Sympathy Gift Books

Losing a family member is never easy. You know how the first year can be especially difficult, especially around the holidays. You have the "Last year at this time, this is what was going on, this is what we were doing, we were so happy, and now I'm so sad."

You've probably wondered, "Can they hear me? Do they know what my life is like now? Do they know how much I miss them? Where are they now?" My personal belief is, yes, our loved ones are always by our side as love never dies.

Three great sympathy books for sale in our gift shop are: The Next Place, Paw Prints in the Stars, and Animals and the Afterlife. The first two are definite gift books, meant to give comfort through light but meaningful words and beautiful, heavenly illustrations spoken through the words of those who have passed on, including the words of our pets who have passed on to the Rainbow Bridge.

Animals and the Afterlife is one of our favorite books of all time written on the subject of life after death of an animal. Along with her own experiences, author Kim Sheridan compiled the extraordinary experiences of ordinary people from around the world. She discovered overwhelming evidence that forever erased her own doubts of an afterlife for animals.

If you're looking to comfort yourself or your loved ones, you will love our offering of sympathy gift books. Click on the title of this blog post to be taken directly to our shop to learn more about these wonderful books and to purchase them.

Angel Figurine Collectibles for the Angels in Your Life

The holidays seem to be a time when we most often reflect on the many blessings in our lives, how thankful we are, especially, for our friends and family members -- even strangers sometimes -- who help to make our lives whole and oh-so-special.

Perhaps someone you know is welcoming a new baby into their household. Perhaps there is a nurse who has made a loved one's hospital stay more pleasant and bearable. Perhaps you want to let someone know how much their friendship and support means to you, and so on.

Angels are guardian spirits or guiding influences. The angels in your life are those who are kind and lovable, who manifest goodness, purity, and selflessness. You know who your angels are, and they don't have to have a halo and wings.

Remember the angels in your life during the holiday season -- or anytime -- with one of our beautiful angel figurines, some of which are musical.

Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness Hershey's Kisses

What a brilliant idea by Hershey's to create the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness Kisses! Who doesn't love Hershey's Kisses? To combine delicious bite-sized chocolate with an awareness of a very worthy cause was a match made in Heaven.

These yummy chocolate morsels were covered with elegant pink foils with pink ribbons. So darn cute! Unfortunately, these were "limited edition" and are now discontinued, long before we even knew they existed.

Hershey's: Bring them back!

Readers: What say you?

Heavenly Baby and New Mom Gifts

We are expanding our product offerings and gift baskets for babies and new moms to further celebrate the little miracles from Heaven and the cherished moments of being a woman and a mother. From inspirational journals to plush baby teddy bear angels and security blankets, to gift books and mother angel figurines, we're sure you'll find a unique gift that will surely bring a little light and joy to the souls of your gift recipients.

Check back often!

Have an idea for mom and baby gifts not featured in our shop? We welcome your input!

Kindred Spirits Gift Shop Animal Charities

The current plight of animals is heart-breaking to me. Animals feel the same physical and emotional pain as do humans. Animals possess a soul. Instead of being respected and protected by man, animals are being subjected to cruelty, suffering, and oppression. And their suffering is rapidly increasing and is being largely ignored.

You should know that the Kindred Spirits Gift Shop, LLC, through its parent company, The Pet Guardian, LLC, donates 5 percent of each sale to three amazing 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable animal organizations: Angels Gate Hospice for Animals, Companion Animal Protection Society, and Meisha's Hope AIHA/IMHA Fund #338 through Morris Animal Foundation. We feel each of these organizations embodies our spirit and mission to help animals, and we couldn't be more proud to help assist them in any way we can.

When purchasing gifts in our gift shop, during the checkout process you are prompted to choose from one of our three charities. If one of the three charities is not chosen, we will choose one for you. The 5 percent that is donated from each purchase does not get added onto your purchase.

