Who am I?

I have been participating in a flickr group called Focus 52, a picture a week for a year. Jan from twoscoopz is amazing at managing such an active group! This week our optional prompt was "You". We were to try creating an image of who we are. If someone were to describe me I'd guess the first thing out of their mouth would be "always busy". They might also say "strong", only because I have survived the death of two of my three children. Oddly enough, I chose to post an image of a muffin. OK, it's really my son holding a muffin for the camera while he kisses me in the background. I went with it because when I ask myself "Who am I?" the word mom comes to mind first. I am a mom of three, not one. I still have my daughters in my heart, my mind, & my soul, every waking moment. While trying to decide what to share in this long overdue post I thought I'd take that prompt & go with it. So, by my own definition, not others, this is who I am:

I am a woman.

I am an identical twin.

I am a wife. WOW, that's an OLD picture of us!

I am a mom.

I am a free spirit (OK, I try to be)

I am a bereaved parent.

I am a high school drama teacher & theatre director.

I am photographer.

I am a scrap-booker.

Now, my question is this: Who are YOU???? Share with me how you define yourself, add your links to your blogs, facebboks, flickr, etc... & I PROMISE I will visit you there!

Deal With It...if you can.

Last Sunday night was the annual World Wide Candle Lighting in memory of all children who have passed, regardless of age. For those parents left behind, even the grandparents and siblings of those who pass, dealing with certain times of the year has more than the usual amount of challenge. For some every day is as difficult as the last. It's not the same for anyone. Not one single person shares the exact same set of emotions or reactions as another. Each person's grief is as unique as the relationship that person held with the one who passed. My husband & I have been participating in the candle lighting event with Compassionate Friends sine 1999. My drama students host the local participation in this 24 hour wave of light by performing songs, poems, prose, and dance pieces that provide support, comforting and understanding. The message balloons we release, the candles we light, the food we eat is all done for our children we miss. Honoring their memory becomes a priority. I've been doing this long enough that I've had a student who was once a teenage presenter in the event now come as a bereaved parent. Grief is something that must be dealt with. It needs to be tamed...or it will become the shrew.