As you enter the last month of the year, you have already survived one major holiday of the season. I hope that as you focused on the true meaning of Thanksgiving, you were able to give thanks for something good in your life. But don’t stop now; for the Christmas holiday is upon us! Just as I encouraged you to look at the true meaning of Thanksgiving, I urge you to do something similar at Christmas. The author of this poem states her feelings beautifully!
Sometimes it only takes a new perspective to help us get through the toughest times. I pray you will allow your loved one to shine through you in some way this holiday season. We will be meeting together to remember our loved ones at the Holiday Memorial Service on December 2nd. We will light a candle in their honor/memory, sing a chorus or two and share a good story with those around us.
Upcoming Events
December 10-Lunch Bunch at Mr. Lee’s in Cambridge at 12 Noon.
December 17-Breakfast at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9 AM.
Barnesville lunch group and Coffee with Chris will not meet this month but will reconvene in January.
I am available by phone or appointment. For more information on the above events, call 740-432-7440.
Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a Happier New Year!
Happy Thanksgiving…A time to be thankful. I never realized how many holidays had the words “happy” or “merry” attached to the day or the season prior to taking my current job as bereavement counselor. I soon became aware that theses words frequently have a hollow ring for many during the holidays. But as we begin this stretch of the holidays, I encourage you to focus on the true meaning of Thanksgiving, for there are many things for which we can be thankful. Memories are precious. Share some of those with a friend this holiday season. It may mean that you must make thechoice to be thankful. But I believe as you do, you will feel it in your spirit.
If you are struggling this season, we at Hospice of Guernsey will be glad to help in any way we can. We are offering a holiday memorial service on Tuesday, December 2 at 5:30pm at Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center. It is located at 7033 Glenn Highway, Cambridge. It is open to the public. Feel free to bring someone with you to honor your loved ones. I invite you to come and share the evening with the hospice staff. It will be a short service, including candlelight. A time of refreshments will follow. Hope to see you there.
Many other activities are lined up for the upcoming month as well. Hope to see you soon.
Upcoming Events
November 12-“Lunch Bunch” at Noon at Mr. Lee’s in Cambridge. An informal time to eat and share with others who have experienced a loss.
November 17-Lunch group at Noon at Tlaquepaque in Barnesville.
November 19-Breakfast at 9:00 AM at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley.
November 26-Coffee with Chris: Men’s coffee/support group at 9:00 AM at Wendy’s on East Wheeling Ave., Cambridge.
Feel free to contact me with any questions at 740-432-7440.
Fall is now upon us! Fall forces us to reevaluate some things. Our wardrobe is one of them. It is time to pull out the heavier insulation! We need extra protection from the elements and surrounding environment. This may also be true for you at this point in your grief journey. Extra or additional precautions must be taken for you to get through this season of lice. It is important for you to take care of your emotional needs as well as your physical needs. This is a time in your life when i is vital for you to express your feelings, ask for and accept help, and be kind to yourself. You also need to get plenty of rest, eat healthily, and be alert for physical problems. You may also begin to set short-term and long-term goals. You may want to try a new activity, such as joining a club or organization, taking a new course, do some volunteer work, or evaluating your career goals. Whatever the case may be, find a purpose for the season in which you are now living. We at Hospice will be glad to help in any way we can. Many activities are lined up for the upcoming month. It would be great to see you at some of them. Check your calendar and plan ahead.
Upcoming Events
October 8: “Lunch Bunch” at Mr. Lee’s at Noon. Everyone is welcome!
October 15: Breakfast support group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9:00 AM.
October 20: Lunch group at Barnesville Tlaquepaque at Noon.
October 29: Men’s “Coffee with Chris” at Wendy’s on East Wheeling Ave at 9:00 AM.
Contact me with any questions at 740-432-7440.
Blessings,
Terri Wootton MSW, LISW, Bereavement Coordinator
Posted on August 21, 2025
Saturday, Aug 23 is a day of remembrance and supporting Hospice of Guernsey.
It’s hard to believe that we are heading into fall. They days are getting shorter, and the evenings are cooler. Change is in the air. For many of you, change took place days, weeks or months ago. Life changes forever when you lose a loved one. It’s as if you are forced to join a club in which you want NO part! Just as we have no control over the calendar and the seasons, we also had no control over the death of our loved ones. The only thing we do have control over is our attitude and how we are going to live with the hand we have been dealt. I can only say to you that things will get easier. In the meanwhile, it is important to surround yourself with positive people, let the tears flow as needed, and remember to live your life as to honor your loved one. Seasons come and go, but memories will live on forever.
