family matters/ parenting

[salty]

Dear Friend:
4 years ago My nine year old daughter died of a brain tumor, twenty seven days after her diagnosis. I am writing regarding the journey that has taken place since this horrific day.
trying to survive the death of a loved one is unbelievably tough, the death of a child is incredibly difficult to survive. My husband shortly before Audrey's death was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. My husband has became the pillar of our family since Audrey's death all while living with a disease that slowly destroys his body. I have sent along a story from my husbands new book, a book which has just recieved the Benjamin Franklin Award for excellence in writing, beauty and quality for an independent publisher. The Book is Entitled ~Heartworks~ A Father's Grief.
I am sending along one story from the book as an example of the writings you will find throughout his creation. The story is encrusted with a beautiful photograph which My husband had taken on one of his many outings since Audrey's death. It is a book for anyone, it is a book filled with hopes, dreams, wishes, love and memories. Heartworks a book which I feel is a gift from the heavens. I am hoping readers of your forum will take interest as I am looking for ways to distribute the thousands of books we have printed. I hope you can help.
Thank You
Sincerely
Julie Petersen

Sparks Lake
In the beauty of Sparks Lake, creeks and streams flow silently, lovingly
through the grasses of marsh to unite with all the crystal clear cool water
which has refreshingly found its way there before. It all joins to become
Sparks Lake, the most beautiful lake I have ever seen. I stop to photograph
a memory for the future as a
memory of the past unveils in all its fury the beauty of my eight-year-old
daughter. I remember being here
at this same place with her just a few years ago, I remember the joy in her
heart as she ran and danced with her younger sister through these streams, I
remember wiping her feet of the clear icy cold water that penetrated her
beauty that day just three years before. I remember then thinking life
couldn’t be more perfect, how life was
so wonderful, that I was so blessed, and how I was so proud to have two of
the most beautiful girls in the
universe. How lucky I was to be alive.
Today, I knelt in the beauty of Sparks Lake to add a few of my own drops of
precious life to a body that would probably have not known the difference.
Today, I know the difference. The difference is that my offerings
contain enough love to fill the beauty of Sparks lake many times over. The
difference three years ago, which filled the veins, creeks and streams with
life, brilliantly enlightening the reflections of Mt. Bachelor’s beauty,
allowing her “Sparks Lake” to be more beautiful than any other, was my
Audrey. Audrey in the midst of it all. Today, I returned to nourish the
ground with memories of her. Today, I have left behind the seeds of a life
moving forward; tomorrow flowers will bloom. Then perhaps another child
will dance and run within the beauty of this lake’s soul, perhaps a child
will hear the joy of a father’s love without a word spoken, perhaps a body
of water as beautiful as Sparks Lake will feel the tenderness of a memory
and she will shine like she has never shined before.