WE ARE SORRY about your loss 💛

[SummerOnTheWay1]

THIS GROUP IS OPEN TO ALL GRIEVERS NO MATTER HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN [years,days].

To participate, click on reply button at bottom of this post. Enter your comment. Click on reply again.

Grief & Loss Team  🤗

[MichelleC103656]

Hey Nicole!  Just wanted to say Hello! You are so right about everything. I totally agree with our furbabies being sad and upset. My cat ,Bristol, was so lost without my parents and Jim's Mom. We are still grieving and just taking it day by day, week  by week, and month to month. It is so difficult when you weren't expecting someone to pass away and even when you knew that it was going to happen. I just wanted to say Hi and send hugs to you and Mister! 🐈😸😻😺 Take care! Talk to you soon! I am so glad to see that you are still here!🙂💌

[SummerOnTheWay1]

📎  [Friday 2/13/26]

@mc6844 You are in my "thoughts" TODAY!!!

Luv,

Nicole 🤗🤗🤗 (Grief Forum)

[mc6844]

• Thank you Nicole. You are in my thoughts too, and all in the forum. Thank you for your service to the grieving. Heaven sees you, and all on the forum I'm certain!

[SummerOnTheWay1]

1 step at a time!!!

[mc6844]

This is good to consider and perhaps getting interested in something new. Thank you! 

[SummerOnTheWay1]

1 step at a time!!!

[mc6844]

Grief is indeed a process.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

📎   I luv the "support" WE ALL give each other in THIS GROUP!!!

[mc6844]

---

@SummerOnTheWay1 wrote:

📸[.gif attached] Keep STEPPING to feel better!!!

---

I agree, even on days when we step a bit backwards.

[SummerOnTheWay1]

1 step at a time!!!

[mc6844]

Thank you Winter, for all your wonderful work on the forum. 

[mc6844]

Yes  I know and know of so many widows/widowers. It's so hard to know what will bring comfort. Probably being present in the moment is what I try to do. There are just too many of us  lol.  However, a part of life.

[thespina]

Hello would like to join this 

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Tuesday 7/28/26]

Dear @thespina , I am "thinking" about YOU!!!

How are you TODAY/TONIGHT?

Luv,

Nicole 🤗🤗🤗 (Grief Forum)

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[6/30/26] Dear @thespina , we hope you will stop by AGAIN to see us!!!

Grief & Loss Team ‌🤗‌ 

[SummerOnTheWay1]

Keep stepping to feel BETTER!!!  👣

[MarkD524822]

Nicole: Could you send me one of those (hug)

I could really use one this morning 

Thanks

[BillD916633]

Good morning Nicole:

I have monitored your comments for quite some time, never considering to join in but enjoying the words of comfort. It’s now entering another year

( 2 years this March ) of enduring a loss after 53 years I did not, and still don’t  think my heart will stop aching every day.

I found this poem awhile back and fell in love with the words. Please forgive  my editing.

Wife, Mother, Grandmother
June 13, 1951 - March 20, 2024
       GOD’S GIFT TO ME

"I'll lend you for a little while
a child of mine," He said.
"For you to love while she lives,
and mourn her when she's dead.

It may be ten or twenty years -
or seventy-two or three.
But will you, till I call her back,
take care of her for me ?

She'll bring her charms to gladden you,
but should her stay be brief,
You'll have her lovely memories
as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise she will stay,
since all from earth return;
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn.

I've looked the wide world over
in my search for teachers true
And from the throngs that crowd life's loves,
I have chosen you.

Now will you give her all your love,
nor think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
to take her back again ?

I fancied that I heard them say,
"Dear Lord, Thy will be done!
For all the joy Thy child shall bring,
the risk of grief we’ll run.

We'll shelter her with tenderness,
we'll love her while we may.
And for the happiness we've known,
forever grateful stay.

But should the angels call for her
much sooner than we've planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes
and try to understand !

This poem was rewritten with a heavy heart
Farewell my love, we shall meet again.

[SereneSeagull]

That was beautiful.

[WebWiseWoman]

Bill, thank you for your endearing post!

My "dad" passed 15-Apr-1983; my SIL and I were both pregnant with those who became his first granddaughter and grandson, 1 day apart that November.

Both had minor birth defects our OB felt were due to the trauma of his loss...

Now, here we are, 40+ years later and I miss him just as much. I experience things through his eyes so many times; I feel his love of people and his anger at injustice... I hope these never leave me.

Thank you, again, for your thoughtful and heart-felt post!

[SummerOnTheWay1]

📎  [1/4/26] Dear Bill @BillD916633 , I am sorry for your loss dear friend!!!

And thanks for sharing this poem.

Yes, losing them is NOT something we planned on & it is SO HARD to go on WITHOUT them. 😭

Luv,

Nicole  🤗🤗🤗  (Grief Forum)

[BillD916633]

@SummerOnTheWay1 @SereneSeagull @WebWiseWoman 

Thank all of you for your kind words. It’s people like you who make me believe things will eventually work out given time.

God bless you 

I would like to share a letter my very young grandson wrote to his grandma

Luke's message to grandma 

love you with all my heart I am so sad that you have passed you were my favorite I love you so much I am so happy for you that you have lived the best life possible and that you get to see you dad and mom in heaven and all your sins forgive rest in peice love you forever and ever with all my heart

Sincerely

Your Mini Mark

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Wednesday 7/29/26]

Dear Bill @BillD916633 , I am "thinking" about YOU!!!

How are you doing TODAY/TONIGHT?

Luv,

Nicole 🤗🤗🤗 (Grief Forum)

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[6/30/26] Dear Bill @BillD916633 , we hope you will stop by AGAIN to see us!!!

Grief & Loss Team ‌🤗‌ 

[SummerOnTheWay1]

📎  [1/4/26] Bill @BillD916633 , are you related to Lucy @rednexsrus ?

I was confused as you posted using that username then deleted.

I notice you have re-posted the same material using your username.

Anyway, thanks for your touching post.

Luv,

Nicole  🤗🤗🤗  (Grief Forum)

[BillD916633]

So sorry for the confusion, rednexsrus has been a great friend and I was using her laptop when I logged in to AARP. I quickly learned my error and deleted that post and reposted under my own login

[SereneSeagull]

Living the best life possible.  That’s the best part of that letter to me.  Appreciating what truly matters, knowing that person lived happy and made the life they were given the best possible.  I think that’s what we all want for our loved ones, knowing they were happy and smiling in life makes us happy too!

[SummerOnTheWay1]

@d54062e , SO GLAD you stopped by to see us!!! 💛🤗

[d54062e]

My Mom passed away December 3  2025. She was 90 and her health issues became more then her body could deal with. So many signs were there she was on her journey to heaven.  The last few days of her life on earth gave us some sort of comfort as we saw her giggle as she entered the gates of heaven. Hospice said this does happen, as Mom was being greeted by her loved ones. I'm at peace as this was her journey to heaven,  but my heart wants my Mom back with me. 

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Wednesday 7/29/26]

Dear @d54062e , I am "thinking" about YOU!!!

How are you doing TODAY/TONIGHT?

Luv,

Nicole 🤗🤗🤗 (Grief Forum)