final page of Getting Help chapter…

www.HoneyIShrunkTheGrief.com
© 2012 Eric Vaiksnoras

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Mr. Vaiksnoras,
I hope anyone else died in your family.  I know how hard it is to lose a great family member.  I wish you luck with David.  I kept Mrs. Vaiksnoras in my prayers.  Spring is a time for new groth.  I do know God works in funny ways.  I hope this letter comforts you and David.  I will keep you guys in my prayers.

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Hey David,
I am very sorry about your mom.  She was a wonderful person.  very pretty and smart.  She was my tutor in reading and I loved her.  I know you never really got to know her, but there are pictures and you can look at them and you can think of her and cry because its o.k..  and when your thinking of her she will looking down at you and thinking of you.  She loved you and even if you never really got to pull in all of her world then your daddy can talk about it with you.

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Dear Mr. V. and David
Mrs. V was the best teacher in the world to me and a great person.  When she died the whole class cried.  That’s how much we love her.  The school she taught at was Timmons Elementary.  She was a thrid grade teacher and an awesome person and easy to know.  She had a lot of self confidence and a great smile.  It was never off her face.  Mr. V. I’m sorry .

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Dear,  David
Your mom was a nice teacher and asum totor.  She gave me a lot of knowledge.  We had a lot of good times together.  David your mom also had a realy good way of spreading joy to other people.

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David,
Hope your live a life you will remember.  We all love you.  You will always be loved.  Your mother touched my heart.  She gave me the love for math.  She loved everyone.  I love her so much.  Thanks for her loving spirit.

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Mr. Vaiksnoras
You must have been the luckiest Husband that anyone ever was.  I know that I was pretty lucky just to be in the same school as her.

David Vaiksnoras
You may not realize it yet, but you were a very lucky child to have The mother that you did.

ROSES ARE RED
Violets are BLUE
YOU WERE A Great Teacher, Mrs. Vaiksnoras,
and we’ll Miss you

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Joyus woman
Unbelievable Smile
Loving Heart
Indeed, an angel
Enchanting teacher

Very happy
Always helping others
I’m so sad shes in Heaven
Kind person
Students loved her
Neverending courage
Oh I hope shes in a nice place
Really lovely
Understood her students
Super, Person!

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Dear Vaiksnoras family,
I am really sorry about what happened.  Julie was a great teacher.  She was a subsitut for my class for 3 months when my teacher was ill.  I hope her husben and baby are doing all right.  My mom always told me that at times like this when your loved ones seem the most faraway they are always with you.  They may not be around in person but their love and joy follow you everywhere.  And because you can’t see them that doesn’t mean she’s not there.

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Dear Mr. Vaiksnoras and or Baby David,
I’m really sorry of your loss, but just think of all the good times you had with her.  The day after Mrs. Vaiksnoras died, in school everybody prayed for her.  Mrs. Vaiksnoras was not just a good teacher, she was also a good person.

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Stay
Strong.
You can
do it.
♥

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My Hero
A hero to you may be someone who fought in a war, or a president, or maybe even an athlete.  But mine’s different.  She’s not world-famous, but she’s widely known.  Her name is Mrs. Vaiksnoras.  She’s my hero for many reasons.  She taught some people how to do math.  She taught other people to like reading instead of disliking it.  She brought new life to this world.  That’s a miracle right there.  His name, as you probably know, is David.  Sure, she won’t be there to sing him lullabies, or kiss him goodnight, but she’ll always live on inside him forever.  And she’ll live on inside me forever, too.

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Mrs. Vaiksnoras is like spring.
The beauty of the grasslands and the flowers.
The feeling of peace and love within.
The neverending doors to go through to find a secret.
A story of life never ending.

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☼~☼~☼~☼~☼~☼~☼~☼~☼~☼~☼

It meant the world to me to read how deeply the children cared for Julie, and how their concern extended to our family. They were worried about us, I was worried about them, and I believe our concern for one another lessened everyone’s load. I’d like to send out a bear hug and the most sincere and tearful thank you to all the kids that put a great big gust of wind in my sails during that tough time. Your messages of love and hope were a huge source of strength for me.

These sympathy cards are a glimpse of the enormous support we received; it was as if others would not let us tackle this alone. The support came in many other forms as well, such as: heartfelt letters written to David that would allow him to better know his Mom, help I received from those who lovingly cared for David when I needed a hand, family members who were willing to make room for us in their home, and people simply finding a way to let me know that they were there for us. Whether the help given was a small supportive gesture or an enormous sacrifice, they were all gifts that I will forever treasure and look to share with others. It’s people’s compassion for each other, especially during times of great need, that really makes this ride so much more bearable.

The help I received from others was crucial because it allowed me to reconnect with all the love that I still had. Julie’s death left me feeling like a large part of me had died as well. I was in this sort of limbo state, not quite knowing where I belonged. I believe a sense of connectedness makes or breaks just about anything I’m involved in. I’m built with a need to connect with my environment. I’m driven by a desire to matter to others; driven to use my gifts to make this world a better place; driven to feel a part of it all. But at that time I was as lost as I ever was, and I am extremely grateful to everyone who reached out and helped me to reconnect with the world. This outpouring of love helped me to find Julie’s love in others. It was teaching me that when I needed to connect with her love, it would always be available — it surrounds me.

While reading the preceding pages, I hope you found at least one card that “had your name on it”. I know Julie would love for you to have it, as would I.

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