Asheville NC
I'm sorry for being so late responding about how the retreat went, for me anyway..It was so much fun!! First of all I want to say my thank you's to Karen (Biowoman) Anne (Aparoulex)and Nora (NoraMc) for doing a wonderful job planning the retreat to Ashville N.C.. I was so appreciative sharing and spending time with the crew on Thursday night.. Nora and I shared her room thurs nite, loved her pondering thoughts, she is really well at it and I'm sure she is still pondering for next years retreat..lol! Only kidding Nora.. I enjoyed being with the 3 of them, listening, and sharing Idea's, and most of all the special bond we have between each other. The really cool thing is we were being ourselves, talking as if we already knew one another...We were really excited & happy we were meeting up again, it just flowed the way we wanted it to flow...The 4 of us went down town we got to see pretty much all of the city, which was very small and quaint. Great food and shops! Some lady I saw at the airport told me that Asheville N.C was a beautiful place to retire, she came from San diego, Ca.. So of course I want to retire in Asheville North Carolina..LOL..But, last year I also wanted to retire in Gatlinburg TN, lol.. Just pondering thoughts..It was cool to see on the map that last years retreat in Gatlinburg Tennesse was on the other side of the smokey mountains, about 30 miles away..Now, this year was my 2nd retreat, I can feel the connection between the 2 retreats..I can Imagine the girls who have been to each retreat since the beginning, WHAT a beautiful connection you all must have, everyone has their own connection each year.. It is so neat to feel these connections.. I hope to continue each retreat, thats how much AWE I am in..........................................................
Saturday night was our Ceremony, to honor our children. Barbara was with us as we were lighting our candles with the one candle we had lit for Barbara Smith (founder of FMO) our leader, I was gazing out looking at the smokey mountains and said to some of the moms, just think "We were on the otherside of these mountains last year. WOW! What a powerful woman Barbara is, still is, in spirit, she is a amazing woman. I believe our sweet Barbara showed up along with our children at the ceremony saturday nite, no doubt in my mind the pictures that ColleenF took at the Ceremony, showed up with Orbs all over them...ColleenF also was my roomie all weekend, Colleen & I clicked right away, she is an awesome person, I adore her, miss her, and love her, especially her personality, and compassion for others, are genuine..She kept me in stitches laughing. Great Roommie!!!
My experience this year is completely different then last years retreat.. So close but soooo far away, it makes me wonder sometime.. They say Heaven is so close here on earth, but it's beyond human's vision..Its stuff like this that helps me believe there is a heaven, and we are not to worry our life away..Ya, right, lol! I have to remind myself this all the time.. Grieving is so hard and tiring, so I am soooo GRATEFUL to know we have each other to look foward to, see and share our thoughts and feelings with...The love that comes from all you Moms is priceless. Its an experience not everyone has..I don't know how to express my feelings other then giving the hugs and love that comes from that.. Just knowing we are not alone..Love is the answer, love is all that matters, and we don't have to explain it, its a wonderful feeling.. I LOVE YOU BARBARA!! I can see your loving smile and sparkle in your eyes. You made this FMO group, the legacy, the gift of love, and faith and hope, which will carry on and on forever...
Anyway, I thank you AnnM (Darren's mom) and Teri (RememberKala), Theresa (4Meg) a it was such a pleasure watching and seeing you ladies relaxed. I enjoyed spending time with you throughout the weekend. On Monday morning when we were waiting around to take Colleen to the airport, my time wasn't catching my flight until 8:30 that evening, I didn't want to leave, I didn't want to let you girls go, so I decided to go right along to the airport to see Colleen fly off home to Arizona..As I was asking the airline person to see if I could be on the stand by list.. I felt a tap on my shoulder, I was supprised to see ChristiW standing next to me...I was excited to see her, then she had told me what happen to her flight, when I turned around to see NoraMc sitting down, her eyes were red from being so upset, the guy gave her seat away, can you imagine that?!? Nora's flight was going to Charolette NC, and I was hoping to get on the same flight to Charolette airport to be ready for the my 2nd flight home to Manchester airport. It all seemed to fall into place for me.. I said to Nora, isn't it funny how we started out together on thursday night together, then changed rooms form friday to monday.. Then the screwed up flight she had, we ended up waiting together at the end of our trip.. Even though it didn't work out for Christi and Nora, they were my company until my flight time came..Then Colleen called me to let me know she almost flew to New York, lol. She got on the wrong flight, she was lucky to find out she was on the wrong plane and ran off the plane to get on the right one... So the 4 of us were on 4 different flights, flying in the air at the same time.. Colleen to Arizona, Christi to Texas, Nora to Allens Town PA, I think ?! and Me to New Hampshire.. neat huh!!! Oh ya, On the way home when Theresa (Meg4) and I were following Teri, AnnM and Colleen to Asheville NC airport, I saw a sign that said RYAN'S, which is my sons name. I felt as though he was telling me he was with us throughout the retreat..Last years retreat in Gatlinburg TN, on the way to the smokey mountains we rode by Ryan's Bar & Grill.. So many connections happened, which really amazed me..