Please take the time to learn about our charities and how your purchases help our furry friends. Now more than ever, the animals need our help.

Pet Bereavement Gift Boxes

Losing a pet is often the hardest part of sharing our lives with one. After the shared joy and unconditional love, the passing of a dog, cat, or other pet can leave its guardian feeling empty and alone. Sometimes the bond we have with our pets and the immense value they add to our lives is underestimated. Often we feel our bereavement is not taken as seriously as other losses in life.

The Kindred Spirits Pet Loss Remembrance Gifts are gifts specially designed to address the needs of the grieving pet guardian while providing loving gifts of guidance, support, and remembrance. We have several gift boxes from which to choose, some including our inspirational handmade beaded bracelets from Auntie Angel Designs.

Please see our Web site for more information about these great pet sympathy gift boxes, as well as our extensive line of "soulful" bereavement gifts and gift baskets for pet guardians.

Your gift recipient will forever cherish your kindness, generosity, and understanding during the grieving process. Let them know they are in your thoughts and prayers!

Holiday Gifts for Pet Lovers

Looking for great one-of-a-kind and reasonably priced holiday gifts and stocking stuffers for pet lovers and their furry friends, but scratching your head wondering what to purchase? With the holidays upon us, the Kindred Spirits Gift Shop, LLC will assist you with your gift-giving needs.

On a budget? Want a custom-made pet-themed gift basket? No problem!

There is no better time than the holidays to show your friends and loved ones how much you care. We're sure they and their pets will be delighted with our unique pet-lover gifts and treats!

Note Ali, one of our satisfied customers. This frisky feline was quite anxious to uncover all the goodies in our "Animal House" basket, created for all the dogs and cats in this household!

Contact us to see what we can do for you!

Adopting a Pet? You Don't Want to Miss This!

Going to adopt a shelter dog or cat between now and November 30, 2009? Or have you just recently adopted a new furry friend from a shelter? We have a great gift we want to give you. For FREE!

We'll give you an aluminum jeweled paw print bowl for both food and water, sample packets of Wellness brand kibble, and informational material to help keep your new animal companion happy and healthy for the rest of his or her life.

There is no catch to this great offer. No purchase is necessary. We will even pay for shipping. No kidding!

We're recognizing that by adopting a dog or cat from a shelter, you're saving the lives of these precious animals and giving them much-needed, loving homes. We want to do our part to help you accomplish that.

All we require from you is faxed proof of adoption from a shelter, type and size of pet, and your mailing address and phone number, of course. Please contact us via e-mail at sales@kindredspiritsgiftshop.com, and let's get the ball rolling. But hurry as our supplies won't last!

Limit: One gift bag per household.

GoD And DoG by WJ Francisco

For everyone who believes God is in all living things -- which includes dogs, of course -- you will certainly enjoy this extremely touching You Tube video.

Remembering My Angel Mother

Today is July 18th. I'll never forget the date. It is -- or do we say "was"? -- my mother's birthday.

My 25th birthday was the worst in my life knowing that any day my mother would be gone from the cancer that invaded her lungs, liver, and bones. From the date of diagnosis to when she passed was a mere six weeks. The fact that she would die one day from cancer was never a surprise. She had been a heavy smoker of Pall Mall cigarettes her entire life.

I have used this photo of my mom and I in my Mother's Day newsletter this year. It is one of my favorites. Sitting on the sofa, holding my Chrissy doll, clearly I enjoyed her company and was so enamored with her. She was such a good mother. Unfortunately, this is one of the few photos I have of the two of us together. Too bad we didn't have digital cameras back then, because I'm sure more family pictures would have been taken, period.

So get to snapping those pictures of your mother and let her know how much you love her any chance you get.

Happy Birthday, my Angel Mother.

