A package of love and comfort headed for Sandy Hook, CT

In tragedy, words seem lacking . . . but love reaches across each barrier . . .

The books have been signed and are ready to send! Since December, after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on the 14th, the Sandy Hook Comfort Project has received donations to send books to Sandy Hook, CT ---a token of our love and concern.
106 copies of Getting Out of Bed in the Morning will be mailed to a church in Sandy Hook for the families who lost loved ones and for others in the community (churches, first responders, medical staff, friends, co-workers).

What an outpouring of love! I had a mixture of emotions as I signed all 26 books for each family who had a child--young or older--die. Writing the names of dead children is never easy to do. Afterwards, I signed the rest of the books with "In love and memory". Each book will be accompanied with a letter which contains all the signatures of those who donated. You can read the letter here and see the names of the donors. A Songs From Heaven postcard will also be included.

I don't want anyone to be left out, so if you would still like to donate, please click this link. When you get there, scroll down to the bottom of that post to find out how to donate via Paypal or snail mail. You can donate any amount you would like. Upon donating, your name will be added to the letter.

I plan to mail the boxes of books out on Monday, January 28th.

January 26, 2013

Sixteen years ago on February 2, my world crashed. After eight months of treatment, my four-year-old son Daniel lost his battle to cancer. The pain I felt was indescribable. I never wanted anyone to ever have to experience a sorrow like that. How would I live on? How could I cope?

You know the sorrow from the devastating loss of your precious child. You know what it is like to live with a broken heart.

This book of grief and loss, Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache, is a gift to you from many of us. When Daniel died, it helped me to read books by other bereaved parents so that I knew I was not alone in my anguish.

I hope this book will serve as a token of our care and as a reminder of how we continue to lift you and the community of Sandy Hook up in our prayers.

With love and remembrance always,

Alice Wisler, Durham, NC
Rebecca Boucher, Spencer, MA
Lisa Schorp, Crest Hill, IL
Dorothy Jones, Natchitoches, LA
Trish Jenkins, Queensland, Australia
Kishia Carrington, Durham, NC
Kit Tosell, Sisters, OR
Karen and Pete Versoi, Durham, NC
Donna Jackson, Charlotte, NC
Margaret DeYoung, Zeeland, MI
Lynn Shoemate, Dallas, TX
D D Scott, Dallas, TX
Melva and Randy Strait, Durham, NC
Norma Pascuales, Gadsden, AL
D’Ann Mateer, Rockwall, TX
Lee Ann and Michael Brumble, Burlington, NC
Katharine Parrish, Cary NC
Jane Avery, Durham, NC
Joyel Hidber, Alberta, Canada
Robert Kingshott, Zeeland, MI
Ann Knowles, Wilmington, NC
Ben and Gayle Lichius, Beaver Falls, PA
Maija Schaefer, Novato, CA
Robin Nixon, Greenville, NC
Melissa Robinson, Garner, NC
Laura Gibowski, Durham, NC
Karen Alford, Cleveland, TN
Elizabeth Boenig, College Station, TX
Karen and Philip Parrillo, Chicago, IL
Kim McHugh, Glenmont, NY
Marie Pinkham, Fort Myers, FL
Carol Stratton, Mooresville, NC
Sandra Bates, Chapel Hill, NC
Cheryl Veasey, Durham, NC
Teresa Cross, Durham, NC
Mary Worthen-Gilliam, Durham, NC
Joylene McFarland, Durham, NC
Donna James , Durham, NC
Sharon Frye, Durham, NC
Suzanne and Doug Coonley, Durham, NC
Sandy Smith, Clayton, NC
Barb and Mike Eyster, Durham, NC
Tricia Hocker, Durham, NC
Donna Emory, Durham, NC
Troy McNear, Goose Creek, SC
Jane and Vincent Stubbs, Durham, NC
Leafwood Publishers, Abilene, TX
Joyce Juhl, San Antonio, TX
Dave and Jane Latta, Durham, NC

Gifts With A Heart---The Continuation of the Sandy Hook Comfort Project

I love events that come from the brainstormings of others. The staff at Gifts With A Heart have something special planned for Friday, January 25 from 6 to 9 PM. There will music by Converting Hearts, door prizes, refreshments and an opportunity to shop at this unique store. The evening is part of the Sandy Hook Comfort Project, a project that started in December 2012, shortly after the tragic shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, CT. Some of Alice's friends suggested her new devotional, Getting Out of Bed in the Morning, be sent to the families who lost beloved children to death on 12/14/12. The Project has morphed into a large and wide-spread outpouring so that now books will be sent not just to the families, but to others in the Sandy Hook community who were affected by the horrible shooting (first responders, teachers, clergy, hospital staff, etc.).

GETTING OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING and Alice's son Daniel (8/25/92--2/2/97)


On January 25 you will have an opportunity to purchase a copy or two of Getting Out of Bed in the Morning for the Sandy Hook Comfort Project. Books will be shipped to the United Methodist Church in Sandy Hook for distribution by the end of this month. Each book will be autographed by Alice and sent with a letter, listing the names and cities of all the donors. The families who lost loved ones will have copies of their books personalized with the name of their child.

