History: The idea of creating The Halo Garden came to me after several feebled attempts at authoring a book entitled "From One Bereaved Parent...To The Next..."

My journey to author this book began in the year of 1998, after I suddenly lost my own seven year old son, Johnathon, due to a freak accident. For several years I struggled with trying to find just the right words that would be comforting to other grieving parents in some small way. It was my heartfelt desire that this book be written in such a way that all bereaved parents could benefit from it. In the year of 2005, during my final attempt at authoring this book, I suddenly understood that this desire was the stumbling block preventing it's completion.

I had suddenly realized that due to my child's age, and sudden departure from this earth, that I could not possibly come up with enough words of wisdom, on my own, that would benefit all grieving parents who are trying to cope with their loss.

As heart breaking as it is, the fact remains, that children of all ages can be swept away from us in a blink of an eye. The tragic circumstances surrounding their deaths are too numerous to name. Because of this, I had finally concluded that "From One Bereaved Parent...To The Next..." could not possibly be written by just one person.

In my past endeavors to reach out to other bereaved parents, I had often instituted this title to identify myself as a parent who is also suffering from the loss of a child. On many occasions, I had mentioned to others, that I was currently working on a book that would eventually be published under this title. In the weeks prior to the creation of The Halo Garden, I had several inquiries asking about the status of "From One Bereaved Parent... To The Next..." Due to this, I decided to continue on with this title, and we will utilize its original concept and general outline in The Halo Garden.

Due to my philosophy that not all grieving parents could possibly benefit from just my experience, I decided that “From One Bereaved Parent…To The Next…” should be written by as many bereaved parents who are willing to participate.

Each submitted memorial website link, dream, ADC experience, butterfly dedication, etc., that is hosted within The Halo Garden, constitutes a chapter or sub-chapter of “From One Bereaved Parent…To The Next…” A place where bereaved parents can come, find, and give comfort. A child loss safe haven available to honor, remember, and openly grieve your child with others who know exactly what you are going through.

Below, you will find a short description of the current chapters that are hosted within The Halo Garden. Each of these are a continuous works in progress and have been created by utilizing the general outline of chapters that were meant to be included in the actual written, hard copy of "From One Bereaved Parent...To The Next..." Because each chapter is updated on a regular basis with new submissions, each are a continuous works in progress and can never be entirely completed. Even so, all links provided in each chapter should be in working order.

If you would like to have your child included in any, or all, of the chapters that are hosted within The Halo Garden, please follow the instructions on each page.

By including your child in one or more of The Halo Garden's chapters, by sending in your various submissions, by sending us an email at halogarden@columbus.rr.com to suggest other chapters that should be included, you, in all actuality, become an author of "From One Bereaved Parent...To The Next..."

The Halo Garden Of Sudden Memories: Offers a place where grieving parents can share those precious sudden memories that they have had of their child. Many times, simple conversation or unrelated events, trigger sudden memories that bereft parents had no idea they possessed. Often, these memories suddenly appear out of the blue, sometimes years after our children have left this earth.

The Halo Garden's Wall Of Fallen Heroes: Has been created so that we may never forget that many of our children gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we may all live in a free nation. This chapter includes heroes of all ages who served in the U.S. military and were either Killed In Action (KIA), are Missing In Action (MIA), or are Prisoners Of War (POW). Their names, military branch, rank, unit, dates and untimely fate are listed on each of their wall plaques.

The Halo Garden Of Dreams: Is provided as a place to share dreams that bereaved parents have had of their departed child. Often times grieving parents do not experience any dreams of their children for several months, or even years, after their departure. Because dreams have a way of slowly vanishing from our memory, this chapter is a place that is available for you to submit your dreams in order to keep them vivid in your mind forever!!!

The Halo Garden Of Messages From Heaven: Has been created in order to share spiritual messages that bereaved parents have received. Many bereaved parents have experienced the phenomena of receiving premonitions that their child was going to depart from this earth. Too, many grieving parents are certain that their child somehow knew that they were going to soon become an Angel. Furthermore, numerous bereft parents have been blessed by having their child literally communicate with them from Heaven.

The Halo Garden Of Website Tips: Is offered for those parents who desire to create a memorial website in honor of their child. This chapter offers assistance with locating a web host server, graphics, backgrounds, and midi music. Links to websites that provide free guest books, help with learning HTML coding, and paint shop pro tutorials are also provided.

The Halo Garden Of Angel's: Provides links to memorial websites created by parents who are grieving due to the loss of a child.

The Halo Garden Of Butterflies: Is provided in order for you to dedicate a butterfly in memory of your child. Each dedicated butterfly is identified by your child's full name. Butterflies are available for dedication to all children, and are not linked to memorial websites.

The Halo Garden Of Dates To Remember: Has been created so that our childrens Birthdays and Departure dates can be easily remembered by all who love and care about them.

The Halo Garden Of Poems: Is provided in order to share poems that hold a special place in your heart. Many bereaved parents add a sentimental poem or two to their child's memorial web sites. Many of these poems are written by fellow grieving parents.

The Halo Garden Of Resources: Has been created in order to provide links to an abundance of grief resources that are currently available for bereaved parents. Each of these child loss support groups are sincerely dedicated in their heart felt desire to be of assistance to those who are grieving due to the loss of their child.

Meet The Authors: The Halo Garden wishes to recognize each individual as an author of "From One Bereaved Parent... To The Next..." Without your selfless input, suggestions, ideas, submissions, and sincere desire to help fellow bereaved parents, the creation of this site could not have been possible.

Link To Us :O): The Halo Garden would be honored to have our link placed on your website. If you have found our site helpful, and would like to pass us along to other grieving parents, this chapter provides several very simple copy and paste codes for you to use in order to add our link :O)

Copyright Disclosure: The Halo Garden realizes that some of our content is similar to all child loss support web sites. Our added copyright notice has been placed in an attempt to protect not only this website, but also in an attempt to protect all websites that are on the internet as well.

The above index of chapters that are hosted within The Halo Garden are a continuous works in progress and in no way constitute the entire make up of our final content. Because "From One Bereaved Parent...To The Next..." is a continuous work in progress, it will never be able to be published as a hard copy book. Instead, all chapters that are hosted within The Halo Garden constitute an on-line publication in which all grieving parents can participate in.

In order for "From One Bereaved Parent...To The Next..." to be successful, it is vital that we obtain input and chapter content ideas from those who know the needs of fellow bereaved parents. Several new chapter ideas have recently been submitted and are currently being worked on. Please stop in again soon to see what these new chapters have to offer :O)

Please note: The Halo Garden is best viewed in web browser Microsoft Internet Explorer 5+ and greater. Also, some web browsers do not automatically refresh a page each time that you visit. In order to be certain that you are not missing anything that has been newly added to The Halo Garden, please be sure to refresh each page during your return visit.

In order to visit each chapter that is hosted within The Halo Garden, simply click on each underlined title.

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*Halo4John is an unregistered trademark ™ used for the sole purpose of identifying
Paula Snyder as the mommy of Johnathon Ray Snyder 4-EVER!!