Love,

Jeannie

Sarah's Angels Figurines to be Retired in 2009

Much to our dismay, our favorite Sarah's Angels figurine is being retired. Introduced in 2006, "Angel With Dog" is the featured angel in our "Angels Among Us" gift basket benefitting one of our nonprofit charities, Meisha's Hope IMHA/AIHA Fund #338 with Morris Animal Foundation. (A substitution will be made for future gift baskets when our stock is depleted.)

This beautiful 4.5-inch figurine is no longer being manufactured. We have the last of the remaining stock of "Angel With Dog" from Pavilion Gift Company. This is your chance to purchase this magical piece for your angel collection.

Also to be retired: "Marsha," musical angel holding dove, Tune: "Wind Beneath My Wings," a customer favorite as a bereavement gift or gift of encouragement. And "Kyle," boy angel with dog.

The Gift of Playtime

Work deadlines, bills to pay, laundry piling up, a dirty house . . . sometimes it can all be so overwhelming that you don't even know where to begin the day. And it's not even the weekend yet.

Carve out a few hours of the day to do something you absolutely love, something you haven't done in quite a while. I'm sure you know what that is!

For instance, I love to sew and machine-embroider. I taught myself how to sew on a $200 Singer. I love sewing so much, when it was time to replace my Singer, I made the leap and purchased one of the best machines in the industry, something that would pay the mortgage for many months. I am not doing that machine justice!

Try not to feel guilty that there are things that need your attention and you just don't want to deal with them. It's okay to be an "adult," and walk away from the obligations for a few hours and do what you want to do. Dust off that sewing machine or bike, or whatever you haven't touched in a while, and go play. When your mind and body returns to a peaceful state, you'll be able to handle all those built-up tasks with gusto.

I'm taking my own advice today. This is a gift I am giving to myself, some therapy time, some Me time. Everything else can wait.

A "Sunny" Mindset

It's St. Patrick's Day, and today is another gorgeous sunny springlike day in Colorado. For some reason I awoke to thoughts of sunflowers. I was particularly drawn to this photograph of a very healthy sunflower facing towards the sun, set against a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds, towering above its neighboring sunflowers.

This sunflower is a gentle reminder of the great joy and potential each and every one of us can possess in our lives every day. I feel it is especially important to continually remind ourselves of what we are grateful for and safeguard ourselves from thoughts of doom and gloom, remove ourselves from toxic environments and people, and shield ourselves from all negativity and the negative attitudes of others.

Thoughts are things. You are what you think about. Focus on what you do that is positive. Remember to value your contribution to the world. Believe in your courage, your strength, your beauty, and most of all yourself.

Your success in life will emerge and soar above the rest, just like this sunflower. It is just a matter of cultivating a "sunny" mindset.

Spiritual Gifts in Uncertain Times

I'm sure most of us are wondering where we can further curb our spending habits and save money. We can purchase our "essentials" at the big-box stores like Wal-Mart and Target to minimize our grocery bill. We can brew our own coffee every morning instead of visiting our local Starbucks for a coffee fix. Perhaps we can't afford the gym membership anymore, so we're exercising outdoors and enjoying the fresh air with our loved ones and with our dogs.

For our customers who have watched the Kindred Spirits Gift Shop evolve over the last few years, you've probably noticed how we've expanded and especially expanded our area of focus. We had our logo and Web site redesigned and had our tag line changed to better fit the times and reflect the products we now offer.

When we're anxious about what's going on in the world, many of us will turn to spirituality to help us get our mind off our troubles. It’s okay to shop for spiritual gifts to treat ourselves and remind ourselves that we do have the inner strength to get through these uncertain times.

Kindred Spirits Gift Shop's Charity Program

As The Pet Guardian, it's always been important to me that people are aware of what can happen to their pets. I don't want anybody to ever go through what I did when I lost my dogs Tasha and Niki.

