There’s no right or wrong way to process grief after a loved one passes away, and the same can be said about honoring that person on the anniversary of their passing. Everyone deals with loss differently. From bereavement gifts to sympathy cards and flowers, there are many ways to remember a lost loved one and offer support to others.
Some people want to fully feel their sadness and be alone, while others may feel compelled to keep the day upbeat and share stories—or perhaps a mix of both. As the day draws near, think about how you’d like to celebrate a loved one’s life or honor them on the anniversary of their passing. Bring Flowers and Reminisce For many, taking flowers to a loved one’s grave or memorial site brings comfort. If you are too far away, go somewhere quiet and peaceful where you can reflect upon their life. You can sit and just think of the memories you have shared or journal your thoughts about them, noting special moments and and perhaps what you learned from them. If it appeals to you, consider looking for a sign throughout the day. Often, if you’re paying attention, you’ll see something in nature or when you’re out and about that reminds you of them. Butterflies, for instance, are very symbolic of hope, change, strength, resurrection, and many other powerful representations of life and death. Take Action and Start Traditions For many, having something planned to honor loved ones lost can help in a number of ways. For one, it helps us pause and hold space for those no longer with us. It also may set an annual tradition in motion while helping to provide comfort and some welcome distraction on a particularly tough day. Perhaps it’s a day that you go to a picnic in their favorite park, feed the birds like they used to, or visit a spot that was near and dear in their hearts. You could also plant a memorial tree or bush in your yard. If you don’t have something symbolic in your home that you can glance at that honors them and helps provide some comfort, consider buying a remembrance item such as an angel ornament or other memorial gifts for yourself or for someone else who is grieving the same loss. Nothing can replace those no longer with us, but sometimes it helps to have items around that honor them and warm our hearts. Celebrate Their Life and Reconnect An anniversary of a loved one’s passing can be a hard time for a great number of people. If you’re comfortable with it, consider hosting a gathering at your house with their favorite people, asking someone else to host, or simply meeting up for a meal and to talk about memories. If you have a keepsake box full of special items from your time together, look through it. If not, consider putting one together with friends and family to help celebrate their life and remember special moments shared. Looking through photo albums and cards and watching videos can also be a nice way to remember them. Reach Out to Loved Ones The anniversary of a loved one’s passing is often a hard day for many, but you don’t have to get through it alone. Talk on the phone to someone else who loved the person as much as you did, and get together if you’re able. You can also curate a post on social media with a thoughtful photo collage, quote, poem, or words you’d like to share. You may be surprised to hear from those you haven’t been in touch with for awhile. Reading words of support on your post may help you feel less alone. While we never truly get used to a loved one being gone, we do learn to live with it the best we can. It all takes resilience, determination, strength, hope, and love. Today and every day, remind yourself of your blessings and what you have to be thankful for in this life. About Willow Tree® Willow Tree® figurative sculptures are about the relationships we share with friends, family, our pets, and ourselves. Artist Susan Lordi captures human expression perfectly through gestures only, such as a tilt of the head, a warm embrace, and placement of the hands. Her intricately designed, hand-painted figurative sculptures provide comfort as sympathy gifts, and are also well-suited for celebratory occasions to be given as birthday gifts, holiday presents, wedding and anniversary gifts, and so much more. Lordi’s focus on form and gesture instead of facial expressions is what makes her signature work—from her cake toppers to her nativity sets—instantly recognizable and open to interpretation by the giver and receiver. Browse the entire Willow Tree® collection at Willowtree.com Original Source: https://bit.ly/2N97dzQ
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Summertime brings blooms, blue skies, warm sunshine, and endless reasons to celebrate. Whether you’re invited to a summer garden party, celebrating a close friend’s birthday, attending a milestone wedding anniversary, or gathering for a family reunion, there’s usually a need for a thoughtful gift for a special woman in your life. Choose an artful piece that represents the sentiment you want to express. Here are a few ideas that are sure to make her smile.
