2012
Bringer of Light newsletter

Welcome to the
BRINGER OF LIGHT NEWSLETTER

February.... the month that we remember all those sweet little valentines made by our children and those thoughtful cards and gifts given with love.

Explore the impact made through the years with a simple red rose, and experience the peacefulness of knowing that love never dies. In our dedication section join in birthday celebrations for Daniel and Leron, and then have a moment of silence in memory of Bryan on his memorial day. Learn how the song 'The Rose' came to be and then read the profound lyrics to this song as it plays in the background. Be enlightened by the quotes from famous poets from long ago. Share in the beauty of a simple request to Dennis through a loving letter from his mom. Sing along with Danny's mom as she wishes him a happy birthday in heaven. Embark on a heartfelt journey in the life of Daniel and discover his amazing gift of courage. Enjoy the memory of happiness found in a poem about Denise and realize how brave this little girl was through times of suffering. Be touched by a poetic Valentine to Joey. Feel the sheer delight in a surprise sign from Michelle. Embrace the sadness in a memory of Randy and also believe in his mom's message of hope. Dance through a dream with Luke and his mom. Smile as you read about Dylan's classroom impersonation. And finally, find comfort by reading the comments and news and by participating in future editions of the Bringer of Light newsletter. .

THE JOURNEY OF THE RED ROSE

The red rose is a beautiful flower that carries with it the meaning and symbol for "love". The color red itself evolved from an early primal symbol for life into a metaphor for deep emotion. As the tradition of exchanging roses and other flowers as gifts of affection came into prevalence, the red rose naturally became the flower of choice for sending the strongest message of love. This is a tradition that has endured to the present day. Red roses continue to be the most popular way to say: "I love you" to someone special.

My husband, Robin, gave me a bouquet of red roses when Luke was born. So, Luke knew all about red roses from the very beginning of his life.

Our home was adorned on the outside with several rose bushes. Many times when Luke was a toddler, he would tug on his daddy's pants leg, his daddy would bend over, and Luke would whisper something in his ear. Luke and his dad would head outside. I would stay in the house 'knowing' exactly what those two were up to. I would act so surprised when they came back inside. Luke in his daddy's arms, grinning from ear to ear, reaching out to me, very carefully holding a beautiful red rose that he and his daddy had just picked. I received so many red roses this way.

When Luke was just a little boy of about five years old he came home from school one sweet day and gave me a thoughtful little gift that he had made. It was a plastic butter dish filled with plaster, which held up some little artificial red roses. How proud he was to give this special handmade gift to 'his' mom!

A few years later my little boy gave me a necklace that had a red rose pendent on it. It wasn't real gold, but it made me glow when I wore it as if it were a fine piece of jewelry.

At twelve years old, Luke was elected to be a beau in the sweetheart court of his middle school. Oh my, how handsome he looked in his white tuxedo with a single red rose pinned to his lapel.

After Luke became a teenager, 'love' filled his heart once again and he expressed his love with red roses. Luke would be known to drive to where his girlfriend worked and find her car in the parking lot and leave a single long stem red rose under her windshield wiper blade. He did this with every girlfriend that he had through the years. When he would take a girl out to dinner at a restaurant he would place a single long stem red rose at her place at the table.

His high school girlfriend described when Luke asked her out for their first date: "I remember he was very insistent upon taking me to school that day, and I opened the door to see him standing there with a shy smile on his face and him unsuccessfully attempting to hide red roses behind his back. I will never forget the look on his face. I'm not even sure how to describe it, but it was beautiful."

Graduation came and it was prom night, and Luke still had plans for red roses. I remember so well how he had a bag of red rose petals in the refrigerator and then just before he left the house to pick his date up, he gently sprinkled the red rose petals all on the seat and floor of the passenger side of the car. He also left the house with a bouquet of a dozen red roses.

His heart continued to be filled with love for the rest of his life. The last entry in Luke's journal was: "When there is love in my heart and a smile on my face, I need nothing else".

