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POPPO'S Memory Book

AuthorHouse

Chapter One

When Jenny was little, she dressed in her favorite pink ballerina dress, and then Mommy and Daddy would take her to visit her Poppo. Every Sunday, Jenny and Poppo played together, until one day he was too sick to play. Her Poppo was sick for a very long time.

Poppo had a very, very, serious illness, and over time, the illness made it difficult for him to do the things he used to do before he got sick. He lived for a long time, but eventually, his sickness got worse and his body stopped living. Jenny felt very sad when her Poppo died.

Poppo was a wonderful grandfather and teacher. Before he died, he showed Jenny how to perform fun magic tricks, to blow really big bubbles, and to use her imagination to pretend and have fun. But when Poppo got sick, he also wanted to help Jenny understand and feel comfortable with death. He told her death was a natural part of life, and that everyone and every part of nature would eventually die. He explained to her that sometimes people can get very, very sick and die, even though they do not want to die. It just happens sometimes. Poppo did not want Jenny to feel worried or sad. He wanted to help her feel safe, and to know how much she was loved.

Jenny felt very confused by this. She told him how scared she felt, and then she asked him this very important question.

"What will I do without you?" I asked Poppo.

"What will I do without you?" I asked Poppo. I felt sad. I wanted my Poppo to live forever.

"I want you to be happy," Poppo told me.

"I want you to know I love you now and forever. I want you to always play and pretend and be my dancing little girl."

Poppo told Jenny that his body would someday die, but that he would continue to live in her heart. He also taught her not to be afraid of death, and to always remember the happiness and love they shared.

Even after her Poppo died, Jenny knew she would be safe, and that there were many people in her life who would always love and take care of her. She knew that the love she felt in her heart would never go away, even after her Poppo died.

After a long time, Jennys grandfather died. Jenny cried with her Mommy and Daddy. She really missed him. But Jenny still felt a warm glow of love inside her heart, just like Poppo said she would.

Special Love

"Special love, like the love you shared with Poppo is something we have inside our hearts all our lives," Daddy explained to me. "It helps us to learn how to love ourselves and to love other people. It helps everyone to smile, just like you and Poppo always smiled."

How can you continue to love someone whom you don't see or hear or feel, the same way you did before their death?

How can you find happiness once again, and know that your loved one is still very close?

Before Poppo died, he wanted to help Jenny understand the answers to these very important questions. He wanted her to know they would love each other forever. Poppos lessons helped her to understand this. Jenny knew his body would eventually die, but it did not mean that their love would end. Love never dies. He would always be her Poppo, and that would never change!

The love that Poppo shared with Jenny was a love that she would have in her heart for all her life. And by remembering this love, Jenny learned to love herself and to love other people too. Her happiness helps others to smile, just like she and Poppo always smiled.

And now, just like Jenny, it is your turn to try and do the same. On the next few pages, follow along and practice all the ways that Jenny learned to smile after her Poppo died. Complete all the activities, share your feelings, and know that you are very special.

Remember! When you miss the person who has died, the sadness you feel is a BIG sign that you have love in your heart.

Share your love with the world and S.M.I.L.E.

Share Memories Imagine Love Enjoy

My Loved One Has Died

Write the name of your loved one here.

Special Facts

My loved one was born on this date: ________________________

My loved one died on this date: ____________________________

We loved to do this together: ______________________________

Our favorite place to be together: _________________________

Places we went together: ___________________________________

What I remember most: ______________________________________

SHARE

Share your feelings with someone you trust.

Feeling Bubbles

When someone dies you may experience many feelings and every feeling you have is important. Sometimes your feelings may surprise you or you may have many different feelings at once. This can be confusing. Whatever you are feeling, express it through writing, drawing, or talking to someone you trust.

Color the bubbles that show how you felt when your loved one died. If the feeling you want to share is not shown, write the feeling word in one of the empty bubbles.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

HOW I FELT

When My Loved One Died

Draw how your feelings showed on your face in the big bubble below.

I felt _______________________________________________________

How I Feel TODAY

Draw how your feelings show on your face now in the big bubble below.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Today I feel _______________________________________________________

Questions and More Questions

Jenny asked her parents lots of questions! She wanted to understand all that she could about her grandfather and his illness. When she asked all her questions she was very brave.

YOU MAY HAVE QUESTIONS TOO!

What are they? Write them on the next page.

"Poppo," I asked, "will you live forever?"

"What will I do without you?"

"So, Poppos in Heaven?"

"How did Poppo die?"

"Who will do mind-magic with me?"

"So Poppos spirit did not die?"

"Is Poppo with me now?"

"But I miss Poppo! Who will do mind-magic with me now?"

My Questions Are......

Talk To Someone You Trust

Sometimes, when I really miss Poppo, Mommy and Daddy encourage me to express my feelings. I ask them questions, and they try to help me understand.

It is important to find someone you trust and feel comfortable with to talk about your feelings. Can you think of people in your life you feel safe with, and you know love you very much? These are the people that would love to listen as you share all your feelings with them.

Jenny chose her parents, but there may be many others in your life that can be listeners and helpers for you. Sometimes relatives, teachers, or family...