Southern Magnolia Tree

This magnificent magnolia is known for its deep green leaves and rich, red velvet underside.

• Beautifully packaged as a meaningful gift to send to that special someone.

• Each tree comes covered in 100% natural jute with its own set of care instructions, small watering tool, and gift card.

• A magnolia suited for the recipient’s zip code will be selected.

http://www.bryanbraker.com/store/trees-seedlings/southern-magnolia-tree

My Soldier, My Hero Figurine

Precious Moments My Soldier, My Hero figurine is a caring and patriotic way to honor a serviceman’s courage and sacrifice for us all. This figurine features a loving couple embracing; they could be saying goodbye or returning to each other following active duty.

• Made of Bisque porcelain.

• Dimensions: 4.70”W X 5.20” H X 2.75” L

• Weighs .90 lbs

http://www.bryanbraker.com/store/tribute-to-veterans/precious-moments-my-soldier-my-hero

Grieving - How Grief Counseling Can Help

The expression "good grief" appears to be an oxymoron. In the grieving process, the grief seems anything but good. The expression is one of shock or disbelief which has everything to do with the beginning stages of grief.

Despite the tragedy and heartache that come with grief and its process, grief is actually good. Grief is a process of healing from traumatic events. Traumatic events are not limited to death but can derive from job loss, relocation, drug addiction, divorce and many other situations. As there are many different situations that cause grief, there are many different ways to heal. No grieving process is identical to another nor is there a generic, easy process to grieve. Though a generic process does not exist, there are countless resources to assist and encourage a person who is grieving.

There are several different stages in the grieving process. These stages happen at different times for different people. Depending on the traumatic experience and the person whom experienced it, the stages of the grieving process could take months or even years. The grieving process stages include:

Denial - "This can't be happening to me." "I don't believe it." Denial is a protective defense a grieving person places around him or herself to block the reality of the situation.
Anger - "How can this happen to me?" "Why me?" In the anger stage, a person comes to the realization that denial can no longer continue. Rage and jealousy can consume that grieving person.
Bargaining - "I'll do anything..." "I'll do whatever it takes to have more time." Bargaining is a tool a person uses to bring something back.
Depression - "What is the reason for living?" "My life will end sometime any way." At this stage in the grieving process, a person feels hopeless and no longer has a desire to continue living life.
Acceptance - "I can go on." "It will be okay." In the acceptance stage, a person begins to come to grips with life, reality and the truth.
Grieving does not have to be done alone! Whether a grieving person has friends and family as supporters or he or she seeks counseling from a therapist, grieving can become a healthy part of life.
Grief counseling offers the opportunity for healing, growth and a new beginning to a once shattered life. Having an outside source to assist in the grieving process brings balance and hope.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4675426

I See Dead People: Dreams And Visions Of The Dying

Dr. Christopher Kerr speaks at a 2015 TEDx event Buffalo, New York.

Dr. Christopher W. Kerr is the Chief Medical Officer at The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, where he has worked since 1999. His background in research has evolved from bench science towards the human experience of illness as witnessed from the bedside, specifically patients’ dreams and visions at the end of life. Although medically ignored, these near universal experiences often provide comfort and meaning as well as insight into the life led and the death anticipated.

Funeral Flower Arrangement Ideas

Funeral flower arrangement ideas

Choosing The Right Coffin For A Funeral

For thousands of years, it has been a common practice to bury the dead in different ways. The Egyptians used to mummify the dead, while the Romans burned the deceased. However, burial has become the traditional practice in later years. Regardless of the method followed in the funeral service, what is common is that at this time, friends and family come together to pay last respect to one who had touched the lives of his/ her loved ones in some way or the other. When a death occurs in the family, all the surviving members of the bereaved family usually pick a coffin or a casket from the funeral home for the deceased to be buried in. A coffin is the funerary box that is used in the containment and display of the deceased for burial.