When Luke died at the age of twenty-one, Luke's dad, sister and I each placed a singe red rose next to Luke's urn at his service. We wanted to remember him in the way that he so lovingly remembered others. As we sat there on the front pew of the chapel we began to realize that Luke's red roses not only had touched our lives, but had made a lasting impact on the lives of so many others. We watched as several of Luke's friends entered the chapel, walked silently to the front, and gently placed a single red rose next to his urn. Luke's red roses were not only placed under windshield wipers, or at dinner tables, or in the hands of someone special...... they were also placed upon many hearts that have been forever touched by the gift of red roses. Not only was Luke's heart filled with love, but he filled many other hearts with love. Luke's gifts of red roses had come 'full circle' and were graciously returned to him as he quietly left this earth and journeyed to the land where there is an ever abundance of love and smiles and red roses and.......... he needs nothing else.

© 2012 Christine Ross
~ in memory of Lucas Christopher Ross 1979 - 2001

A RED, RED ROSE

I remember a red, red rose
That I held within my clasp.
It was a long, long time ago
From a life that didn't last.

It's fragrance filled my senses,
Soft petals touched my face,
It was given to me with
A warm and strong embrace.

The fragrance and the petals,
Those arms that held me tight,
All things from that lifetime,
Have now faded out of sight.

But the love that surrounded me
Remained deep within my soul.
And it returns to me when...
I remember a red, red rose.

© 2012 - Christine Ross
~ in memory of Lucas Christopher Ross 1979 - 2001

Find and be found to discover your.....
BRINGER OF LIGHT.

Thanks so much for your request to receive the monthly
BRINGER OF LIGHT NEWSLETTER.

FEATURED SONG

THE ROSE

The Rose is a pop song written by Amanda McBroom and made famous by Bette Midler, who performed it in the 1979 movie, The Rose. McBroom won the Golden Globe Award for the Best Original Song. Midler won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop vocal Performance for "The Rose". Since then it has been covered by a variety of artist.

HOW “THE ROSE” CAME TO BE..... by songwritter Amanda McBroom

People often ask me what inspired me to write The Rose. Here is the story:

I was driving down the freeway one afternoon, some time in 1977-something.

I was listening to the radio. A song came on the radio. It was “MAGDALENA” by Danny O’Keefe, sung by Leo Sayer. I liked it immediately. My favorite line was “Your love is like a razor. My heart is just a scar.”I thought,”Ooh, I love that lyric.”

As I continued to drive down the road the thought came, I don’t agree with the sentiment. I don’t think love is like a razor. (I was younger then.) What, then, do I think love is? Suddenly, it was as if someone had opened a window in the top of my head. Words came pouring in. I had to keep reciting them to myself as I drove faster and faster towards home, so I wouldn’t forget them. I screeched into my drive way, ran into the house, past various bewildered dogs and cats and husbands, and sat down at the piano. Ten minutes later, THE ROSE was there.

I called my husband, George, into the room and played it for him, as I always did with my new songs. He listened, and quietly said to me, “You’ve just written a standard.” I protested that no one but my pals would ever hear it. (This is long before I had ever recorded anything.) He said,”Mark my words, something is going to happen with this song.”

A year or so later, a great young songwriter named Michele Brourman, who became my primary musical collaborator and best friend, said "Listen. There is this movie coming out called “The Rose”. They are looking for a title tune. Do you want me to submit this to them?” I had never really tried to submit this song to anyone. I didn’t consider myself a song writer at the time. So I said, “Sure.” Originally the film had been called THE PEARL, which was Janis Joplin’s nick name. But her family refused permission to use that name. Lucky for me. “Pearl” is MUCH harder to rhyme.

She submitted the tune to the producers, who HATED it. They thought it was dull and a hymn and NOT rock and roll and totally wrong. They put it in the reject box. But the divine Paul Rothchild, who was the music supervisor on the film, and had been Janis Joplin’s producer, hauled it out and asked them to reconsider. They again said no. So he mailed it to Bette. She liked it, and that’s how it got into the film and changed my life forever.

