BEREAVED PARENTS OF NORTH TEXAS

WELCOME

Welcome to you who are receiving this newsletter for the first time and to our regular members. We are a self-help organization offering nonjudgmental friendship and understanding to bereaved parents, grandparents, and siblings. BP purposes are to aid these persons in the positive resolution of their grief and to foster their physical and emotional health. Our chapter meets in a donated church facility, but no religious creed or affiliation is involved. Persons of all faiths (or no faith), creeds, and races are welcome! We have no dues, and no one is required to speak at any meeting. Listening is OK. If you need us, we’re here for you. If you do not need help yourself, please bring your compassionate understanding to those who need the support of other bereaved parents, siblings, or grandparents.

NEXT MEETINGS:

20 MAY

17 JUNE

WHERE WE MEET

The Bereaved Parents of North Texas meets regularly on the third Monday of each month at 7:15 pm in the Flynn Hall Lounge of the First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Locust Street, Denton, Texas. (For directions, please see the map on the back page.) Babysitting available: SEE BELOW

BABYSITTING AT BPNT MEETINGS?

Parents who need babysitting at our monthly meetings should contact Marsha San Miguel no later than the Friday before our Monday meetings. This way she can be available for babysitting. Contact Marsha at

marshasanmiguel@hotmail.com

940-453-2009 (church)

940-271-2000 (home)

CHAPTER OFFICERS

Moderator . . . . . .Shannon Ratliff-Johnson & Virginia Gallian

Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shirley Ottman

Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Richardson

Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Ottman

Newsletter Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Denis Paz & Beth Reynolds

Greeters . . . . . . . . . . . . Wanda Edington & Virgie Richardson

Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Louise Ferry

COMING UP IN MAY…

Kelly Ferebee, grief counselor will be in attendance for our May 20^th meeting to speak about the Grief we all share upon losing a child, grandchild or sibling.

LOVING LISTENERS

Your telephone links you to a loving listener. Do you need to talk about your child's life and death with someone who truly understands your anguish? Those listed below have volunteered to listen and to try to help you. By allowing others to help you, you also are helping others. If no one answers at one number, please call another. Give us a call. It helps to talk!

Shirley & R.D. Cawyer • (940) 668-7117 • auto/train accident

LaFaun Martin • (940) 665-3979 • auto accident

RECENT LOVE GIFTS

The BPNT Chapter has the following Donation Programs:

• Monthly Newsletter

• Postage

• Newly Bereaved Letters

• Library Book Fund

• General Operations of the Chapter

• Bereaved Parents of the USA

Your tax-deductible donation to BP is a good way to remember your child or to honor another family member or friend. Please mail your checks and the name or names of your memorial or honoree to Robert Ottman, Treasurer, BPNT, 415 Mimosa DR, Denton, TX 76201. Love Gifts came from:

♥ Bill & Betty Neu in memory of their grand-daughter, Stormie Lynn Schott

♥ Jaronda Crow in memory of her son, Shane Booker

Different people grieve in different ways and differently at different times. Poems, thoughts, and meditations that speak to the core of one person’s feelings leave another untouched. If you read something that touches you and that you want to share with others, please send it to Denis Paz at the masthead address (with information on where you found it) and, space permitting, I’ll include it in our pages.

LET US REMEMBER . . . .

May Birthdays

- Sandra Richardson Dunn May 1, 1949

Daughter of Tom & Virgie Richardson

- Christian Joshua Hart May 1, 2000

Son of Kristi Traylor & Josh Hart

- Willie Joe Givens, Jr

Son of Willie Joe Sr & Nancy Givens

- Stormie Lynn Schott May 7, 1977

Daughter of Sherry & Tim Neu

Granddaughter of Bill & Betty Neu

- Jesse Hobbs May 17,1985

Son of Brenda & Jim Hobbs

- Carson Whit Cullum May 26, 1994

Son of Carla & Mike Cullum

May Anniversaries

- Terese “Teri” Lynn Atkins May 2, 1986

Daughter of Shirley & Robert Ottman

Granddaugher of Peg & Art Cognard

- Bethena Lyn Brosz May 3, 2001

Daughter of Janet Shires

Sister of Marcia Lewis

- Cory Joe Morgan May 4, 1998

Son of Gayle & Tommy Morgan

- Sheila Jan Moore Rhodes May 7, 1986

Daughter of Anita & William Buckley

- Patsy Erwin May 12, 2001

Daughter of Myrel Fiorelli

Sister of Karen Waters

- Carson Whit Cullum May 27, 1994

Son of Carla & Mike Cullum

- Jerry Don Wilson May 29, 1988

Son of Paulette & Harold Wilson

PLEASE NOTE: The editors regret any misspelled names, incorrect dates, or any names omitted. Please contact Beth Reynolds with any corrections or additions at bethreyn@centurytel.net, 940-321-3302; fax 940-497-4790 or 8 Crest CT, Hickory Creek, TX 75065.

"What Did I Do"

What did I do that went so wrong
I tried to teach you to be wise and strong.
I looked forward to seeing you with family and home,
I didn't know it would be earth and stone.