Join us for this meaningful time!


Gifts With A Heart
2889 Jones Franklin Road
Swift Creek Shopping Center
Raleigh, NC 27606


To read more about The Sandy Hook Comfort Project, head over to Alice's Patchwork Quilt Blog.

You can also read reviews for Getting Out of Bed in the Morning.

Hop over to see the merchandise at
Gifts With A Heart.


[This post was first posted at Alice's Writing the Heartache Blog.]

Update on the Sandy Hook Comfort Project: What does it mean to lose a child to death?

The outpouring for the families in grief and loss from the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, CT has been amazing. People are eager to donate books as an act of love to those mourning the loss of loved ones.

Originally the plan was to send a book (Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache) to Sandy Hook for each family who had been affected by the tragedy in the loss of a child--young (student) or adult (teacher). That was a meaningful act of comfort, and thanks to each of you, that goal has been accomplished!

When I read again the message from Lisa Schorp (the woman with the vision who posted on my Facebook page last Saturday), I noted that she said it would be great to be able to send copies of my book not only to the families at Sandy Hook Elementary School who lost a loved one, but to all the families. I suppose I overlooked that part of her message because it seemed too big a goal.

This project has morphed. That is amazing to me. Thanks to the generous donations that have come from all over the USA and Canada, we can send more books. The local churches in Sandy Hook can use copies of Getting Out of Bed in the Morning for their libraries and others in the devastated community can benefit from a book on hope and healing in the midst of loss.

When do we send this gift of love? Although the media is consumed with reports of what is going on now in the Newton community, we know from past experiences that the "hype" will soon dissipate. Humans are like that. We tend to move from one news-breaking event to another.

But the families who lost loved ones are only at the beginning of their journeys . . . When a child dies, the world stops for a parent. The first weeks, even months, are like living in a fog. When that anesthesia wears off, the reality kicks in.

My child is gone. He is not coming back.

Ever.

Parents need help and support for the rest of their lives. I continue to cherish those who have walked this bereavement trail with me. It's been fifteen years since my son Daniel's death and I still yearn for his smile and hug.

Right now we plan to send the books after the first of next year.

Here is what we are looking at:

1. An autographed book with the name of each child who died for the child's family

2. One of my Songs from Heaven empathy cards with each book

3. A letter with the names and hometowns of each of the donors (that would be you all) for each family

Thank you, each one, for your donations to this Sandy Hook Comfort Project.

If others would like to donate, click on this link and scroll to the end of the post.

Update on the Donation of Getting Out of Bed in the Morning for Sandy Hook

The outpouring has been wonderful!

Currently, we have raised enough to donate 15 copies of Getting Out of Bed in the Morning to the families affected by the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Thank you to all of you!

If you would like to donate, please go here.

Donate comfort for Sandy Hook Parents and Families

On December 14, 2012, a tragedy too awful to believe could happen, did happen. Twenty-six people were shot at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the Sandy Hook village of Newton, Connecticut. Twenty children died. Six adults died.

I know the devastation of having a child die.

My cousin in Maryland asked if I'd donate one of my novels for an auction to benefit the survivors---those lost in the anguish and sorrow. I signed one of my novels and put it in a mailer to her.

Later today, a Facebook friend, Lisa Schorp, wanted to know if my new book, Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache, could reach the hands of those devastated. Her message: To tell them that God is near.

Suddenly I realized that maybe I should act on this desire of Lisa's.

People could sponsor my new devotional, Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache and a batch of my books could be sent with a note to the elementary school for each family who lost a loved one.

My book is written as raw and real; I know the pain of loss. There are also passages of hope, love and comfort. This book has been called a companion through grief. Eugene Peterson writes about it:

"Believe me, you will be changed as you read this book---a book of grief and comfort. Written without easy answers, but with gritty, courageous prayer, wrestling like Jacob with God's angel." ~ Eugene H Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Recent College, Vancouver, B.C.; translator of The Message

"Hope stirs fresh in Getting Out of Bed in the Morning as Alice Wisler tenderly challenges the remnants of our grieving hearts to a healing journey. This book is a safe place to reconcile painful losses; a graceful guide through the uncharted and often complex landscape of grief and loss. Alice’s heart whispers an understanding that comes only from one who has tasted consuming heartache yet uncovered the hope of God’s sustaining grace." ~ Jo Ann Fore, Author, Founder of WriteWhereItHurts.org


(Read more about Getting Out of Bed in the Morning here.)

If you like this idea and would like to make a donation, please press the Paypal DONATE button below. Or send a check made out to me using the snail mail address below. If you want to stay tuned in and have updates on the amount contributed as well as when the books will be sent, etc., email me at info@alicewisler.com with the subject: "Comfort to Sandy Hook". I will send out periodic updates.

Let's make Lisa's wonderful suggestion come true!

Mail your donation to:
Daniel's House Publications
201 Monticello Avenue
Durham, NC 27707 USA

OR

Donate via Paypal.