I have never written another song as quickly. I like to think I was the window that happened to be open when those thoughts needed to come through. I am eternally grateful... to Bette... to Paul Rothchild... to Bill Kerby, who wrote the screenplay...to my friend who first submitted it for me... and to the Universe for speaking to me in the first place and for showing me what I truly believe.

sources: Wikipedia & SongFacts.com

The Rose

Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger
An endless aching need
I say love, it is a flower
And you, its only seed

It's the heart, afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It's the dream, afraid of waking
That never takes the chance
It's the one who won't be taken
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul, afraid of dying
That never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long
And you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed
That with the sun's love, in the spring
Becomes the rose

~ Words & music by Amanda McBroom

ANNIVERSARY AND BIRTHDAY
DEDICATIONS

This month's Bringer of Light Newsletter is dedicated to the memory of:

Daniel Scott Forrester

30 years, 2/28/70 ~ 1/10/01, non-hodgkins lymphoma

HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY DANNY,
"FEB. 28TH - The day you were born. 8 lbs. 10 oz. of pure delight. The Lord gave you to me for 30 cherished years. I am eternally grateful for the time I had with you. I try to imagine in my mind what Heaven is like. I know you are at complete peace and always smiling. The bible says there are no tears in Heaven. But we still have tears here on earth. Tears have become a part of my life. I miss you SO much and often I can't help myself but cry myself to sleep.....just missing you. The memories of you are treasures - which I hold close to my heart. I will light a candle for you, as I send your birthday wishes. Eternal peace & blessings....." ~ Your forever Mom

bryan esposito

20 years, 5/13/79--2/11/20, unknown

"this feb 11 will be 12 years since you have left our lives. i have tried to move forward in life, although i have smiled and laughed again, thats only what others will see. my heart will always ache, and my tears will never dry." ~ all my love to you, mom

Leron Jr. Jonas

29 years, 2/17/61 10/26/90, car crash

"Leon Jr was my first born and a wonderful son who loved cars and also wanted to go into outer space one day, now he is with our Heavenly Father along with his brother Wayne who died with him. Five years after they died together, my first husband of 35 years joined them in Heaven. I know one day I will see my sons and first husband again. They were all Christians." ~ Jerry

WHEN IS YOUR CHILD'S BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY?
PLEASE send all anniversary or birthday dedications the month BEFORE your child's anniversary or birthday.

If next month is your child's anniversary of passing or your child's birthday, you are invited to submit your child's name by clicking on the 'submission button' below. Names are not carried over from year to year or from month to month, so please be sure to send your child's name a month before their special day arrives.

QUOTES:

"My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose "

~ Robert Burns

Over the winter glaciers,
I see the summer glow,
And, through the wild-piled snowdrift,
The warm rosebuds below.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), U.S. essayist, poet, philosopher

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may:
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying

~ Robert Herrick (1591-1674), British poet

You, of course, are a rose— But were always a rose

~ Robert Frost (1874-1963), U.S. poet

LIFE STORIES:

IN MEMORY OF: Daniel Scott Forrester
30 years, 2/28/70 ~ 1/10/01, non-hodgkins lymphoma
WRITTEN BY: Mom (Arlene)

Danny was born February 28th, 1970 in Hackensack Hospital, New Jersey. He weighed 8 lbs. 10 oz. From day one, he always liked to be the center of attention. When Dan was in 3rd grade, he played the part of the Cowardly Lion in the play "The Wizard of Oz". The symbol of the Lion stayed with him his whole life. He truly received the gift of Courage which he would rely on as an adult.

Dan was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma in December of l995. He was given 6 months to a year to live. He said he needed more time. He fought his battle for 5 long years with the courage of that roaring Lion. During the time of his illness....Danny came to realize what life is all about. It's not about fame or fortune, it's about the love of family & friends. It's about faith in God. Danny died at home, in his own room with all his family around him, loving him, touching him and watching the struggle leave his body ~ praying for his peaceful journey home.

As long as I live ~ he will live also. His name, the memories he left us, his love....will not be forgotten. Peace my son, PEACE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE YOUR CHILD'S LIFE STORY?