I'll never see you walk down that aisle,
I'll never again see that wonderful smile.
My heart is breaking that much I can say,
I can't wait to see you on some distant day.

I am no longer afraid of dying,
Sometimes I think it's better than crying.
But most of all because I'll see you,
And that my dear son is what I long to do.

Permission granted by author:

A Mother Is Forever

This Mother’s Day will trouble you—

it can’t be otherwise

since your son and daughter, too,

won’t be there by your side.

They won’t be there to bake a cake

or bring you cards and flowers,

nor can they walk into your home

to brighten lonely hours.

The memories you have of them

I know will make you smile,

and you’ll remember all the joys

that made your lives worthwhile.

And so on Mother’s Day this year

and in every other,

remember they’re connected still

by love to you, their mother.

---Shirley C. Ottman, The Slender Thread

NT Bereaved Parents

NATIONAL GATHERING

JUNE 28-30, 2002

The St. Bernard, Louisiana, Chapter is hosting the event and has chosen the theme:

Together We Remember

Together We Grieve

Together We Grow

Registration for the 2002 National Gathering is $15.00 per person with a maximum of $45.00 per family. Please make checks or money orders payable to BP/USA 2002 National Gathering. Sorry, we cannot accept credit card payments for the registration fees. Please complete the form below, one form for each person registering, and return with the registration fee to BP/USA 2002 National Gathering, 504 Perrin Drive, Arabi LA 70032. Contact Laurie Myers 504-271-9532 or 504-388-7827 with any questions. If you need more forms contact one of our co-chapter leaders, Virginia Gallian or Shannon Ratliff-Johnson, make copies of the form on page 3 or go to the following web site: http://dreamwater.org/stbbpusa/nationalgathering.html

Hotel room rates are $52.00 plus tax ($58.11) per night with up to four occupants per room. Reservations must be made directly through the hotel. Please be sure to indicate that you are attending the Gathering when registering with the hotel. This special room rate is available for three days before and three days following the event. The event will be held at the New Orleans Airport Holiday Inn Select, 2929 Williams Boulevard, Kenner, LA 70062 1-800-887-7371 or (504) 467-5611

*Registration should be received no later than May 27, 2002.

2002 Gathering Workshops

1. A thief in the Night

2. Anger and Guilt

3. Bereavement Support Online

4. Bitter Or Better

5. Donor Families

6. Father’s Panel

7. Forgiveness

8. Good Grief Chapter Activities Community Events

9. Grandparent’s Grief

10. Growing In Grief

11. Hello From Heaven

12. Helpful Literature

13. How They Used To Handle Family Grief Miniature Painted Portraits and Photos

14. I Will Survive

15. It’s A Family Affair

16. It’s been a Long Time And I’m Still Grieving

17. Journaling

18. Little Peace of Heaven

19. Mother’s Panel

20. Moving Along The Grief Path

21. Multiple Loss

22. My Only child

23. Not Just Another Day

24. No Time For Good-byes

25. Pennies From Heaven: Signs, Dreams And Other Heavenly Gifts

26. Poetry/Creative Writing

27. Preserving The Memories/Scrapbooking

28. Rebuilding Your Life

29. Sibling Grief

30. Single, Divorced and Grieving

31. Suicide

32. Thank You

33. The Grief Journey

34. Website Memorials

35. What We Can Teach The World

36. When Real Communication is Difficult

37. Who Am I Now? Find A New Identity

Note that workshop offerings may change due to facilitator availability, meeting space and interest. Please indicate on the registration form the workshops you would be interested to help us in our planning.

Cherished Words, “My Mom!”

One drawer on my nightstand was the designated place for ‘special’ greetings cards and notes that I had received from my children since they were very small. Among others, I have two cards from the last years of my son’s life. “For a Wonderful Mother” and “A Wish from Your Son, Mom”. While I dearly cherish the cards, nothing compares with my memory of his spoken words of “My Mom!” especially I remember while being introduced to his friends, while being upset with me or said with a loving hug.

Submitted by Virginia Gallian,

NT Bereaved Parents, Denton, TX

"A CHILD'S ANGEL"

Once upon a time there was a child to be born:

"They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

GOD: "Among the many angels I chose one especially for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

Child: "But tell me, here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and smile and that's enough for me to be happy. Will I be happy there?"

GOD: "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. You will feel your angel's love and be happy."

Child: "How am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language that men speak?"

GOD: "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful words you will ever hear. With much patience and care your angel will teach you how to speak."

Child: "And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

GOD: "Your angel will place your hands together and teach you how to pray."

Child: "I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?"

GOD: "Your angel will defend you, even if it means risking her own life."

Child: "But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

GOD: "Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard.

The child, in a hurry, asked softly:

"Oh God if I am about to leave you now please tell me my angel's name."

GOD: "Your angel's name is of no importance. You will call your angel....."Mommy."

---Author Unknown

WELCOME

May Birthdays

NT Bereaved Parents

NATIONAL GATHERING

JUNE 28-30, 2002

Please mail your check to Robert Ottman, Treasurer, BPNT, 415 Mimosa Dr., Denton, Texas, 76201