When I decided to launch the Kindred Spirits Gift Shop, I knew I wanted to "give back" and help the animals. No matter what's happening in our world, the policy here remains: 5 percent of all purchases from the Kindred Spirits Gift Shop is donated to three nonprofit animal-based charities: Angel's Gate Hospice for Animals, Companion Animal Protection Society, and Meisha's Hope AIHA/IMHA Fund #338 at Morris Animal Foundation. For two of the shop's nonprofits, 25 percent of a specially-designated gift basket is donated to that organization. Our third charity gift basket will be forthcoming sometime this year.

Some people don't understand why I'd choose to "give away" 5 percent (or 25%) of the shop's bottom line. Setting aside my deeply personal reasons, here's why:

Organizations such as animal shelters and rescues -- really any organization that deals with the health and welfare of animals -- are especially in need of funding given the state of our economy. There are more animals, higher costs to care for them, and the funding is just not there like it used to be. The animals will continue to suffer if we don't step up and give.

There are volunteer opportunities. There are also plenty of ways to give back by going online and donating or shopping with e-tailers who donate for you. When going through the checkout process with the Kindred Spirits Gift Shop, please be sure to click on one of the charities so your donation can be directed there. It's that simple.

As you're purchasing gifts and gift baskets with us, remember you are helping the animals. As always, thank you for helping to make our world a better place for our furry friends!

When is it Not Appropriate to Give a Sympathy Gift?

There is NEVER an excuse to not acknowledge the death of a loved one with someone you know, whether it's a human or a pet.

I wonder how many friendships/relationships get scarred or end because of someone's careless disregard for the feelings of someone who is grieving?

Death is hard on everyone, even if you've never been through it personally. But one day, unfortunately, you will experience the death of a friend or a loved one because that's just part of life. Knowing that doesn't make it any easier; that's just the way it is.

You may not know what to say to the person who is hurting, so you say nothing. This is as bad as saying something totally inappropriate while trying to make the bereaved feel better. You can be so choked up inside, so afraid that you will burst out crying because you, too, miss the wonderful soul who is now gone, feel so much for the person who is grieving, so worried about what to say, but all that is needed is something as simple as "I am so sorry for your loss." Period. Even if you can't bring yourself to actually verbalize those words, a simple sympathy card or short handwritten note by you will more than suffice.

Our economy has affected so many of us on so many levels. I've personally walked around with only one dollar in my wallet for a month. On more than one occasion. Money's tight, no doubt about it. But gift-giving CAN be free.

A really great gift that doesn't cost a dime is the gift of listening. Write a note, send a sympathy card, and offer the gift of your time to sit and listen to your friend or loved one just talk. A "I know you are hurting. I am here for you" goes a long, long way. Trust me on this. This person may never take you up on your offer, but they will certainly remember the kindness you extended. If they do take you up on your offer, you can be sure that one day when you're in your time of need, they will return the favor. You will want someone on your side who has "been there."

The gift of listening should have no expiration date. The first year is the worst as the person who is grieving is reliving all the "anniversaries" and remembering what was happening at that certain time of the year the previous year. Losing a loved one can take years to get over, and some of us never get over our losses. We do, however, learn to get "around" our losses. Please be patient, kind, and compassionate in the meantime.

My mother was the most important person in my life. She was my best friend. 22 years later, and I miss her dearly. I was so attached to her that I feared her death from before I was five years old. Relatives told me it was because we were separated once when I went into the hospital as a baby to recover from the croup. For as long as I could remember, I dreaded the day my mother would leave me. My mother died soon after my 25th birthday. It was THE worst time of my life.

One year, on one of the anniversaries of my mother's death, I was quiet and sad. What was wrong with me, my then-boyfriend wanted to know. So I told him. The worst response in the world he could have ever said was, "She's dead. So what? Get over it!" In total disbelief, I didn't know how to respond because I'm not the type of person who will retaliate with "I can't wait for YOUR mother to die so you can know what it feels like." Instead I said, "Well, I see this is another topic we can't discuss," and proceeded to "file" that moment away in my head. Of course the file cabinet in my head got full -- with that being the first clear, defined moment I knew I couldn't trust this person with my whole heart -- that eventually the relationship ended. Yes, I received an apology. But too late. The damage was done. Forever.

