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Seasons…a guest post by Tracey Casciano
I find myself in a difficult season and if you read this post, then you will understand why the author of this post references the beginnings of spring. This was written six weeks ago by my friend, Tracey Casciano. Please welcome her to the blog...
A guest post, a season of waiting and a new friend
Back in February, a new friend reached out to me and asked if I had opportunities for guest posts. I had seen her around the halls of the internet, watched her launch her book and read her blog. She has a lovely smile and while I had never met...
When your soul needs a rest…
I started this post on Sunday evening, April 10th. Tired and needing rest after spending the weekend at Winsome. A woman's retreat hosted by Kim Hyland and held at White Sulfur Springs. I went last year too and was blessed to room with my friend...
What does LOVE look like? Love looks like grief
Not long ago I discovered the writing of a woman that is truly gifted. She writes beautifully and lyrically and I could sit and read her words all day. She recently released her first book Roots and Sky: A Journey Home in Four Seasons. As I was...
A new month, but an old story
Some things change and some things stay the same. I can't believe it is March...already?!?! Where has the time gone? Days, weeks, years...they move so fast that I can't keep up. It is hard to believe that this June Amy would have been 24. It is...
What does LOVE look like? It looks like special friends and a bowl of chowder
Well, here we are at the end of February. I still have some LOVE posts that need to be shared, so this series will run into March. Good, yes? I hope you think so. Today, I have my inaugural post at Gracetable. A contributor blog founded by Kris...
What does LOVE look like? It looks like rest.
When I started this series I had several ideas for posts and some guests I wanted to invite to contribute. One of those guest writers I deemed a serious long shot! She has a book releasing this year and had recently turned in her manuscript. I...
What does LOVE look like? Love looks like carrying your cross
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24 NIV He said something very simliar in Mark...Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples...
What does LOVE look like? It looks different than I thought it would look
When I first received the idea for a series about what love looks like, I brushed it aside. I had never done anything like this and I wasn't sure I wanted to start now. A series would require some sort of regular posting on one subject. It would...
What does LOVE look like? It looks like following your dream.
Today I am thrilled to have my niece, Tarah Duarte, guest posting. Tarah is a beautiful young woman that is fearless and pursues life with an intensity that I wish I'd had at her age. She has studied abroad in Australia and upon graduating from...
What does LOVE look like? Love looks like saying no.
When we say YES to something or someone, we are saying NO to something or someone else. Sometimes love looks like saying NO.
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In what seemed like the blink of an eye, those young 20 somethings were married for 41 years.
The second photo was taken last year on our 40th anniversary. I didn`t post it because I didn`t like the way my legs looked. Something happened in the last year and I`m reminded that those legs have carried me for 62 years (when the photo was taken). Carried me through 3 pregnancies that gifted me with one living child, @coach_andy_bonner
The last photo was taken on Tuesday as we sat on the beach and a lady walked by and said, "would you like me to take your picture?" We said yes. Time with John is still one of my favorite things. He retired on Friday, before we left on Monday for this trip. There are so many unknowns but so much to be grateful for and so much to look forward to in the next stage.
I`m grateful for my clients that give me something to do every day Monday-Friday. @christiepurifoy @kriscamealy @bekah @whatlolalikes @abby_roadhome & to the wonderful team @parkermanagement-you guys all make my life so fun!
And I`m grateful for time at a place like this. Sand and water...not sure there is anything better!
Happy Anniversary Week to my love that is not on ANY social media channel!
May 9
She died 4 days after she was born. We buried her 4 days after she died.
Born 6-9-1992
Died 6-12-1992
Buried 6-16-1992
That would be 31 years ago today.
Last year, on the 30th anniversary of her birth we re-buried her on the grounds of St. Emma Monastery Greensburg, PA where her paternal grandparents are buried.
This year, today has been harder than Friday, June 9 the day she was born. Or Monday, June 12 the day she died.
I`ve cried more today than either of the other days.
I took a walk.
Got a pedicure.
Cried.
And chose a simple dinner of appetizers.
And I give myself permission to do nothing else.
I am thankful for the time we had her. For the experience and the things I learned about myself through the experience.
