Friday Focus 26/11/21 – Book

Back in the summer, I submitted a poem about grief being like a stormy sea for inclusion in a book of poems written by bereaved families about our children who have gone too soon. This week, I received my copies of that book with my poem in it next to a beautiful photo of Jessica.

 

The word 'book' written on a drawing of an open book

 

It means a lot to be able to share my words and to help support a fantastic charity that helps bereaved families. It’s a beautiful book, full of heartfelt poems sharing the realities of living with grief after child loss. The book is currently available from The Compassionate Friends and proceeds from sales will go towards supporting the work of the charity.

 

An open book of poems showing my poem with a photo of Jessica

 

With Advent approaching, I’ve been busy making some fabric bags for the books in our book advent. I’m looking forward to our annual tradition of snuggling up together each evening and reading a Christmassy story together. This year we’re also going to read one poem each day in the run-up to Christmas from ‘100 Best Christmas Poems for Children’ which we were gifted for a  review. There’s a giveaway running on the blog at the moment if you’d like to be in with a chance of winning a copy of it.

 

Sophie in her reading den reading a copy of '100 Best Christmas Poems for Children'

 

This time of year is a busy one, with an increasing number of things to book into the calendar. There’s been a lot of juggling this week trying to fit in all the various commitments with trying to get everything else done that I’ve needed to do. It is nice though to be able to have festive activities to look forward to, especially given how different Christmas was last year.

 

 

What I’ve been grateful for this week:

 

Sophie wearing Pudsey ears; Sophie on stage; a roast dinner; my husband hoovering on top of the wardrobe; Thomas wearing shoes on his hands and feet; the 'Forget-Me-Not Poems' books from Compassionate Friends with part of the double-page spread showing my poem; Sophie helping pack Advent boxes at church - "#365daysofgratitude 2021 - Week 47"

 

  • Day 323 – I am grateful for my kind girl and the way she wants to share things with her friends. Love that she took her extra Children in Need wristbands that she bought at school to Girls’ Brigade this evening to give to her friends.

 

  • Day 324 – I am grateful for getting to watch Sophie playing Tinkerbell on stage at the Christmas lights switch-on.

 

  • Day 325 – I am grateful for a yummy Sunday roast.

 

  • Day 326 – I am grateful that the new cordless hoover being a new “toy” for my husband means he’s become much more keen on doing some of the housework! Not sure the enthusiasm will last but I’ll make the most of it for now!

 

  • Day 327 – I am grateful for all the little ways that my children make me smile.

 

  • Day 328 – I am grateful for the opportunity to share my poem in this beautiful book of poetry from The Compassionate Friends, UK written by bereaved families to honour our children.

 

  • Day 329 – I am grateful for a team effort assembling and packing all the advent boxes to go out to church families.

 

Other things that have made me smile this week:

  • Seeing Father Christmas at the Christmas lights switch-on.

 

Sophie with Father Christmas, an elf and a reindeer at the Christmas lights switch-on

 

  • Thomas looking at the words on screen when learning a new song at BilinguaSing and saying, “that says ‘un, deux, trois!’” Clever boy!

 

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30 thoughts on “Friday Focus 26/11/21 – Book

  1. That book sounds like a lovely idea and I also like the idea of snuggling up with Christmas stories as a family too. May the season bring peace and happy memories to you and your family too.

  2. Congratulations on getting your poem published. What a wonderful sounding book. I am sure it will help a lot of people. It sounds like you have some great plans for the run up to Christmas.
    Lovely photos x

  3. I love that you have your poem published in a book, it’s the ripples, the little things that will keep Jessica’s name alive forever. You have such kind and clever children.

  4. What a lovely dedication to Jessica, hope you are proud of yourself, such beautiful words. Enjoy the run up to christmas with your family

    1. Thank you. Not long to go now until Christmas – can’t believe we’re in December already!

  5. Congratulations on your poem being published. Hopefully it will help and support other grieving families – it’s a gorgeous photo of Jessica.

    #MMBC

  6. Congratulations on having your pooem published in a such a lovely book xx

    A book advent is a fabulous idea and a great way to countdown until Christmas, plus, it’s an excuse to get cosy at the moment, the weather is horrible! That roast looks amazing, hope you enjoyed! Sim x

  7. What a beautiful book and a wonderful way to remember Jessica. I am sure it will help many parents and families. The Christmas excitement is starting to build here as well. And yay for new toys to give you a bit of a break.

  8. How wonderful to have your poem featured with a picture of Jessica looking so happy at the park, another beautiful way to honour her memory. That was so kind of Sophie sharing out the extra Children in Need wristbands, that might explain why she bought so many! What a lovely girl.

    1. Thank you, it’s one of my favourite photos of Jessica and captures her personality so beautifully. I loved how Sophie wanted to share her wristbands with her friends.

  9. How wonderful to see your poem in print! Congratulations! Jessica looks so radiant and happy in that photo. Do you have the poem on the blog? I can’t read in the photo, but would love to. It’s a beautiful keepsake for parents who lost their children.

    1. Thank you, it’s one of my favourite photos of her. I haven’t shared the poem on the blog yet but I will do at some point, probably after Christmas.

  10. Congratulations on having your poem published and sharing Jessica’s memory with others to help with their grief too. I adore cooking and eating roast dinners so we now have two a week! #project365

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