WELCOME TO OUR BLOG
Welcome to the SevenPonds.com blog – a community-driven extension of SevenPonds.com! I hope you find comfort and community in the resources and stories featured here. I’m always happy to hear from readers and can be reached at suzette@sevenponds.com.
FEATURED
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Poetree: The Innovative Urn: Margaux Ruyant's urn honors the life of the deceased while cultivating the new life of a tree -
Putting It Back Together: Exploring Grief through a near-death experience: A 21-year-old woman's near-fatal accident alters her relationship with life. -
Buddhism and the Eastern Middle Ground: In Buddhist tradition, our death falls into a plane of existence that continues even after our final breath
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Categories
Tag Archives: Losing a Parent
Book Review: Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen
A bestselling memoir that explores aging and the lessons we learn along the way
Let’s put it simply: I’m still young. I have no concept of what it means to age. I do know, though, that it can’t be that bad if more and more positive reports keep popping up on the bestseller list. … Continue reading
How to help children cope with death? An Interview with Patricia Murphy
How the loss of two mothers inspired Josie’s Place, a center that helps grieving children, teens, and families
We interview Patricia Murphy, co-founder and director of Josie’s Place in San Francisco, which offers support to grieving children and their parents. Continue reading
Film Review: The Descendants
Looking into all the Oscar buzz and pleasantly surprised by a film's message
Amidst Oscar buzz and recent nominations, it seems only fitting to head to the movies this weekend. I’m sure it came as no surprise to see The Artist among the nominees, but who ever thought a romantic comedy about a … Continue reading
Remembering Her Life
Caring for my mother-in-law in her final days
This is the story of Candace, as told by Katie Ryan. I didn’t know my mother-in-law very well before she moved in with us. It wasn’t my choice, actually; my husband just knew we were the only ones who could … Continue reading
Posted in Opening our Hearts
Tagged Aid in Dying, Cancer, Caregiving, Cremation, Death, end-of-life, Health, Hospice, Losing a Parent, Loss of a Loved One, Mother-in-law, Parkinson's disease, past life
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What Sarah Michelle Gellar Taught Me about Grief
Cult series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" provides an honest, unflinching portrayal of the loss of a loved one
This past week marked the triumphant return of actress Sarah Michelle Gellar to the small screen, as her new thriller/drama Ringer premiered on the CW to strong reviews. Ringer has Gellar playing twins Bridget and Siobhan, sisters with very different … Continue reading
What is the Dougy Center? An Interview with Donna Schuurman
The Dougy Center's Executive Director talks about child and youth peer support, expression, and "post-traumatic growth"
For nearly 30 years, The Dougy Center in Portland, OR has provided peer support groups for grieving children, teenagers, young adults and their families. Today, the peer support program they pioneered has served as a model for at least 500 … Continue reading
“If You Leave, You’re Gonna Die”
The tragedy that revealed my gift
This is the story of Shaunte, as told by Aurora Wells… “Don’t leave the house,” I said. “If you leave, you’re gonna die.” Chris looked back at me, his hand still resting on the brass doorknob. My mother peered in … Continue reading
Letters from the Holocaust
An amazing historical tale of love, endurance, and the meaning of family
This week’s very special Opening our Hearts represents a collaboration between Judy Vasos and Aurora Wells. All material is part of the Rosi Mosbacher-Baczewski private collection — which she had saved for nearly 70 years before passing on to her … Continue reading
Posted in Opening our Hearts
Tagged Cultural Perspectives, History, Homicide, Losing a Parent, Unexpected Loss
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A Tribute through Portrait
Richard Avedon's photographs of his father's last years
Throughout the 20th Century, Richard Avedon was hailed for his unique portraiture, capturing the raw essence of the American people. Perhaps some of his most captivating portraits are those he took in the early 1970′s of his dying father. The … Continue reading
Posted in Soulful Expressions
Tagged Art, Jacob Israel Avedon, Losing a Parent, minimalism, photography, portraiture, Richard Avedon
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The Impossible Dream: Part Two
One man's struggle to connect with his father, in life and in death
This is Part Two. Read Part One here. During the months that followed, my father became more and more childlike. He was sweet and full of breath. Some combination of radiation, medication, and his brain swelling inside his skull, I guess. … Continue reading
The Impossible Dream: Part One
One man's struggle to connect with his father, in life and in death
This is the story of Mark, as told by Aurora Wells… It’s such a sad old feeling the fields are soft and green it’s memories that I’m stealing but you’re innocent when you dream when you dream you’re innocent when … Continue reading
