Oooh what a few days – I had to come into hospital on Sunday night – after posting the Positive Thinking Carnival (How ironic is that!) which is why I haven’t been blogging these last couple of days. I am still in the hospital awaiting more tests, but have managed to persuade a friend to smuggle in my computer to keep me company. You see I miss you all.You know we take health so for granted, maybe less so widows and widowers, but when you find yourself not knowing what is wrong and just wishing for a pain free hour then you …read more

Oh dear what a Christmas – I was blue lighted into hospital last Sunday and spent all of the holiday in hospital. Today (Sat 29th) I have been allowed out for a couple of days as I won’t be having my operation until next week. It is wonderful to see family and friends.
The holiday season is normally a tough time with many memories however this year I have found a new way of coping with grief – be ill and worry about your health!
I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful thoughts they sent me, I am sure everything …read more

In February of 2005, I received one of those phone calls no-one every wants to get. My baby brother, 35 years old, had died. Even worse, he had taken his life.
Up until this past spring, I worked with dying people. After working as an RN in many different areas over the years, I was working part-time in a palliative care residence. I helped people in their final days and I helped people who loved those who were dying. Death wasn’t foreign to me; I’d lost beloved pets, I’d lost grandparents, I’d lost more patients and people who I’d come to …read more

Three years ago this winter, I came as close as I ever care to come to widowhood, and it has forever changed me. I was 36, and Marshall and I were approaching our second anniversary (and 5th year of being together). In August, I was cutting his hair, which I do every month (like it or not), and a few days after that, he had a small pimple come up on the back of his neck. I noticed it, but it wasn’t until a few days after that that I noticed that it was getting larger and …read more

Our final winner of the blogtoberfest is Ron Patiro, who left a great comment on the We Can Make a Difference post. The prize is a handprint ornament gift which I hope you will enjoy from BabySakes, who I would like to thank for sponsoring this post. Congratulations both to

Ron and also to everybody else who contributed.
It has been wonderful being able to bring a little light to your lives with 3 prize giveaways – I hope you have all enjoyed it too.

The names have been put in a hat and a name chosen for the winner to the post – No Matter How Bad You Think It Is..remember there is still one prize left and I will announce the winner to that one on Wednesday so it is not too late to enter by leaving a comment to the post We Can Make  A Difference
But today the lucky winner is Shari – well done and you are the winner of $25 of skin lotion – you will be contacted shortly.
What I like about these competitions is the chance to give a …read more

Don’t forget you still have to chance to win a prize based on our blogtoberfest !
I will be choosing a comment from each of the posts below at the weekend – actually I will be getting my mum to choose a name from a mug! So if you want a chance to win then leave a comment, share your feelings on these 2 posts
No matter how bad you think it is…..  
We Can Make  A Difference 
Our first winner was Amie who won the carpet bocce…good luck it would be great to provide a little light to your day.

I am delighted to announce the winner of the blogtoberfest
I put all the names into a mug and got my sister to draw it – the winner is Amie who will be contacted shortly for the prize. She has won a carpet bocce!

Thanks to all of the people who entered and I will  be posting later today a new competition for you to enter….

Here at Widows Quest we understand the value of life, the need cherish the our world and the lives of our children. Today many people are taking part in Blog Action Day. The idea of the day is that we all post about the environment to raise awareness of the impact that we all have, and how we can make a difference. I wanted to participate for two reasons
1) One grief teaches you that you can take nothing for granted..especially the idea of life.
2) We often talk about giving ourselves a focus, a goal to overcome the feeling of depression…well …read more

We all need a little something to look forward to and this month sees a blogtoberfest…a chance for people who comment to win a little prize. I love that idea as it says thank you for helping me some of the roughest   times of my life and also acts as a little surprise for someone out there. The first chance is tomorrow so watch out for your chance to bring a little sunshine into your life!