You are invited to submit a story written by you about your child's life by clicking on the 'submission button' below. Your child's life story will appear in a future Bringer of Light Newsletter and you will be notifed when it is scheduled.

MAKE A COMMENT
ON A STORY IN THIS SECTION:

POETRY:

IN MEMORY OF: Denise Rosaleen Vaughan
6 years old, July 14, 1978~~December 28, 1984 , Cancer, brain tumor
WRITTEN BY: Rosaleen Vaughan~Bellamy

My daughter Denise suffered greatly from cancer and I was with her all the time to watch this suffering. She was so much braver then me.....Mommy. There is so much to her story that it is to long to tell here. I wrote this poem for my Angel Denise.

Memories of my Daughter "Denise"

Once upon a time, there was a little girl...
She would put on long dresses and then just dance and twirl.
Her Mommy loved to watch her so happily at play
The apple of her Mommy's eye's each and every day!

They played games, tag and hide and seek
Mommy always said, "Now don't you peek."
These are great memories for Mommy to keep.

So when I am missing you my Angel which is every day...
I look and reach into my heart.....
Where all those beautiful memories will NEVER see us part.

December 12th., 2007
Author: Rosaleen Vaughan~Bellamy

IN MEMORY OF: JOEY WHITEMAN
09-08-80 to 09-03-02, 21 yrs., 360 days old, Auto Accident
WRITTEN BY: Terrie Whiteman, Joey's Mom

DEAREST JOEY

YOU'RE THE STARS IN THE SKY
YOU'RE THE TEARS IN MY EYES
YOU'RE THE SONG THAT I SING
YOU'RE THE ANGEL WITH WINGS
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I LOVE
IN THE HEAVENS ABOVE
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I MISS
TILL THE END OF ALL TIME
MY BEAUTIFUL BOY
MY SWEET VALENTINE

I LOVE AND MISS YOU WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL

HAVE YOU WRITTEN A POEM ABOUT YOUR CHILD OR YOUR GRIEF?

You are invited to submit a poem written by you by clicking on the 'submission button' below. Your poem will appear in a future Bringer of Light Newsletter and you will be notifed when it is scheduled.

MAKE A COMMENT
ON A POEM IN THIS SECTION:

SIGNS:

IN MEMORY OF: Michelle Marie Greever
8/24/84 ~ 11/5/93, 9 yrs 2 months, 12 days, Accident
WRITTEN BY: Cindy Jo Greever

My Valentine Michelle~

I started to work on organizing in the basement after Christmas and made alot of progress despite going through all the emotions that I knew would come with it. Feeling good about the accomplishments, things to recyclers and goodwill and where to look for what.

Amongst other things I had been going through I was looking at drawings of Michelle's and marveling at her hand crafted works of art and having the bitter sweet emotions tearing at me.

The other day I came across her sweet lil stuffed animal "baby chicken", bright yellow with googly eyes and a bright orange beak and wiggly legs... ever so small and I clutched it tightly, with memories of her being four and carrying her baby chicken everywhere... and as she always endeared to me, I was her mamahen.... she even took it with her when she had her tonsils out at the hospital... later I set it on a tote.

The next day when working again it fell off the tote and way behind the stack and I couldn't reach it... imagine my surprise the next morning when I walked by and got closer and as the daylight shown on it there it was in the middle of the basement floor!!!

I KNEW Ferdinand our kitty had "captured" it and drug it out for me, for Michelle, from Michelle!!! I knew right away that this was MY SIGN from Michelle, that she is with me, wants me to see her Baby Chicken and be happy!!

This was my Valentine's Gift from my Michelle, sent with Love!

Cindy Jo Greever
michellesmama.com

HAVE YOU RECEIVED A SIGN FROM YOUR CHILD?

You are invited to submit a story written by you about a sign that you have received from your child by clicking on the 'submission button' below. Your story of your sign will appear in a future Bringer of Light Newsletter and you will be notifed when it is scheduled.

