Hello Autumn gift exchange partners

The partners for the Hello Autumn! Gift Exchange have been picked and are posted below. Thank you to those who are participating! (An email should have been sent to everyone participating.)

 

Stephanie Desjarlais + Amanda

Kendra + Caroline

Nika + Mattie

Heather + Holly

Natasha + Jill

Sarah + Christi Wilson

Ashley Elder + Karin

Stephanie Dyer + April

Molly + Danielle

Deanna + Mary

Kara + Fran

 

Just a few reminders…

- $15 limit

- It is up to the partners to get in contact with each other and exchange mailing addresses.

- All items MUST be shipped by November 7th.

There will be a follow up link up that partners may participate in to show off their gift on November 21st.

Spoken Word Blog

I decided to join in with Angie at still life with circles and many others participating in the Spoken Word Blog Round-up. To me it seemed like a pretty good idea. It’s always fun to hear the voice speaking the words you usually only read yourself. I think it’s neat to see how the voices are different or the same to what you imagined.

I decided to share a poem from a post. I thought I’d have a few minutes to get it in after I picked up the girls from the sitter. Kyndra was playing with dinosaurs at the table and I had Lainey drinking a bottle. Should’ve known one of them would slip in the video. I decided not to re-do the video as it was most likely to happen again and why edit real life, right? This is me and this is what you get!

2012 Lost For Words Calendar

I’m sure many out there in this community know about Carly and Franchesca and their collaboration with the card line Lost For Words. Each of them makes fabulous cards dealing with the loss of a child. They also happen to make calendars too! Each of them have made a calendar for 2012 and both have been unveiled recently and available for purchase.

Before the unveiling they asked for quotes from babyloss parents and I submitted mine. I was so excited to find out that Carly had picked my quote for the calendar. My month is the June and I simply can’t wait to get one of these calendars to have in my house.

I actually came up with the quote 2 years ago when Kelly was asking to remember our babies for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. We could include a small quote for our babies and that is what I came up with for Carleigh.

Thank you Carly for choosing my quote! And thank you both for creating such a beautiful line.

You can purchase Carly’s calendar HERE and Franchesca’s calendar HERE.

Road Trip {meeting another BLM}

Sunday evening (October 16th) we stopped in Merrillville, IN to stay the night. In the morning, we stopped at a nearby McDonald’s so that I could meet up with my friend and fellow BLM, Dana. I actually met Dana through The Midnight Orange FB page. While we waited for her to arrive, we got some hashbrowns. Once Dana arrived we talked for a bit before it was time to hit the road again. It was so great to meet her! I just love meeting my online friends. Thanks for meeting up with me, Dana!

Wouldn’t it be nice to have my own private jet so that I could travel around the country meeting all my BLM friends!! That would be so awesome!

Sign the petition!

Please click the box below and sign the petition to expand FMLA coverage to include employees who have experienced the death of a child. As we all know, parents need as much time as they can get to grieve and current bereavement leave is simply not enough time.

My work allows for up to 5 days off for bereavement. If I hadn't had my maternity leave for Carleigh to be off 6 weeks I don't know how I would've handled going back to work so soon. I don't believe I would have been in any shape to go back just 5 days after losing my child. So please help out!!

Road Trip {Lunch & Memorial}

On Saturday, October 15th we had the lunch that was at another church and was catered by a place called Meatheads. We had BBQ pulled pork and some other things and it was quite good! Of course, Kyndra didn’t eat anything. She’s always picky! The girls did enjoy running around the gym and playing. (Kyndra was playing with the stones she took from our hotel’s landscaping.)

Here is the pamphlet from the memorial that evening. I unfolded it and scanned it. You can click to make larger.

The first event of the evening was at Levee Park in Red Wing, MN. We had a balloon release there.

The next event was the lantern lighting at Central Park in Red Wing. Once we arrived we enjoyed listening to some songs.

Not long after the ceremony started everyone went up and lit them. I got both a lantern and a luminary for my babies Jordan and Carleigh.

