The Bluebirds Return

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The Bluebirds Return

By Joyce Smith Williams

Illustrated by Joy Fisher Hein

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The Bluebirds ReturnCopyright 2011 by Joyce Smith Williams. All rights

reserved except by permission of the author.Email:[email protected]

This book is published in cooperation with theMissions, Ministry, and Media Foundation

13432 Blanco Road #188San Antonio, Texas 78216

First editionGraphic Designer Jessica Acosta

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataWilliams, Joyce 1926

The Bluebirds Return / Joyce Williams

ISBN1. Grief in Children 2. Parenting 3. Memories

4. Counseling 5. Death and Dying

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Dedicated to all the parents and children whohave unanswered questions

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Dear God,

This is Darcy. You remember me? Im the one who asks so manyquestions.

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God, Mom worried about what Id do when shewent to heaven. She promised Gramps would take care of

me. He does. He makes toast and oatmeal for mybreakfast.

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He drives me to school in his old car. Sometimes afterschool I help him wash my clothes. I take Trickey forher walk, give her food and water. Then I do myhomework.

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God, Ive talked about this before. Do you get tired oflistening? Well, here I go again because I still dontunderstand.

Why did Mom get sick? And why couldnt the doctorsmake her well? I miss her every day and wish she could comeback.

Do you think she is happy without me?

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God, I dont want to forget Mom. I rememberbefore she got sick. On bright, sunny days wed go to the

zoo, walk in the park, or pick wildflowers.

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I remember Moms hugs and kisses, and the way hereyes lit up when she smiled. Its getting close to

Christmas, and I think about when I helped Mom put

up the Christmas tree. I remember how we decoratedsugar cookies for our friends.

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I love the Bible stories she read to me. I think how I felt when Isat with her in church. You saw me, didnt you? Some times Ipeeked at her when we prayed together.

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But God, sometimes I cant remember Mom and I getscared and feel all funny inside. Thats when I run to her

bedroom to see her purple perfume bottle or smell her clothesin the closet.

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And I always remember her when I taste a cookie hot out of the oven.

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Sometimes at night I think I feel the touch ofher hand on my back as I go to sleep.

But sometimes at night I cant remember her,and I cry myself to sleep.

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God, I try to talk to Gramps but it makes him sad.

Yesterday I asked him how long it has been since Mom died andhis eyes filled with tears. I know he misses Mom, too.

Cant you help him be happy? Then his eyes would twinkleagain, just like hers did.

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School is not so hard this year except P.E. I wishI could run faster and keep up with the soccer ball. Maybesomeday Ill score a goal. But today I go tot be line leader.

That was fun!

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And, before I forget, a great big thanks for the bluebirds.Will you tell Mom they found the birdhouse?

Well, thats all for now.Goodnight, God.This is Darcy.

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BUILD YOUR OWN BLUEBIRD FEEDER


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BUILD YOUR OWN BLUEBIRD FEEDERFill with delicious, nutritious Mealy Worms

MATERIAL LIST

1. Clean, 32 ounce white plastic food container with lid.

2. Two lengths of twine or string, 30 each.3. Sturdy stick or dowel, 7-8 long4. Scissors or utility knife.

5. White Glue.6. Straight pin.7. Mealy worms.

Cut away 2/3 of lid. Leave all of circular edge it fit feeder.

Cut 1/2 inch slit or X in upper center of remaining lid.Tie and glue two lengths of twine 1 1/2 from each end with knot on top.

Glue all around.

With straight pin, poke holes in bottom of feeder.

Place lid on feeder, push stick through to touch back of feeder.

Tie top loops to hang for feeding.

Fill 1/4 with mealy worms.

Enjoy watching your Bluebirds eat and feed their young!

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Joyce Williams, a certified bereavement facilitator, lives in San Antonio, Texas. A retired American Montessori Society

Montessori teacher and school administrator, Joyce enjoys cooking, organic gardening, classical music, church activities,

and spending time with her two children and her five grandchildren. Joyce began writing in high school. She wrote

curriculum for Sunday school teachers for ten years. Additionally, she published two childrens books in the 70s but did

not resume writing after retiring from St. Marys Hall School in 1993.

As a volunteer pediatric chaplain, Joyce served six years at Methodist Childrens Hospital in San Antonio; then for

eight years as program coordinator for the Childrens Bereavement Center of South Texas. Triumph Over Grief, her

memoir, was published in Austin, Texas in 2003.

Email:joycewillams056@gmail.

Joy Fisher Hein who lives in the heart of the Texas hill Country is an organic gardener, a Texas Master Naturalist as well

as an outstanding artist. She speaks throughout Texas and beyond about her love and knowledge of art and nature.

For Harper Collins, she illustrated the multi-award winning book Miss Lady Birds Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed

America by Kathi Appelt.

Currently she is painting the art for Blooming Tales, Seven Texas Wildflower Legends. Also, the Texas State Library and

Archives selected Joy to create twenty-three new art pieces for the 2009 Texas Reading Club.

In the Walker Ranch Landmark Park, visitors appreciate thirteen large art panels which Joy designed and painted. The

panels interpret the ranch history.

Email: [email protected]

Graphic Design: Jessica Acosta

Documents

The Bluebirds Return