MAKE A COMMENT
ON A SIGN IN THIS SECTION:

SPECIAL MEMORIES:

IN MEMORY OF: Randy Reed Hecox
30 years, 1-7-69 to 7-23-99 , Suicide after home from War
WRITTEN BY: Ali Hecox

Randy came home from Desert Storm with P.T.S.D. HE NEVER RECIEVED THE HELP HE ASK FOR WHILE HE WAS IN THE ARMY. We finally lost him on July 23 1999, the day i was to pick him up and take him to the airport so he could go to Texas and see his dad and get the rest of his belongings. It has been a terrible nightmare and a long road. With many ups and downs. But my sweet LORD has been with me. Every inch of the way he carried me when i could not stand. I have found that place called PEACE, BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET MY CHILD OF LOVE, MY NUMBER 3 SON (I USE TO SAY). There is a new generation now and I feel so blessed to be alive and to see them grow. Thanks to any ONE or ALL that have helped me these 13 years of DARKNESS. WITH OUT YOU ALL I MAY NEVER HAVE MADE IT.
ALICE /ALI MOM OF RANDY PETE

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A SPECIAL MEMORY OF YOUR CHILD?

You are invited to submit a memory of your child by clicking on the 'submission button' below. Your memory story will appear in a future Bringer of Light Newsletter and you will be notifed when it is scheduled.

MAKE A COMMENT
ON A MEMORY IN THIS SECTION:

DREAMS:

IN MEMORY OF: Lucas Christopher Ross
21 years, October 31, 1979 - April 3, 2001, Acute Bronchopneumonia
WRITTEN BY: Christine, Luke's Mom

I had this dream just three days after Luke died. It was the night that we went home after his service.

DANCING

Luke and I were in a large room, similar to an empty school cafeteria. He was dressed very nice wearing a shirt and slacks. The room was painted a pale school house green with windows all across the wall. Luke and I began dancing a silly dance we used to do when he was little. We went from one side of the room to the other switching hands as we reached each side. We were both laughing. Then, Luke looked at me with a very caring look and he told me...."Mom, let me show you how I dance now." He picked me up with one of his arms under my knees and his other arm on my back. We then twirled around the room in slow motion.

END OF DREAM.

I believe that this was Luke's way of telling me that he would 'carry' me through my grief. It will soon be eleven years since Luke died and through all of those eleven years he (with the help of God) has always carried me through my grief. Whether with a sign, with a special memory, with a dream, or with the feeling of his presence..... I know that he has reached out from the other side and 'carried' me.

HAVE YOU HAD A DREAM OF YOUR CHILD?

You are invited to submit a story written by you about a dream that you had about your child by clicking on the 'submission button' below. Your dream story will appear in a future Bringer of Light Newsletter and you will be notifed when it is scheduled.

MAKE A COMMENT
ON A DREAM IN THIS SECTION:

HUMOROUS MEMORIES:

IN MEMORY OF: Dylan Ross
36 years, 12/22/73 - 08/27/10, Pulmonary Embolism
WRITTEN BY: Rhonda Ross, Dylan's Mom

From a very young age Dylan loved to make people laugh. So, I was not surprised when, shortly after his death, one of his former classmates reminisced about an incident that occurred during their high school days. In their school was a man by the name of Mr. Harrelson who was a teacher and also served as the school disciplinarian. So it was normal for Mr. Harrelson to be delayed from getting to his classroom due to his disciplinary duties. Apparently Dylan seized the opportunity on those occasions to entertain the class by impersonating Mr. Harrelson. One particular day as Dylan was entertaining the class Mr. Harrelson came in (unbeknown to Dylan) and observed his impersonation until his classmates signaled to Dylan that Mr. Harrelson was behind him. Fortunately for Dylan, Mr. Harrelson had a sense of humor!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FUNNY STORY ABOUT YOUR CHILD?

You are invited to submit a story written by you about something funny that happened with your child by clicking on the 'submission button' below. Your funny story will appear in a future Bringer of Light Newsletter and you will be notifed when it is scheduled.

MAKE A COMMENT
ON A FUNNY STORY IN THIS SECTION: