happy, because it shows in the people that we are today, and especially the relationship that Ryan and I have with one another.

Over time, you and I have gone through a transformation from the early years of loving mom and energetic daughter, to those of super parent and head-strong teen, to the most recent years of being each other’s best friend. I can’t pinpoint exactly when this final transformation occurred, but I know that the most recent memories that we have shared as I have grown into an adult and you have been by my side are those that I will hold closest to my heart. So much joy fills up inside me when I think about how unbelievable our relationship has been.

As you told me a few weeks ago, you are like half of me. I am so proud to say that I feel like I have always been a younger version of you, following through your footsteps as I make my way through the path of life. And although your footsteps are no longer right in front of me, I know that I have learned everything I need to know from you and I know that I will be fine in the world even now that you are gone because of the lessons you have taught me. Because of this, I will never stop trying my hardest to make you proud.

Although Ryan and I used to cringe when you would wake us up in the morning before school, with an all too lively and energetic “Rise and Shine, it’s a beautifullll day!!!”, I will always think of you when I wake up and remember that you lived every day to the absolute fullest and I will do my best to do the same.

This past week I have been filled with many emotions. I am obviously heartbroken. I’m also overwhelmed by the support I have received from both those who were closest to you, along with those who I am closest with myself. And now as the week ends, I feel the emotion of what I can only call the bittersweet sadness of having to say good-bye.

But, before I do this, there are a few things that I want you to know:

#1. Ryan and I will take good care of Bruce for you, he deserves that and more for every day that he has been there for you.

#2. Although I am not yet as spiritual as you might have liked to consider yourself (Remember my face when you told me the story of Stella falling to the floor at the church!?), I want you to know that I know you are everywhere. Every little thing reminds me of you, and as hard as that is right now, every memory that forms fills me up with more happiness than sadness because it has all been so incredible.

#3. I want you to know that you truly are the most amazing woman, friend, teacher, and most of all, mother, I have ever and will ever know. I don’t know anyone like you, and you are the biggest influence in my life.

#4. For you I promise I will always laugh from the bottom of my soul, eat until I have gone for thirds, cook enough for an army, travel the world, love my children, cherish TGIFs, run a marathon (or at least a half marathon, I don’t want to get too ahead of myself), and put absolutely everyone who is important to me first.

#5. Lastly, I promise I will never stop missing you, loving you, talking about you or thinking about you.

There is no other, or will there ever be a person in this world like you. I am so lucky that you are my mom.

So, to quote our favorite movie (and don’t even pretend you aren’t laughing and crying right along with me right now)

“P.S…..I Love You”

Lauren

1. I ALLOW MYSELF TO LOVE AND HONOR MOTHERS.

2. I ALLOW MYSELF TO LOVE AND BE MORE PRESENT TO MY OWN CHILDREN.

3. I ALLOW MYSELF TO KEEP MY HEART OPEN BEYOND GRIEF TO EXTEND LOVE TO OTHERS.

Coming Next Month:

June’s feature article will be “HONORING FATHERS:  A Son's Lessons From His Dad”

To contact Gail

gail.kjones@verizon.net   978- 887-1911

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