The Christmas Box Angel of Hope .........or, "Tears in Heaven"

An Angel of Hope stands in Silver Springs Cemetery in Stow, Ohio .  The angel reaches, arms outstretched, as if bestowing a gift on those before her.  She is doing just that.

Inspired by Richard Paul Evans' book, The Christmas Box, in which a grieving mother visits an angel statue every day,  readers asked where they could visit an Angel.  Evans commissioned Jared and Ortho Fairbanks, of Salt Lake City, to design an angel statue for that city.  Evans had no idea that grieving parents everywhere would want their own angel, and at last count, 106 Angels of Hope are doing duty around this country.

The Angels of Hope are giving peace, tears, relief, and freedom to express grief to parents and families who have lost children. No age, race, cause of death or time passed matters: All grievers are equal at the feet of an Angel.

I know this because I have attended Angel of Hope Ceremonies in Stow since losing Philip over five years ago.  I go there with my friend, Suzy, who lost her daughter, Ellen, four years ago.  My darling husband, Randy, goes with us as escort, and provides tissues, umbrellas, a ride to and fro, then quietly sheds his own tears for Philip, Ellen, and all of the families standing before the Angel of Hope.

This event was recently held in coordination with the Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting, when families who lost children light a candle simultaneously around the world. The Compassionate Friends, begun in England, is an organization to help bereaved parents, and has provided support for over forty years in the United States, with over 600 chapters now active.

On a cold December Sunday evening, Suzy, Randy and I walked across the small cemetery to the Angel.  Graves glowed throughout the cemetery, with battery-lit luminerias.  Near the statue are graves of babies, small markers facing the Angel of Hope. Names of children are etched into bricks in the patio that surrounds the statue.

We stood, this time, in cold, clear weather, while the founders of the project welcomed people, passed out candles, then read poems, prayers, and shared understanding with those gathered before the Angel.

We've stood there in blowing wind, freezing cold, and hideous heat, as ceremonies take place both in winter and summer. Balloons with glittery lights inside are sent up to Heaven at the winter event. They've been beaten down by blizzardy gusts, snow and sleet, but this time they went straight up!  In summer heat, doves of peace fly Heavenward, no matter the weather.

The most amazing thing is the people.......over 450 at this recent event.

Grief is often very lonely:  "I am the only person who ever felt this way, who lost a child."

 Not true!

As we stand near the Angel, we feel the presence of others arriving, and soon realize the crowd behind us, around us, to the sides of us...........ALL who are there to honor and remember a child. We have come together for a few minutes, summer and winter, to pause, get strength from each other, share our grief, unite in a ceremony, and walk away knowing that we are NOT "the only person......"

Beautiful music is part of the ceremonies.  Music brings up emotions and memories, so many of us do not listen to it anymore.  Somehow, at this place, it helps to LET us feel, LET us cry, and because we are all together, this is OK. We are many. We cry together.

There are words from a pastor, and a Jewish prayer where we join in to respond, "We will remember them............. " We know that the death of a child can come to ANY family.

This December it was bitterly cold out there. A young woman brought her little boy to place flowers on the grave of the sister he will never know.  The woman knelt on the ground in front of me, her young son close to her side, tears streaming down her face, while she loved and kissed that little boy.......her precious son.........understanding, more, perhaps, than many other mothers, how blessed she is to have him.

We lit each others' candles until the cemetery was more aglow with candlelight, then raised them up to the sky in unison. We wept.  We cried with "strangers," and yet NOT strangers.............because we all know the hideous grief we share. Afterwards, parents lay flowers at the feet of the Angel, and when we leave, huge bouquets drape her feet.

                            We are NOT alone.  We are understood. We understand.

On the way home, a deep well of grief is released by the beauty of the event, then bit by bit, conversation returns, tears dry, we go back to the "new normalcy" that will never feel normal. Somehow "strangers" may have conveyed to each other more understanding than people whose names and faces we do know. 

The Angel of Hope is out there in the dark as I type this. There may be a parent sitting on a bench next to her.  If not now, then tomorrow.  It is a place of peace and hope, where tears may unashamedly flow, and sometimes it provides a soft place to be when everything is too much to bear.

It is said that an angel is a celestial being who acts as an intermediary between Heaven and Earth. I am sure there are earthly angels also, as there have been many angels in my life, human and bronze.



For more information, or to find an Angel of Hope near you, visit www.richardpaulevans.com , and click on "Angel Statues."


Copyright:  KP Gillenwater

Weight Watchers Points Plus Chicken Pot Pie......or, "Sing a Song of Sixpence"

Due to the high volume of traffic on my Eggs Benedict recipe, I've decided to share my next-favorite Weight Watchers Points Plus recipe. (I am also sort of off-the-soapbox this week. The holiday mood has taken over........!)

Anyway, back to this delicious meal in one dish..................

This can be made with chicken or turkey. Actually, the reason I decided to share this is because I just made this with my leftover Thanksgiving turkey, and it was, as usual, a huge hit at my house.  Not only is this delicious, but it is almost sinfully easy to make!

                                              Weight Watchers Chicken Pot Pie

You will need:

1 pre-made pie crust from the cooler department at the grocery store. These usually come 2 per package, so save one for the next time!

1 can of mixed vegetables, like Veg-All, drained
1 can fat free cream of chicken soup

2 cups cooked chicken breast, cut up  (I have used the grocery store roasted chicken, skinned and cut up. I have also used canned chicken breast, but real boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cut up, have the least number of calories. If you are using turkey, use the breast for the least fat.)

1/4 cup fat free skim milk
salt and pepper
cooking spray

Spray a pie pan.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

In a bowl, mix the chicken, soup, milk,vegetables, and some salt and pepper, gently.  Pour this mixture into the pie pan and spread evenly. Unroll the pie crust, lay it on top of the pie,  crimping the edges around the top of the pie pan.   Use thin strips of aluminum foil to cover the pie crust edges to prevent them from burning. Make some air vents with a sharp knife in the top of the crust, evenly.

Bake between 20 to 40 minutes. You sort of have to watch it....... When the top crust is golden brown, it is ready.  Let it sit for about 5 minutes before serving.  Cut in fourths.

Now for the really good part:  As a Weight Watcher, you can eat a fourth of this pie!  When I cut it, I like to carefully remove the crust and put it where it won't get soggy. It is sort of like the dessert, it tastes so good!  Be careful to get your fair share of vegetables, too, since there is no bottom crust, and they tend to slide out.

I've added up all the points and divided by four to be able to tell you that this marvelous and filling meal (1/4 of the pie) will deliver 12 Points Plus to your thinning frame.  If this sounds high, remember you are eating a fourth of this pie!  On days I plan to prepare this, I cut back on breakfast and lunch so I can enjoy this feast for dinner!

Enjoy!


Next time, I will be back with my regular words of wisdom, opinion, or memorabilia.  I am gearing up for the holidays right now, and thinking FOOD for the next few weeks. I don't DO cookies...........just healthy low-fat food!  (If you missed the Eggs Benedict recipe, see my October 2, 2011 posting............it's sooooo good!)


copyright:  KP Gillenwater