John and I are very conscious of what we say yes to and what we say no to. All because of Amy`s short life.
I`ve tried to use my experience to help others experiencing infant loss-or any loss. Some things are the same no matter the age of the deceased. Even if it is a loss thru miscarriage. I`ve experienced that too.
A loss is a loss.
Thank you to my sister and niece @sherrigd @tarahelise for letting us spend last weekend on your porch crying, laughing, and drinking wine and margaritas. I love you guys more than you know and I really needed that.
#infantloss #trisomy18 #stlouischildrenshospital #grief
Jun 16
In what seems like the blink of an eye, it is 31 years later. Not a day goes by that I do not think of her.
My heart still hurts.
I cry at random times.
And I miss her. Still. 31 years later.
I grieve all the things that didn`t happen.
The relationships.
The life events.
Strangely though there are fewer tears today. Sometimes I think my tears are all gone. The well is dry.
Lack of tears does not mean lack of grief. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. So I accept my emotions today-whatever they may be.
If you know someone that has experienced a loss, don`t be afraid to tell them you remember. Let them know you care. Take a meal, send a text, write and snail mail a card. We want to know our loss is not forgotten.
#infantloss #trisomy18 #stlouischildrenshospital #grief
Jun 9
Today is Palm Sunday.
I cried in church. Not because I was thinking about the events leading up to the crucifixion but because there was a little girl of about 5 or so sitting in front of me. She had the most gorgeous dark hair. With streaks of gold running through it. Natural streaks. Not the artificial colored streaks I pay more than I`m willing to share to get every few months.
As I observed her I thought about my own daughter. The one that died at 4 days old.
I thought of how she might be standing next to me this morning or next Sunday on Easter. Maybe she would have travelled to Charlotte to spend some time with her dad and me.
Grief is something that robs us of so much. It robs me of not just my daughter but it robs me of being the mom of a daughter.
I look at some of my closest friends, all mothers of daughters and I envy, yes ENVY!, the relationships they all have with their daughters. They may not agree with them on all things or see eye-to-eye with them but the daughters lead the charge to throw surprise 60th birthday parties for their parents or make sure that mom gets a Mother`s Day card, a birthday card, etc.
I think daughters are different than sons. Daughters are more sensitive than sons based on my observations as an outsider. I do not experience that sensitivity.
And I grieve the fact that I am not the mother of a daughter.
The version of me before Amy`s death is totally different than the me that is here now.
If you want to read more about about my daughter, Amy, you can go to https://marybonner.net/?s=Amy and read more about my journey through infant loss and moving forward.
Adam McHugh`s book Blood From a Stone is a beautiful piece of writing about returning from the dead. I encourage you to check it out. You can find the book on Amazon or wherever books are sold. Find and follow him @adammchughwine You won`t be sorry.
"Grief is so agonizing not only because you have lost something, but you have lost someone, and that someone is the version of you that was alive before your loss."
Blood From a Stone
Adam McHugh
Page 102
Apr 2
@coach_andy_bonner made me a mom. His wife, Ashley, made me a mother-in-law. Happy Anniversary to them! 6 years and counting. Dad and I love you!
Aug 6
Every June I think I`m going to handle this better. Whatever better looks like - I don`t know. 30 years and I still cry at random times. And every June I fall apart.
She would have been 30 next week. Instead of whisking her off for a 30th birthday trip to Key West like we did for her brother @coach_andy_bonner or Niagara Falls like we did for his wife we will make another kind of trip.
There will be a mass next Saturday and we will stand at a grave site as we move her body from the small town where she was buried to a final resting place by her paternal grandparents on the beautiful grounds of St Emma Monastery in Greensburg, PA.
I look forward to the weekend and I dread it all at the same time.
Today I broke down and sobbed. Just like yesterday. And probably will tomorrow. But I remember that He catches my tears in a bottle Psalm 56:8
If I learned anything from
this life experience, it is this: I can do hard things. But not of my own strength. Philippians 4:13
And live to tell about.
Amy Elizabeth Bonner
Jun 9, 1992 - Jun 12, 1992
#infantloss #psalm56
#trisomy18 #philippians413 #childloss #infantlosssurvivor
Jun 3
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