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Summary: A generous gift from the heart - a truly helpful book.
Review: Many thanks to Dr. Downham for sharing so purely the experience and hope of her deep personal loss. How supportive to learn that someone else has felt and behaved similarly in response to grief. How refreshing not to spotlight the stages of grief and the self-imposed timeline this often begets, but rather to focus on the ongoing, self-renewing process of healing. How grateful I am for "rooms in the heart" - something I have felt but couldn't put into words. Thank you, Sally Downham Miller, for putting words to my feelings.
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Summary: Thank you, Sally
Review: Sally was my principal and boss at Crescent School but she never acted that way. She renewed a whole faculty's faith in teaching. She encouraged and educated parents. Evening conferences were not uncommon for her. To the children she was a pied piper. She enlightened them and offered alternatives. She cared.This was an aura we all felt. She has presented Bob Downham with a magnificent legacy. She raised her children, improved her life and immediately went on to help others; many of whom find living with loss almost insurmountable. Thank you, Sally for the use of beautiful words in sharing your story of love.
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Summary: I have never been so affected by a book as I was by this one
Review: This book opened old wounds that I didn't even know had not been healed. It was a profoundly difficult yet validating read. The tears came freely and were actually welcome. I immediately felt a kinship to the author, as if I could see into her heart as she surely could see into mine. After all, she was relaying my very feelings. I wish this book had been available to read years ago. The self help books that I read after my husband died only gave me a time frame to go through "the stages" of grief. Needless to say, I failed miserably to live up to the "normal" standards. I would like to thank Sally Downham-Miller for sharing her brave journey. She can only imagine how very much this book has touched me. I am truly indebted to her.
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Summary: Life on lifes' terms
Review: This book was given to me to read by a relative of the author. At first I wondered why. I was born and grew to adulthood in Indiana. A dear friend of mine lives in Elwood. My life holds many simularities to this author. Mourning and Dancing made me realize that when life hands us lemons it is our choice to either make lemonade or curl up and die inside. Ms Miller is most certainly a strong woman of great courage. I also loved her ability to share her faith all along her journey. What an inspiration to all of us. We need not give up but to keep on keeping on when life is difficult and circumstances seem impossible. A beautifully written story of courage.
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Summary: You Changed My Mourning into Dancing!
Review: Upon the death of my father Clyde Lonsbury on September 27th, 1999, the following Saturday, I took my mother Sharron to the Covered Bridge Retreat Mercantile in North Webster, Indiana where we were privileged to be in the company of Dr. Sally Downham Miller for a book signing of her memoir, "Mourning and Dancing". The mercantile, as I understand, is another work of Dr. Miller's and you can see her heart as you walk in the door. Mom bought a copy of the book and Sally signed it "In Memory of Clyde" and a personal addition for her to cherish as well. Sally and the two other figures in her book, Jack and Suzy Scott, have been a vital part of my mother's life in many different ways throughout the years. They are truly dear, dear people. Before signing the book, Sally gave a preface and reasoning for writing this book and the story that was shared was an endearing one that filled my heart with a light of hope and encouragement as we begin our journey to gain strength back from our loss. In her book Sally paints vivid pictures with words and experiences that helped me to see how Mourning could be changed into Dancing! The similarities with my father's cancer and that of Mr. Downham were indeed what I needed to hear, even down to those noisy hiccups! Now those hiccups no longer echo in the house and it is quiet, I feel a sense of guilt, as did Sally, for even wishing they would stop. The journey that she and her family take in this book is so amazing and so well developed for the grieving soul. I thank you Sally for sharing from your heart the pain and recovery that you experienced, and I thank you for giving us your deepest emotions that were kept in your private journal. Your story has changed my Mourning into Dancing Again, You've Lifted My Sorrows! I highly recommend this book to those who need, once again to Dance!
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Summary: I found help, peace and comfort from her book.
Review: We lost our only son at 26 years of age from similar circumstances. I found comfort from two pieces I read in the book. First was when she described to Tam how we are very much like a egg (page 109). Second was the possible answer to "Why?" (page 195). I go to Compassionate Friends meetings, do a newsletter for our chapter. Therefore reading this verse from my Bible helps with my loss. Thank you, Sally Downham Miller for sharing your grief and healing!!
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