I took a picture of Heather and her family. I couldn’t help but notice the Comfort Bear from Sufficient Grace Ministries.

I really like this photo that Heather’s daughter took.

Towards the end of the ceremony it was time for the speakers, which meant it was my turn!! I admit, I was definitely nervous. I have never spoken in front of anyone sharing our story of Carleigh. Anthony says he could tell I was nervous but I eventually settled into a good rhythm. It prolly didn’t help that I was a little chilly! The air wasn’t real cold but there was a crisp breeze that evening. A couple parts I got a little teary but I made it through! I’m so glad that I got to share.

After I shared my story it was Amanda’s turn and then Sherokee Isle spoke. If you’re not familiar with her she wrote the book Empty Arms: Coping After Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Death. I haven’t read the book but I am sure it is good. She was good at speaking and we were all glad that she had decided to join us that evening and speak. I even got to speak with her after everything was over and I felt better when she said I did a good job speaking.

Wanted to share also a pamphlet about the support offered by Anchored By Hope.

Memorial Road Trip {Meeting BLMs & Dinner}

On Friday, October 14th we headed toward Madison, WI from my cousin Kate’s house so that I could meet up with Melissa and Alissa. They are fellow BLMs that I have gotten to know on my own journey through loss. We met up at a Panera Bread there and had a nice time chatting while we ate. We only got to spend about 30 minutes with them until it was time for us to leave so that we could stay on schedule. Before we left Melissa gave me my shirt that I got from the Forever In Our Hearts Remembrance Walk they held in that area. The shirt is really pretty and it has the names of my Heavenly babies on the back. How wonderful!

After Madison, we headed to Tomah, WI so that I could meet up with Deanna at Subway in the Walmart there. She’s another fellow BLM. She had her mom and her little guy, Asher, with her. He and Kyndra had fun riding the little truck ride nearby. (Thanks Deanna!)

Once we arrived in Red Wing, we headed straight for the dinner that was being hosted at a local church. Kyndra really loved the big hall and I think she thought it was her own stage as she was singing and dancing all over. A photography club was there taking pictures and video of the dinner. It was nice to meet a few more BLMs that I only knew from online, like Kristie and Heather.
While we were there Heather interviewed me on video. I was a little nervous but I think I did ok.

Remembering...

Tonight I am remembering my babies, Jordan & Carleigh, along with so many other babies gone too soon. I'm thinking of all the wonderful friends I've met on this journey and their precious little ones.

We'll never forget.

Hello Autumn gift exchange

<a border="0" href="http://www.caringforcarleigh.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy44/smallbirdstudio/helloautumn.png" /></a>

Who doesn’t love giving gifts to others? I know I always have fun exchanging gifts and in the past I’ve participated in the Remembering Together Swaps and the Faces of Loss exchange over the summer. Well, in the US it is autumn and what a better time for a gift exchange than now?

The rules are as follows:

Sign up at either:
Caring for Carleigh
My Angel Baby...Aiden William
Small Bird Studios
Viva la Vida

Please only sign up once. If you sign up on any one of these blogs you do not have to sign up on another one as it will show up on all four. When signing up please type your name and your blog name (Name @ Blog Name).

There is a limit of $15 for a Fall theme gift like ornaments, scarves, fall baking kits. Feel free to share with your partner why you chose that gift... a baking kit for a little sweetness and warmth to their Autumn, etc.

Partners will be picked and posted by October 29th. It is up to the partners to get in contact with each other and exchange mailing addresses.

All items MUST be shipped by November 7th.

There will be a follow up link up that partners may participate in to show off their piece of hope on November 21st.

Please, please, PLEASE….only participate if you can guarantee your partner will receive a gift. It is a little disheartening when you sign up for an exchange but then don’t receive a gift. It’s happened to me and I know it has happened to others. Don’t disappoint your exchange partner!

My Hope Is In You, Lord

 

I’ve been thinking a lot about my babies lately, especially Carleigh. The moments of missing and sadness have been a little more lately. I don’t know whether that is because this month is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month so everything is more present in my mind or if it’s just regular cycle of grief. Maybe both.

