KEEPING LOVE ALIVE - Get On Schindler's List.

I remember the moment they took him from me, wrenched him from my arms to be buried in such a tiny white coffin underneath all that cold black earth. I remember that people came, some with flowers, plants, words I've long forgotten. I remember feeling dead inside. Yet I heard myself talking, and wondered who it was saying all those polite things as the people all left one by one.

The flowers died. The plants too - eventually, but the cards that Annie sent kept right on coming. At first they came every day, a kind word or two written in an uneven hand. After a while those words of love came only a couple of...

times a week, but how much I looked forward to them. Sometimes they even made me smile. After a few months had passed she sent them once a week or so, just "Thinking Of You" cards in bright, cheery colors. "Friendship Cards" came too, telling me I was not forgotten... or alone. I felt alone. Sometimes she'd send a letter, filled with words of love and hope, other times a poem or two cut out from some ancient book or paper. She was my sunshine on gray days. She was my North Star. By the time a year had passed they would come only bi-weekly, and then less often until I would get a card from Annie only once a month or so. It was enough. They became more precious than rubies to me, and I loved her for what she was doing, and I treasured each letter and card that she sent, and hungered for every word. Annie died about three years after I buried my first born son. She was 92.

My son would be 28 today if he had lived. I've never forgotten my baby, or the pain inherent in losing him. I don't recall all the people who came the day he died, or the color of the flowers at his funeral. I can't remember who gave plants and said kind words - there were many. I have forgotten much it seems, but I remember Annie's cards. I remember them all. Words of love written by shakey old hands sent to me faithfully - always.

I thought I would die when I lost him, and when I didn't I felt I could no longer love. But Annie's cards and letters filled with love, brimming with hope stirred in me feeling where there was none. Warmth, when I felt cold. Even today, from where she cannot send them, I feel Annie's lovely cards and letters, keeping love alive.

I do not speak of this often. But Terri has gone to my son and my Annie. Her parents are feeling alone. I bought some cards to send them, paper too, and then I thought of you. I thought of you all, and the love and prayers you've offered during the last few weeks and years. I'm hoping you will join me in following the footsteps Annie left behind. I'm hoping once a month you'll each send a card or a letter to the Schindlers. We may have lost Terri. But we can still keep LOVE alive.

Will you pledge to do this, and add your name to the Schindler's list? You can find it here: http://p081.ezboard.com/ftwcsfrm79

Yours in the Light of Christ - Jesse.

Thank you TAdams... I only know how much it meant to me.

So many are preoccupied with how much money Michael is going to be making etc., etc. More bad news and stress for Terri's family. This doesn't interest me, and I believe I have a good idea of what is of interest to the Schindler's right now. They are going to want Terri's death to MEAN something. NOT to just fade away as she was made to.

If we each just commit to sending one little card, letter or postcard a month for as long as we are able, this will show the family that we will NOT forget, and that they will be in our thoughts and prayers (for those of us who pray)- always.

Perhaps this is the best thing we can do for Terri. I know how very much it meant to me. - Jesse.

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