Peace Plant- A post by Maggie Pitts

My heart was filled this week with love, peace, and remembrance of loss for my dear friend Amanda. After Amanda's funeral the family asked if anyone would like to take some of the plants that were given as gifts home with them. I selected a very small peace lily plant. I called it "Amanda Plant" and have always been very protective over the plant. I don't have much of a green thumb, but I felt it very important to nurture this particular plant. It has done well through various moves across the country, but never really thrived. It certainly never bloomed. The New Year has been a very happy one for my family. In September, Jake and I welcomed our son, Jude Quinn, into our lives. Since then I have felt a deep connection with things living and things past. I understand more the idea of "Mother's Love." I understand more the desire for peace, well-being, and genuine friendship. Still, this January came in a hurry and amidst all the sleepless nights and frantic preparations for my academic pursuits I haven't had time to sit and reflect on the deep connection I felt with Amanda. This is the first year I cannot give blood for the memorial blood drive. It is the first year that I wasn't acutely aware of what I was doing this month 7 years ago. I have been thinking of Amanda. In fact, having conversations with her about my son and what she would be doing right now if she was still on this plane with us. But these thoughts seem more scattered than before - as if it's hard to concentrate on one thing. What is remarkable is that this year even though I felt as though I wasn't connecting as much as before, I felt something reach out to me. The peace lily bloomed. It bloomed despite my not taking very good care of it since the arrival of my son. It bloomed despite all the sunless days that have marked this winter. It bloomed. It seemed to bloom to call my memories back and to experience again the love I felt for my friend, and for all things. This year a presence reached out to me to remind me that we are all one. All things connected. Thank you Amanda, for always teaching me, on Earth as it is in Heaven, that we are all one. We are all love.
Peace be with everyone,
Maggie

Judi Weiner to run Cincinatti Heart Mini Marathon in memory of Amanda

If you would like to make a donation, please go to: http://cincinnati.kintera.org/heartmini/AmandaKundrat

8th Annual Memorial Blood Drive

Dear friends,

Happy New Year! I am writing to let you know that the 8th annual Amanda Kundrat memorial blood drive will be Thursday, January 28th from 10am-4pm in 7 Sparks, Penn State Learning Center. If you live in Happy Valley, we hope you will consider supporting this annual effort to honor Amanda's memory.

If you are not in Happy Valley, please consider donating wherever you may be. If you do decide to donate or volunteer, please let us know with a note or a picture. We keep track of these numbers and factor "long-distance" donations into our yearly totals.

There has been a new and exciting development this year. The annual NCA/ICA Health Communication Master's thesis award is now the Amanda L. Kundrat Health Communication Thesis of the Year Award! Read all about it at: http://www.icahdq.org/aboutica/awards/kundrat.asp

Financial donations are still needed to ensure the long-term feasibility of offering this award. Individuals who wish to make a financial contribution to support this effort can do so through the Amanda L. Kundrat Memorial Fund. Donations can be sent to: Amanda Kundrat Memorial Fund c/o Graduate Forum, 234 Sparks Building, University Park, PA 16802. The check should be made out to "Graduate Forum" with "ALK memorial fund" in the memo section.

Wishing you all the best in 2010.

Janice & Maggie