Give a Bouquet That Lasts a Lifetime For the one who adores receiving flowers or enjoys spending time gardening, you could give her a gift that will always stay in bloom. A small figurative sculpture of a woman holding a vibrant bouquet is a thoughtful gift that your friend or loved one can display in her home throughout the year. The hand-painted line of sculptural figures by artist Susan Lordi, Willow Tree®, is a wonderful way to express friendship and caring. She adds just enough pop of color in her peonies, roses, poppies, and calla lilies to lift the spirit, year-round. Gift for the Living Angel For the angels on Earth who watch over us, choose a piece that lets them know how much they enrich your life. An angel ornament for their Christmas tree or an angel sculpture for their bedside table is a special way to let them know you care and are thinking of them. Angels make great gifts for grandma, your mom, a volunteer, or anyone particularly thoughtful or caring in your life. Maybe you know an angel in the kitchen, or an angel of music, or an angel of the garden—use your imagination! Soul Sister Keepsakes Sometimes we have sisters in blood, and other times we have best friends who are like sisters to us. If we are lucky enough, we have both. To celebrate supportive friendships among women, great sister gifts include friendship plaques, thoughtful keepsake boxes, and figurative sculptures depicting the relationship you’ve shared over the years. And if you don’t get to see your best friend or sister as often as you’d like, just think how surprised she’d be to get a thoughtful gift in the mail. Sometimes you don’t need a special occasion to remind someone you’re thinking about them. Welcome to Your New Home A cheery present from you is bound to make a new homeowner happy. You probably know that a pineapple is a universal symbol of hospitality. If you want to wish your neighbor a warm welcome or are bringing a gift to a friend’s housewarming party, you could get a special piece of décor, such as a cute sculpture of a woman holding a pineapple. It’s a sweet gesture and a piece they will treasure forever in their new home. About Willow Tree® Willow Tree® figurative sculptures are about the relationships we share with friends, family, our pets, and ourselves. Artist Susan Lordi captures human expression perfectly through gestures only, such as a tilt of the head, a warm embrace, and placement of the hands. Her intricately designed, hand-painted figurative sculptures are perfect as grandma gifts, birthday gifts, holiday presents, wedding and anniversary gifts, and so much more. Lordi’s focus on form and gesture instead of facial expressions is what makes her signature work instantly recognizable and open to interpretation by the giver and receiver. Browse the entire Willow Tree® collection at Willowtree.com Original Source: https://bit.ly/2IqYxjK Beyond the distinct framed photos on the wall, how do you preserve your family memories? Family photos, of course, represent a wonderful timeline, but there are many ways to remember happy moments. Finding the best display method just takes a little creativity and reflection on what family means to you and how you display that bond in your home.
Instead of keeping memorable items tucked away in an attic or basement, be selective and thoughtful about how you want to display your favorite times together as a family. For some inspiration, here are a few creative ways to honor family bonds. Treasure Box Just for Family Vacations If you want to remember special summer family vacations, find a few items you can put into an artful memory or keepsake box to remember for years to come. Some examples of items you might want to put into a keepsake box include things like tiny shells from the Pacific Ocean, ticket stubs from Disneyland, dried flowers from Yellow stone, a key chain from Paris, or any trinket that adds sentimental value to your box. You can decide if each child needs their own keepsake box or if you want just one for the family as a whole. Keepsake boxes also make nice presents for a sweet 16 birthday for holding jewelry, a first communion gift for a rosary, or best friend gifts for notes and photos. Choose a finely crafted, hand-painted box with a hinged lid as it will display nicely on a shelf and keep your special items safe and sound. Christmas Ornaments and More Full of Memories Christmas time is about family traditions—from the angel on top of the tree to the stockings hung with care. Another timeless family tradition is gifting each child an ornament (dated or not) to commemorate the year. If the ornaments are of heirloom quality and crafted by a talented artist, your children are certain to pass them down to their children when the time comes. (It’s always special to see how your traditions become theirs too.) Decorating a Christmas tree and setting up a nativity set is also part of the season for many of us. Just like adding a new ornament every year is part of the family tradition, some also enjoy adding a new piece to their nativity each year as well. The Three Wisemen, Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus are the staples, but you could add angels, animals, trees, and a backdrop for your scene as well, as the years pass. Figurative Sculptures Depicting Family Relationships A family grouping of figurative sculptures is symbolic of the love you share, and it’s particularly touching when displayed and shared with others as they come into your home. Select individual figurines that reflect relationships between siblings, parents with a new baby, a newly married couple, or a family of four with a cat and dog—or whatever your family unit entails. Build upon the family grouping over the years as your love and family grows. About Willow Tree® Willow Tree® figurative sculptures are about the relationships we share with friends, family, our pets, and ourselves. Artist Susan Lordi captures human expression perfectly through gestures only, such as a tilt of the head, a warm embrace, and placement of the hands. Her intricately designed, hand-painted figurative sculptures provide comfort as sympathy gifts, and are also well-suited for celebratory occasions to be given as birthday gifts, holiday presents, wedding and anniversary gifts, and so much more. Lordi’s focus on form and gesture instead of facial expressions is what makes her signature work instantly recognizable and open to interpretation by the giver and receiver. Browse the entire Willow Tree® collection at Willowtree.com Original Source: https://bit.ly/2XWHjA3 |
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August 2019
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