I thank the Moms for the gifts in the gift bag. The trip to the Biltmore House was an Awesome event, unbelievable House, 250 rooms, the largest house in the world..Some of the rooms were 70 feet tall, Just amazing... Brunch was wonderful, ummmmmmm um, good.. The food was out of this world.. I gained 10 pounds in those 5 days.. I ate and ate, none stop, lol...I love all of you Moms and miss you all already...I didn't want to go home so soon.. Love & Hugs, Kelly
Saturday night was our Ceremony, to honor our children. Barbara was with us as we were lighting our candles with the one candle we had lit for Barbara Smith (founder of FMO) our leader, I was gazing out looking at the smokey mountains and said to some of the moms, just think "We were on the otherside of these mountains last year. WOW! What a powerful woman Barbara is, still is, in spirit, she is a amazing woman. I believe our sweet Barbara showed up along with our children at the ceremony saturday nite, no doubt in my mind the pictures that ColleenF took at the Ceremony, showed up with Orbs all over them...ColleenF also was my roomie all weekend, Colleen & I clicked right away, she is an awesome person, I adore her, miss her, and love her, especially her personality, and compassion for others, are genuine..She kept me in stitches laughing. Great Roommie!!!
My experience this year is completely different then last years retreat.. So close but soooo far away, it makes me wonder sometime.. They say Heaven is so close here on earth, but it's beyond human's vision..Its stuff like this that helps me believe there is a heaven, and we are not to worry our life away..Ya, right, lol! I have to remind myself this all the time.. Grieving is so hard and tiring, so I am soooo GRATEFUL to know we have each other to look foward to, see and share our thoughts and feelings with...The love that comes from all you Moms is priceless. Its an experience not everyone has..I don't know how to express my feelings other then giving the hugs and love that comes from that.. Just knowing we are not alone..Love is the answer, love is all that matters, and we don't have to explain it, its a wonderful feeling.. I LOVE YOU BARBARA!! I can see your loving smile and sparkle in your eyes. You made this FMO group, the legacy, the gift of love, and faith and hope, which will carry on and on forever...
Anyway, I thank you AnnM (Darren's mom) and Teri (RememberKala), Theresa (4Meg) a it was such a pleasure watching and seeing you ladies relaxed. I enjoyed spending time with you throughout the weekend. On Monday morning when we were waiting around to take Colleen to the airport, my time wasn't catching my flight until 8:30 that evening, I didn't want to leave, I didn't want to let you girls go, so I decided to go right along to the airport to see Colleen fly off home to Arizona..As I was asking the airline person to see if I could be on the stand by list.. I felt a tap on my shoulder, I was supprised to see ChristiW standing next to me...I was excited to see her, then she had told me what happen to her flight, when I turned around to see NoraMc sitting down, her eyes were red from being so upset, the guy gave her seat away, can you imagine that?!? Nora's flight was going to Charolette NC, and I was hoping to get on the same flight to Charolette airport to be ready for the my 2nd flight home to Manchester airport. It all seemed to fall into place for me.. I said to Nora, isn't it funny how we started out together on thursday night together, then changed rooms form friday to monday.. Then the screwed up flight she had, we ended up waiting together at the end of our trip.. Even though it didn't work out for Christi and Nora, they were my company until my flight time came..Then Colleen called me to let me know she almost flew to New York, lol. She got on the wrong flight, she was lucky to find out she was on the wrong plane and ran off the plane to get on the right one... So the 4 of us were on 4 different flights, flying in the air at the same time.. Colleen to Arizona, Christi to Texas, Nora to Allens Town PA, I think ?! and Me to New Hampshire.. neat huh!!! Oh ya, On the way home when Theresa (Meg4) and I were following Teri, AnnM and Colleen to Asheville NC airport, I saw a sign that said RYAN'S, which is my sons name. I felt as though he was telling me he was with us throughout the retreat..Last years retreat in Gatlinburg TN, on the way to the smokey mountains we rode by Ryan's Bar & Grill.. So many connections happened, which really amazed me..
I thank the Moms for the gifts in the gift bag. The trip to the Biltmore House was an Awesome event, unbelievable House, 250 rooms, the largest house in the world..Some of the rooms were 70 feet tall, Just amazing... Brunch was wonderful, ummmmmmm um, good.. The food was out of this world.. I gained 10 pounds in those 5 days.. I ate and ate, none stop, lol...I love all of you Moms and miss you all already...I didn't want to go home so soon.. Love & Hugs, Kelly
Replies
Appreciate reading this so much dear Kelly. You are such a precious woman and feel so deeply. I hope this is a gentle weekend for you and that your visit with your daughter unfolded just as you needed it to. Together we continue this walk... arm in arm. Lots of love, Kelly, to you and that handsome son of yours, Ryan. XO Joanie
I miss you Kelly! Like you, I think this was my best retreat ever, only I missed my dear Joanne very much. But each year, I think it is my best retreat and I realize I am in a different plane each year. There sure were some amazing plane stories trying to get home! Christi, Nora, Sue and I took the cab to the airport and then Sue had to leave. So that left me and Christi with Nora. Then I had to leave. Colleen did call to tell me of her plane escapades. But we all made it back home safe. I love you!!! I hope we can make it next year and be together again. Love, Belinda