
	The Compassionate Friends Madison Area Chapter For current information or in the event of inclement weather and a meeting may be cancelled, check our website: www.tcfmadisonareachapter.com Send emails to: tcfmadisonwi@gmail.com We invite you to share a memory, photo, favorite toy or any item with the group at a monthly chapter meeting on the birthday month of your child. This is an opportunity for all to get to know your loved one a bit more. Please contact Jim or Tanya before the meeting so we give you a bit of time to share. The End of Summer Blues I always get a little sad when summer comes to an end. I liked having my kids home during the summer, to be able to sleep late, go swimming, camping or boating whenever we had time. Some years, my kids, especially the girls, got excited when August came. They would get new school supplies and new clothes. They would have new classrooms, new subjects and new teachers. I usually felt a little lost and left out at the beginning of the school year. In autumn, the weather is still warm, the trees turn on their fireworks and the fall flowers are beautiful. However, fall is a predecessor to bare trees and flowerless landscape, to say nothing of freezing weather and limited hours of daylight when winter comes. Also, in the summer there are fewer commitments. Fall means gearing to all those things we let go during the summer. Since our son Todd died, I feel even sadder when autumn hits. I see the kids walking, biking or being bussed to school and miss getting him ready. Fall sports, beginning meetings for Sunday school, Boy and Girls Scout meetings, are all reminders that my son had died and my daughters are grown. Fall is the start of the dying process, a process that those of us who have lost children are much too familiar with. I know spring will follow winter and the earth will come alive again, but for now, I have the end of summer blues. Barb Seth, TCF, Madison Leaves of gold and autumn hue, Soft brisk wind bring thoughts of you Tumbling and tossing around in my head. You're still alive -- you are not dead. You live in the wind and in the sky, You live in my heart and you'll never die. You live in the seasons you'll never see, As long as there's life, you'll always be. Barb Williams, TCF, Fort Wayne, Indiana Facebook Group We now have a facebook group. Please know this is a private group vs public. This allows members to share information about their children, ask quetions of each other, and discuss common things related to our shared expericnces in a confidential environment. How to joun thie group: 1. From your feed, click Groups in the left menu. 2. In the seach bar at the top enter the name of the group you are looking for 3. Select the group, then click on "Join Group" 4. You may need to answer questions before submitting your membership request. 5..If you membership is approved, you can officially post in the group 6. One you've gained accss, make an initial post telling us something special you want us to knw about your child and post a picture if you'd like Contact Tanya Sutton if you have questions! tanya.sutton@sbcglobal.net The Compassionate Friends Madison Area Chapter would like to express our gratitude to Ad Press & staff for providing the printing of the newsletter. Your generosity and excellence in quality and service is greatly appreciated LOVE GIFTS A Love Gift is a gift of money (or books) to The Compassionate Friends. It is usually in memory of a child, grandchild or sibling who has died, but it may be from individuals who wish to honor a relative or friend who has died, a gift that their children are alive, or simply a gift from someone who wants to help. The Compassionate Friends charges no individual dues or fees and depends on such Love Gifts to meet the Chapter’s expenses, including the printing and mailing of this newsletter. Please send any Love Gifts to our treasurer, Donna Knickmeyer, W14118 Selwood Drive, Prairie du Sac, WI 53578 Checks should be made out to “The Compassionate Friends.” Name__________________________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________________________ City,State,Zip_______________________________________________________________________ In Memory of:_____________________________________________________________________