Dear Compassionate Friends,
     In The Compassionate Friends Credo are the lines, "The children we mourn have died at all ages and from many different causes, but our love for them unites us.  Your pain becomes my pain;  just as you hope becomes my hope." As Compassionate Friends we know that we are all on a similar journey and we also have our own unique experiences and pains.  We are able to understand the pain of the other families and we provide the love and support each needs.
     We also recognize that there are times when it can be helpful for families to spend time with other families whose experiences are similar.  This is why we want to keep you informed of other groups that you may find helpful.  Elsewhere in this newsletter is information about the group Heartbeat which offers support for those who have lost a loved one through suicide and a new group that is just starting called Footprints which offers support for those who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death.
     The Footprints group is being started by Janelle Hansen.  Janelle and Joel Hansen lost their precious Allison shortly after her birth in 2004. They are sharing Allison's story in this newsletter.  Another couple, Sara and Todd Heieie, lost their little Angel, Victoria earlier the same year.  Both couples came to The Compassionate Friends meetings and because of their similar experiences became good friends.  Their friendship and their support of each other continues.  If you feel this group could be helpful for you or someone you know, we hope you will attend.
     I believe that as each of us finds our way through our grief, it is important to reach a hand back to those who are just beginning this journey.  We each will find our own special way to provide love and support to the newly bereaved families.  My wish for each of you is that your heart is finding the peace it needs.
                                                           ~ Paulette Wiley, Mason's Mom and Tayib's Grandma


THANK YOU TO THE UNITED WAY
Through the generous donations of many, our Compassionate Friends group has again been the recipient of financial help from the United Way of West Central Minnesota. These funds help defray the costs of reaching out to families.  We thank everyone for their generosity.

TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
Coming to the first meeting is the hardest, but you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Try not to judge your first meeting as to whether or not the Compassionate Friends will work for you. At the next meeting you may find just the right person or just the right words said that will help you in your grief work.

2010 Angel of Hope Donantions
- Shirley Hanson
- Pat Morse

2009 Angel of Hope Donantions
- Bob & Betty Hermann
- Delaino & Suzanne Schafer
- Todd & Sara Heieie
- Roxy Stefffl
- Ron & Kathy Garner
- Jacque Collins
- Roxy and Mike Steffl

2009 Angel of Hope Recent Brick Requests
- Terry & Becky Overlander for their daughter Mckenzie Jo
- John & Nancy Cosco for their son Justin
- Hubert & Linda Fixsen as a gift for the parents of David Erikson
- Tony & Bernadette Ziller for their daughter Danette Wierschem
- Lucille Pitzen for her son Joseph
- Bob & Toni Schmidt for their son David
- Dennis & Mary Lou Chappell as a gift for Douglas & Lucille Woodford in Memory of Heidi and Matthew
- Kelvin and Cindy Torkelson in memory of their son Dustin.
- Marlene Walstrom for her son Mark Walstrom
- David and Linda Sorum for their son Daniel
- Jim and Jan Bothun for their daughter Megan
- Marcus and Anna Yoder for their son Leonard
- Paul and Gail Magnuson for their daughter Beth Magnuson Tinklenberg
- Marie Vangen and Ronald Louks for their son Ronnie Louks Jr.
- Jodi and Denise Johnson and Dorie Larsen for their son and nephew Dusin L. Johnson
- Elgin and Pat Skluzacek for their son Bill Skluzacek
- Lois, Tom, Ben & Suzie Flaig as a gift to Vernon & Marge Flaig for their son Richard M. Flaig
- Don and Mary Schroeder for their son Jon Schroeder
- LuVern and Jeanne Gaffney for their son Sheldon Gaffney

LOVE GIFTS
The Compassionate Friends is a non-profit organization. We have no local dues or fees. We function with the help of our Love gifts. Love gifts are monies given in memory of a child by parents, siblings, grandparents, or other relatives, as well as friends and caring individuals who wish to assist with the work of TCF. These gifts enable us to continue to reach out to those who are newly bereaved in our community through brochures and newsletters. All donations are tax deductible. Donations for Love Gifts can be mailed to: Kay McLane | 613 Lakeland Drive SE | Willmar, MN 56201.
- Lac Qui Parle Broadcasting Company, Inc. in memory of Mackenzie Jo Overlander, daughter of Terry and Becky Overlander.
- Danielson Township of Meeker County United Way

Memorial Love Gifts Received
The Compassionate Friends is a non-profit organization. We have no local dues or fees. We function with the help of our love gifts. Love gifts are given in memory of a child by parents, siblings, grandparents, or other relatives, as well as friends and caring individuals who wish to assist with the work of TCF. These gifts enable us to continue to reach out to those who are newly bereaved in our community through brochures and newsletters. All donations are tax deductible. Donations for Love Gifts can be mailed to:
Kay McLane | 613 Lakeland Drive SE | Willmar, MN 56201.

2010 Love Gift Donations
- Lucille Pitzen in memory of her son Joseph Pitzen.
- Dorle Blackwell in memory of her son Greg Trautman.
- Kay McLane as a memorial gift to Harold and Mary Mielke in memory of Harold's mother.
- Paulette Wiley in memory of her son Mason and her grandson Tayib.
- Bob and Betty Hermann in memory of their son Todd.
- Don and Mary Schroeder
- Luvern & Jeanne Gaffney

2009 Love Gift Donations
- Todd & Sara Heieie
- John & Nancy Cosco
- Kathy Johnson
- Don & Ann Orth
- Lois Swenson
- Harold & Mary Mielke
- The Meagher Family
- Nancy Thorp
- Jenny Englekist
- Don & Linda Schumacher
- Lucille Pitzen
- Linda Radabaugh
- Jeff & Debra Ziller
- Bob & Betty Herman
- Neil "Alex" & Joyce Nyhus
- Lillian Lesmeister
- Charles and Sharon Olson
- Jo Debrucker
- Gene and Ruth Templer
- Donn and Alonah Lorenz
- Marlene Walstrom
- Harold and Mary Mielke

Compassionate Friends Member Memorial Donations
- In memory of Rich Flaig
- In memory of Marly McLane

               An Ordinary Day
It was just another day. No one special came. Nothing unusual happened. The evening was the same. And the telephone rang. From that moment on and forever everything was changed.
~ Dr. Richard Dew, MD 

                         4th of July
Each year on the 4th of July we celebrate the birth of a great nation – a nation of people united in a dream. It was through hope, determination and a bonded strength that the people of America strived to achieve their dream of freedom – to be a free nation.
Nothing, however, is achieved without a strong will. We too, as bereaved parents, are fighting a battle to be free – free of the pain that has become a part of our waking days. We want to be able to enjoy life again. YOU are one of those proud Americans. Refuse to give up. Fight for YOUR dream. There is peace to be found in freedom.