I took the picture below on October 7th right outside our home. We live in a very small town and just across the way is a grain mill that many of the local farmers bring their corn and soy beans to. The sunset this night was particularly beautiful for our area and I thought I would capture it. It reminded me of my babies with both the purple and the yellow hues. I can only imagine the colors they have in Heaven. It’s hard to fathom they have colors up there I’ve never even seen!

Even though when moments of missing hurt, I still have my hope. I will never lose my hope in the Lord no matter what trials I face in this life-there is nothing that can shatter it.

But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

Aaron Shust has a song out called My Hope Is In You. I absolutely love this song. It is one of my favorites and I always sing along when it is on. Today I saw the music video to the song. Oh. My. Gosh. The video is simply amazing and had my crying. Well, sobbing would be a better word. And then at the end of the video I see my favorite hymn. Wow.

My hope is in You, Lord
All the day long
I won't be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes understanding is my song
And I sing
My hope is in You, Lord

Yes, Lord, my HOPE is in YOU.

Giveaway winners

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaways for Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness. The winners have all been randomly selected and are as follows:

Earrings: Jenn

Necklace: Caitycait

Ribbons: Tiffany, Fireflyforever, Nat, Holly, kvwriter, Jenny Lees, Stacy, Marissa, & val

Congrats to the winners! I need each of the winners to email me at caring4carleigh@yahoo.com with your mailing address please.

October Giveaways

I had thought of doing 3 separate posts but decided that it would be too time consuming and I need to save as much time as I can! I have several thing I’d like to give away for Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month and I want to get it in before October 15th so that way maybe the people who win can get their items before that day.

So here is what I am giving away:

A pair of gold plated awareness ribbon earrings.

A gold etched angel wing with gold plated chain that is approximately 20" in length. Also comes with genuine Czech fire polished beads in pink/rosaline and light sapphire blue.

Both of the above are from Christina’s Treasures.

I also have 9 handmade awareness ribbons from Avi’s Embrace. Other ribbons are also offered and can be purchased here. I even kept one for myself because I liked them so much (hence why I’m only giving 9 away instead of 10!)

To enter any of these giveaways just leave me a comment and tell me who you will be remembering this month. So there will be 11 different winners! I’ll leave these giveaways open until Thursday and announce the winners Friday.

October is here

For those who have lost a child we are keenly aware that October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month and that October 15th is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. You can visit the site www.october15th.com for more information about this special day and the Wave of Light.

This month is a time to spread awareness about baby loss. It’s more common than people think and it’s up to those of us who have been there to educate others not only about loss itself but how losing a child affects us. Below is a video that does a really good job at sharing what this life is like.

 

I know I will be thinking of all of our babies even more this month as we remember their brief, yet very profound, lives.

Happy Birthday October Babies

Happy Birthday to all those babies who were born in October. Sending love to all your mommies!

Claire ~ October 1, 2009
Cayla ~ October 2, 2009
Meredith ~ October 3, 1974
Shelomith ~ October 4, 2009
Isaac ~ October 7, 2008
Samuel ~ October 7, 2010
Blumpy ~ October 8, 2009
Cana ~ October 8, 2008
Samuel ~ October 9, 2009
Cadynce ~ October 10, 2009
Adelle ~ October 12, 2009
Rebekah ~ October 13, 2009
Madison ~ October 14, 2010
Emma ~ October 14, 2008
Jamie ~ October 14, 2009
Nathan ~ October 15, 2009
Dylan ~ October 19, 2000
George ~ October 20, 2008
Kennedy ~ October 22, 2009
Johanna ~ October 23, 2009
Christopher ~ October 24, 2009
Jacob ~ October 25, 2010
Sami ~ October 26, 2009
Anastasha ~ October 26, 2010
Faith ~ October 28, 2008
Aiden ~ October 28, 2009
Claire ~ October 28, 2010
Adam ~ October 30, 2009

Sorry if your baby is not on this list. Please leave a comment if you would like your baby added.