I am grateful that I can speak words into your life each month. I only hope that some of them bring you hope. Many of you I have never met, but I want you to know that you are precious to us here at Hospice, and we are here to help in any way that we can. Along with one-on-one time, we offer many group activities. I hope you will take advantage of any that sound interesting or helpful. If you have any questions about anything, feel free to call me at 740-432-7440.
September Activities:
September 10– “Lunch Bunch” at Mr. Lee’s in Cambridge at Noon.
September 17– Breakfast Support Group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9:00 AM.
September 24– Coffee with Chris Dyer (former Hospice chaplain): Men’s coffee/support group at Wendy’s on East Wheeling Ave., Cambridge at 9:00 AM. Call for information.
The Barnesville support group will meet again in October. Stay tuned for more information.
The summer is quickly slipping away. Summer will soon turn into fall. And whether it has been a week, a month, or a year since the loss of your loved one, you will soon realize that life still goes on. As much as we feel that the whole world should stop when our loved one dies, (for ours certainly did) the seasons continue to come and go. And we are forced to adjust.
All the feelings that overwhelm you when a loved one dies deserve your attention. They are important openings to greater awareness: about the relationship you shared, your own needs, the meaning of life. And they take time!!! They are also the steps to your recovery, for there is no way out but through. Only by letting yourself experience grief can you move beyond it. Beyond – not to your old way of being or what once was “normal”, but beyond to fully integrating loss into your life, to richer understanding, renewed purpose, and deeper spirituality.
Grieving is painful and demanding. But healing does come. The deep pain will subside, and you will find yourself able to reflect on your loved one, how your life was and how it is now, and begin to think about how your life will be in the future. Personally, I have lost some very good friends. The void still exists when I can no longer share the excitement and pictures of my grandkids or just pick up the phone and talk about my day! A BIG sigh…but I can testify that the pain has lessened in intensity. It no longer consumes me, But I will never forget them. They, in many ways, helped shape me into how I respond today. They will always be present in my life.
You don’t have to go through this time alone. As part of our Hospice family, please take advantage of the services we offer. I am also available by phone or appointment.
August activities at Hospice:
Aug 13: “Lunch Bunch” at Mr. Lee’s at 12 Noon. It is a time of food and fellowship with others who have suffered a loss.
Aug 18: Lunch group to meet in Barnesville at Fairyland Ice Cream Shop at 12 Noon.
Aug 20: Breakfast Support Group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9 AM
Aug 27: Coffee with Chris: Men’s coffee/support group meets at 9 AM at various places in the community. If interested, contact me for details of the upcoming month’s location.
The month begins with a BANG-a strong reminder of freedom. For many, the July 4th celebration means a picnic and fireworks. Sometimes the real meaning of the holiday is lost. Freedom can mean different things to different people. For some it does have the meaning of being able to live as we do in this country. For others, it may take on a new connotation. At this time in your life, you may view your loved one as having been set free at last from their suffering. The hardships and illness that led to this time in your life are past, and now you must find a way to go on. Freeing yourself from living in the past is sometimes very difficult. Establishing a new norm for your life is essential and often requires energy you may not feel you possess. Others may be needed to help you along the way to healing. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We are also here to help in any way that we can. We offer various programs that I hope you will consider.
July’s upcoming events include (Make NOTE of the new days and times):
July 9: Lunch Bunch at 12:00 Noon at Mr. Lee’s in Cambridge
July 16: Grief Support Breakfast at 9:00 AM at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley.
July 26: Flamingo Run: Sometimes doing something tangible is a special way to honor your loved one…You can do that with us in a one mile walk or a 5/10k. All funds benefit patient care and bereavement services.
July 30: Coffee with Chris: Men’s coffee/support group meets at 9:00 AM at various places in the community. If interested, contact me for details for the upcoming month’s location.
The Barnesville group will be changing their schedule as well. We will be meeting every other month or so. We will meet in August. STAY TUNED to place and time.
Remember that I am also available for one-on-one time. I hope this season in life has you choosing to focus on the positives. Blessings!
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