Posts
All Comments
I wanted to post about CarlyMarie’s project for October called Capture Your Grief for those who might be interested. It is a photo project for those who are grieving the loss of a child. For more details please go to her post HERE! I definitely plan on participating!
A couple weeks ago for about a week things were tough. I was having lots of moments that left me teary-eyed and aching for my little girl. I can’t pinpoint any single thing that brought this on. I guess it’s just one of those waves of grief that come. Although they are not as frequent now, I am not expecting them as much so when they hit it can be hard.
Truth is, I miss my girl. I was especially missing her that week. I felt the ache in my heart. I have been wanting to come here and write. I wanted to come that week and pour out my heart but I just never had the time like I wanted to do that. And that’s ok. I have 3 little girls who needed me and that’s where I’d rather have my attention. I knew I’d get here eventually. (Of course now that I’m feeling better I don’t feel the need to pour out my heart like I did.)
They make the ache easier-seeing their smiles and hearing their laughter. Playing and hugging and loving them helps me. I do believe a part of her lives on in them, especially my Evanee who looks so much like her.
I snapped a photo of Evanee with Carleigh Bear while she slept. It is bittersweet to me in more way than one. A little girl who hugs a bear where her sister should be, except this little girl would not be here today if her sister was. So thankful for both of them-for all my girls.
Grace for the Journey ~ A Day of Encouragement and Remembrance
Hosted by Sufficient Grace Ministries
Saturday, October 13, 2012
5:00pm-9:00pm
Harbor Light Community Church
8220 Clayton Road
Harbor Springs, Michigan
We are excited to announce plans for a day of remembrance and encouragement for mothers who have experienced the loss of a baby, and for anyone who wants to better understand how to minister to those who grieve. We all face trials and loss in this life, so our message of hope is relevant to anyone, regardless of whether you have experienced the loss of a child or not.
There will be a few speakers to share about the following topics:
Finding Hope Through Grief's Journey
How to Minister to a Bereaved Parent
Making Precious Memories ~ Incorporating Your Baby's Memory into Your Family Celebrations
The Effects of Sibling Grief and Ways to Support Grieving Siblings
We will also have a time of sharing, prayer, and a remembrance/candle lighting ceremony honoring our babies in heaven. We will be bringing some items to share with the mothers, from the Dreams of You Shop, and some other gifts to encourage. There will be refreshments, and a time to share with one another in the telling of our stories. This special retreat will be hosted by Sufficient Grace Ministries with no set charge for the participants. Free will donations are appreciated to help cover the costs of this event and to support the outreaches of this ministry. We are hoping to spark interest with the mothers in the area, as we believe this event could be a great comfort to those walking this path. October is national pregnancy loss awareness month, and a special time to honor these precious lives, and encourage the mothers with grieving hearts.
To register for the event, please send your name and contact information to either Kelly Gerken at: sufficientgraceministries@gmail.com or Jennifer Ross at: hoster777@live.com
Kelly Gerken (http://blog.sufficientgraceministries.org) has experienced the loss of twin daughters (Faith and Grace), who were born still at 26 weeks and the loss of an infant son, (Thomas) who died shortly after birth from Potter’s Syndrome. From her own family’s journey of grief and healing, Kelly has created the Dreams of You Memory Book and other beautiful support materials to help families form a precious memory for their babies who leave this earth too soon. The ministry has expanded to include a team of individuals offering an array of products, online support, hospital seminars on compassionate care for grieving parents, and a speaking/singing outreach to encourage churches and women's groups. Kelly and her husband, Tim also have two sons who fill their days with golf, baseball, and lots of laughs. You can read more of the Gerken family's journey through loss to hope and healing here: http://sufficientgraceministries.org/the-story-of-faith-grace-and-thomas/
Holly Haas serves on the SGM board and blogs at www.caringforcarleigh.com, where she shares her family's journey as they carried their daughter Carleigh after receiving a diagnosis of anencephaly, cherishing the time they were given with their sweet baby girl, and beautifully honoring her memory ever since. Holly and her husband are the parents of two babies in heaven: Jordan and Carleigh, and four adorable girls on earth. Carleigh's story is told here: http://www.caringforcarleigh.com/p/carleighs-story.html
Jennifer Ross has been sharing about the loss of her son Isaiah, on a personal blog that she created in the beginning of 2009. Her health turned for the worse, when a placental abruption took place and from there she suffered a condition called Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, (D.I.C). The loss occurred on August 3, 2008. On her blog, His Grace Is Sufficient, she has poured her heart out into words, bringing healing into her own life, and praying that the journaling of her loss will help other woman who have experienced the loss of a child. Jennifer and her husband, Christopher, are the parents of one precious son in heaven, and five handsome sons on earth. You can read more about her journey through the loss of her son Isaiah, at http://hoster777.blogspot.com.
More information about Sufficient Grace Ministries:
Sufficient Grace Ministries for Women, a 501 (c ) 3 non-profit, non-denominational Christian organization, was founded in 2004 by Kelly Gerken with the purpose of reaching out to women and families to offer comfort, encouragement and hope. The Dreams of You division of this ministry was created specifically to provide comfort to women and families who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death.
Bereaved parents are never asked to pay for the materials provided by SGM. We are supported by donations from individuals, churches, and businesses. Today, more than 300 packages a year are mailed all over the world to grieving families, fulfilling the mission of SGM to offer the same comfort to others we received from the Lord in our time of need. (2 Corinth. 1:3-4)
For more information about the products and services provided by Sufficient Grace Ministries, please visit: www.sufficientgraceministries.org
Blessings,
Kelly, Holly, and Jennifer
The FB event can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/427422877293918/?ref=ts
I wanted to share this Precious Moments figurine in case anyone was interested in getting it. It is called Mommy’s Love Goes With You and it depicts a mother handing over her baby to an angel. I guess it is one that was made in limited quantities in 2007 and then retired. Well, they are bringing it back! You can preorder it right now for October. Just click HERE!!!!
This is just such a moving piece and it makes me cry looking at it. It really tells so much, doesn’t it?