Practices of using coffins in funerals Coffins are also known as caskets. However, in North America, there is a distinction between 'coffins' and 'caskets'. By a coffin, they refer to a tapered octagonal or hexagonal box, used for the burial, while casket refers to a burial box that is rectangular in shape and has a split lid for viewing the deceased. The coffin can be buried directly in the ground, placed inside a burial vault, or cremated. Types of coffins used in funeral services There are mainly two types of coffins that are offered to customers - those made of wood and those made of metal.

The kind of wood that is used in coffins might be pecan, pine, oak, maple, mahogany, cherry, mahogany, ash, and walnut. There are coffins that also come in various finishes that imparts a beautiful look to the coffin.

Coffins that are made of metal are generally produced from four materials, which are steel, copper, stainless steel, and bronze. Often such metal coffins have come with a protective or non-protective finish against water and air. In case of steel coffins, one of the distinguishing features is that they usually have a memorial tube or an identifying kit which makes it convenient to identify the body if there is any need of it being exhumed or even transferred somewhere else. It should be mentioned that the price of the coffin depends very much on the kind of material that it is being used.

As well as this, one may also choose the type of lining to be used inside the coffin. Coffins are an integral part of the funeral service. One may choose from a wide range of coffins that are available according to the budget and requirements.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4328200

Advice On Remembrance From A Minister

Advice on Remembrance from a Minister

Mother's Day Without Mom

You can tell where you are in your life by how you celebrate Mother's Day. If you are making a card in crayon, you're at the start of your Mother's Days. If you are borrowing the keys to the car, you're in the teen years. When you forget and get that "I'm not hurt, just disappointed" call from your dad, you're probably in your 20s. When you bring home that special girl on Mother's day, you're just asking for trouble. But when that special girl becomes your wife and you bring your first-born over to your mom's house, that's a truly special Mother's Day.

Then you get to the place where my brother, my sister and I are. Where every Mother's Day has a different type of sadness. Why is the first year different from the fifth year and why does this eighth Mother's Day without mom feel completely different? I'm not entirely sure. I can't find any wiki articles on it and forget Walt Whitman on the subject.

So, hopefully, you are still in one of the first four stages I mentioned above. And if you are, I'd like to share with you what I know now, and wish I had known much earlier in my life:

A mother should be appreciated every day in every way for the unconditional love she gives. Every day she should be loved and appreciated for who she is. It's so easy to get annoyed when your mom tells you for the millionth time something you know you shouldn't do but you do anyways. And those magazines she reads! Please!

Also, how would you ever find anything if she didn't pick it up and put it back when you leave it on the counter for more than three seconds? And what's with her and fingerprints? If they're good enough for J. Edgar Hoover, they're good enough for the stainless steel fridge!

I remember the time I had an awful cold and she came by, brought me chicken soup (eight gallons of it) and proceeded to complain about how messy my place was. Sigh. I miss those days. You're never too old to be taken care of by your mom.

For me, it's been eight years now since I was last able to call her. Eight years where the only sound of her I get to hear is the one on the video I took in that last year. I know she's around me. I feel her presence. Sometimes on my birthday, one of her old birthday cards to me pops out of nowhere. It's easy and logical to scoff at that, but it feels better to believe.

To all the moms out there: thanks. And to all of you who still have your mom, take it from me, every day is precious. Don't sweat the small stuff. Smile and say: "OK, Ma" when she bugs you to straighten up. She's special and there's no one like your mom.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7058235

Cinco De Mayo Foods: Tacos | History

Join Famous Fat Dave as he interviews a cook who knows how to make a great taco for Cinco de Mayo.

You Are Not Alone

With our online grief support you’re assured of our commitment to helping you through this difficult time. It doesn’t matter what time of day, or what day of the week you need support, we're here for you. You can find local counseling services, or watch our interactive videos, anytime: 24/7. No matter how you feel at this moment, you have our commitment - you're never alone.

See more at http://www.bryanbraker.com/grief-and-healing/