Another point in my adult life after losing my dogs Tasha and Niki, I was talking on the telephone about my devastation with a long-time friend of mine. Because she had no point of reference and had never known the unconditional love of a pet, I guess the conversation got too uncomfortable for her -- it didn't seem to matter that it was my heart that had been ripped into a million pieces -- and she callously said, "Can we change the subject?" and went on to whatever was more important for her.

Yep, I've known some real "gems" in my life, but I embrace the lessons I learned from them, the scars I received, and now embrace the person I am because of them.

Giving a gift doesn't have to cost a lot of money. Giving a gift of the heart is so rewarding, is memorable, and is absolutely free. Never forget there is someone you know who needs you during their time of loss but might be too proud to ask. They shouldn't have to ask. Just reach out and let them know you care.

Courage For The Cure

Being home sick for the good part of two weeks with a virus that seems to be popping up everywhere this winter, I've had a lot of time on my hands to be cranky and depressed and just all around feeling crummy. I know we all can't be at the top of our game all the time, but that's not easy for someone like me who always likes to be productive. Maybe it's a woman thing, I don't know.

Getting sick is the body's way of saying slow down. When you don't listen, it's going to stop you dead in your tracks, whether you have the time to be sick or not. Too bad! Being sick brought out the petulant baby in me, and I haven't liked her.

I have had some bursts of energy while being sick, though. I accomplished something I'm proud of, something that made me feel good, something that is going to bring a lot of "Pink Ribbon ladies" comfort, something that will remind them always that they are loved and cared for and supported: my Courage For The Cure Gift Basket.

While I was inspired and still energetic, I also created my Serenity For Nurses Gift Basket, for the sometimes underappreciated and underpaid earth angels who do so much to give us comfort when we find ourselves facing some challenging times with our health.

You will find the Courage For The Cure and Serenity For Nurses Gift Baskets in the Hope, Faith & Encouragement section of the gift shop. It is my hope that the special women in your life love the gift baskets as much as I enjoyed creating them. May they bring peace, hope, and encouragement to all who receive them.

Once again I find myself humbled by the latest message I received by being sick and having to slow down for a while. I'm extremely lucky that my prescriptions should have me back to feeling great in no time. I know other people aren't so lucky.

The petulant baby is gone and is finally going to sleep well tonight.

Flowers vs. Keepsake Gifts and Gift Baskets

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, most gift givers will go the flowers route. Really, what holiday or occasion would beautiful, fragrant flowers not be appropriate? And who doesn’t love flowers? But will the flowers be remembered after the occasion? Sorry to say, probably not, especially in times of grief.

With flowers, there’s usually not a whole lot of thought and time involved in choosing them. That makes them an old standby. The novelty of receiving flowers wears off minutes after they’re put in a vase and placed on a table or on the kitchen counter, which is a sad reality for the gift giver who just spent a chunk of change purchasing them. Then, too, the recipient is left with another vase to add to her stockpile, until the stockpile is sold at a garage sale for pennies or put in the recycle bin.

In our challenging economic times, flowers can be a frivolous indulgence. However, the act of giving doesn’t have to fall by the wayside. Life’s events should be acknowledged and/or celebrated. One should be able to enjoy giving gifts, as usual, even if one is on a strict budget.

This is where standalone keepsake gifts and/or gift baskets come into play. At the Kindred Spirits Gift Shop, this is our specialty. We’re doing the legwork of choosing unique gifts -- and even doing the gift-wrapping -- so you don’t have to.

Now, we ask you: Would you rather your hard-earned dollars be spent on something that will be dead in a week and end up in the trash can, or would you rather spend your dollars on a gift that will be remembered always and cherished?

For your gift recipient to be able to enjoy a well-thought-out gift for many years to come, now that’s priceless!