Widow to Widow Edmonton

Thursday, April 10 – 11:30 am

Let’s meet at the Manila Grill, 10804 170 Street. It’ll be a new culinary adventure for us! Let me know by Wednesday afternoon if you’d like to attend so that I can ask for a table to accommodate us all. Phone 780 487 9034; email al******@***us.net; or simply reply to this message (but please don’t “reply all”)

Thursday, April 17 – 1:30 pm

Our regular monthly gathering at Westend Seniors Activity Center, 9629 176 Street. This month, we have a very special event planned. Our friend Yvette will be showing us how to create beautiful greeting cards. We will meet, as usual, in the café. She will provide the materials that we will need. It’ll be a terrific opportunity to work together on a work of art. Thanks to Yvette’s generosity, there will be no cost to you for this activity. Her supply will be limited, however, so for this one time, I’ll ask you to respond by Wednesday, April 16, if you’d like to join in the fun. If you don’t want to make a card, you’re every bit as welcome to come and chat. Once again, please phone 780 487 9034; email al******@***us.net; or simply reply to this message (but please don’t “reply all”)

SUNDAY CONCERTS

St. Andrews United Church, 9915 – 148 Street. Plan to stop in to this beautiful venue for their Sunday Serenades. These two concerts will be a wonderful sensory oasis and our chaotic world! The venue is accessible, and there’s plenty of parking. Many thanks to our friend Heather Miller for keeping us up to date on these events!

Sunday, April 6,
2 pm 

The Sunday Serenades concert series continues with The Alberta Wild Rose Fiddlers, one of the most popular entertainment groups in Edmonton. They are returning to our stage and your toes will be tapping and hands clapping once again. All this for a $10 donation, which is how the organizers pay the performers. 

Sunday, May 4,
2 pm

Join us and enjoy the sweet harmonies of Dawn Choir, directed by the one and only RJ Chambers. A $10 donation at the door will get you a most enjoyable hour of great multi-genre music and you’ll love every minute.

WESTEND SENIORS ACTIVITY CENTER (WSAC)

Saturday, April 5,
10 am to 3 pm

Plan to stop in at WSAC for the second annual Spring Forward Artisan Market. Admission is free, and they will have a BBQ lunch available to purchase as well as tickets available for their next exciting raffle.

Thursday, April 10 – 1:30 to 4 pm

Upcoming event in the Active Aging Series in the Community Café at the Westend Seniors Activity Center. You’ll learn about navigating your downsizing decisions, maximizing your home’s value, navigating mortgages and reverse mortgages, gathering tips for stress-free moving, and more! Admission is $3, which includes admission, coffee, and treats). To register, call the WSAC front desk at 780 483 1209.

FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF WIDOW TO WIDOW – Friday, June 13 & Saturday, June14

 

This two-day retreat will be hosted at Capilano Christian Assembly, 9333 50 Street NW, Edmonton.

The cost of the weekend event is $110 which includes a snack and dinner on Friday and all three meals on Saturday, along with a number of workshops both days from which to choose. Some of you already have the brochures; however, if you need more information, please let me know. If I haven’t got an answer, I’ll find one for you. If you’d like to register for this event, please let me know, and I’ll locate a registration form for you.

For those who need overnight accommodation, the organizers are offering double rooms (twin beds) at King’s University, quite near the retreat venue. Accommodation is priced at $43.60 per person per night (for shared accommodation) and $87.20 per night (for a private room).

The latest update for this event is below, where you will find descriptions of workshops that will help you decide which you’d like to attend.

 

Workshops

All workshops are 50 minutes long and  may be offered in more than one time slot.

 

Taking Care of Me

Facilitator: Gord Falk, B. Ed, M.A.C. Psych, C.C.C.

Reinforcing self-esteem and practicing self-care is important for all of us. It is particularly important for individuals who have experienced loss. Recovering can be challenging; it takes time, and it often shakes one’s sense of personal identity and well-being. In this session, we will acknowledge the grief process, explore and practice self care, and implement practical ways to strengthen physical and mental well-being. The primary focus of this session will be fostering hope, wellness, and confidence in the future.

 

River Valley Walk

Facilitator: Mary Lou Ng, W2W Leader, Online W2W

Enjoy some fresh air and get some exercise as you explore the Edmonton River Valley.

This event, including transportation to the River Valley, will require a little more than the 50 minutes and will be planned appropriately to accommodate this and not interfere with taking other workshops. It will only happen once but may have a “rainout” slot.

 

Hearing From Our Children

Facilitator: Kelly Mottet, daughter of a widow

This workshop will be a panel discussion with children of widows. The participants all lost their Dads when their Mom became a widow. Just as widows’ stories differ, these children’s stories differ; but all have much in common as well. They each found themselves grieving their Dad’s death at the same time as they felt the weight of supporting their Mom. This panel will discuss their challenges from their own experiences. You may want to follow-up this workshop with a conversation with your own children.

 

Designing Our Future

Facilitators: Terry Gushuliak, Rose Ann Mottet, W2W volunteers

The purpose of this workshop is to focus on our future. While continuing to grieve the loss of our husband, a very necessary stage for us to process, when is it time to start to move on? Not forgetting, always remembering, when is it time to redefine and reinvest in ourselves? Using Dr Bill Webster’s Video Series, Grief Matters, we’ll be asking ourselves – What does our future look like? During presentation and discussion, this workshop will look at signposts that indicate we are starting to Design our Future.

 

Dating and Remarriage

Facilitator: Myrna Parker, W2W Leader, Sherwood Park, Evenings

Most of us, as widows have given thought to the options of dating and/or remarriage. There is much to consider! Join this workshop and participate in lively, guided discussions on topics, such as: expectations, roles, inheritances, “shopping” and more. We may not have all the answers but we’ll sure have ideas!

 

Card Making

Facilitator: Kathy Nakano, Card Maker and Teacher

Kathy has years of experience making and teaching the art of card making. Each participant will receive a kit to make a very nice but easy card that you can take home!

 

Calming the Mind – cancelled

 

Bracelet Making

Facilitator: Sylvia Lynn, W2W Volunteer, Crafter/Entrepreneur

Come to this workshop and learn to make a bracelet. You get to choose which bracelet you would like to make, from pre-assembled kits. Then it is your bracelet to take home!

 

Basic Introduction to Quilting

Facilitator: Rose Ann Mottet, W2W Volunteer, Quilter

Ever thought about taking up quilting but don’t know how to get started? Come to this workshop and learn the basics, from different types of quilts, the basic tools, material, the language, the importance of ¼-inch seams and ironing techniques, to reading patterns and shortcuts. Be introduced to some simple patterns to get you started. This workshop is designed for the beginner, not the pro! The enjoyment of quilting just might be in your future!

 

A Journey to Christianity

Facilitator: Kathy Morales, W2W National Leader

In this workshop you will hear Kathy’s personal story of becoming a Christian as a young Mom. For years, Kathy lived without a deep understanding of faith or purpose in life. She had a constant feeling of emptiness until she was introduced to Jesus. She will share how her faith has helped her in difficult seasons and the profound impact of God’s grace and love in her life.

 

Makeover (new – not on the registration sheet)

Facilitator: Sonya Martens, Mary Kay Rep.

Spiritual Reminders from your daily skin care – in 50 minutes you will get to try basic skin care and also receive a five-minute dash out the door makeover. Note: Mary Kay products will be used but no marketing or prices will be presented. If you are interested in this workshop, you can add it to your registration under workshops. You will also have the opportunity to sign up for this workshop at the Celebration.