A Few Thank Yous

Hey everyone!  First I have to say thank you so much to everyone who has thought of me and sent well wishes my way!  I am definitely starting to feel better after several trips to the doctor and a few days of rest :)  I feel so bad for falling behind on everything but I know you all understand......thank you for being so fabulous!!!

Next I have to say thank you to a truly amazing baby loss mama- Shaina over at Rows for Remembrance.  Let me just say that God truly blessed my life with Shaina.  She reached out to me several months back when I was fresh in the depths of my grief.  So sweet, so caring........she asked if she could make a blanket for me to remember Aiden by.  I cried. I couldn't believe someone could be so giving. I was new to the blogging community and just taken back at how generous she was considering she really didn't even know me.  Of course I told her I would LOVE for her to make a blanket for me.

The idea behind Rows for Remembrance is simple- Shaina's ministry is set up to help families remember their little angels and have something tangible to hold in their arms.  If you have not heard of this ministry before please take a moment to visit her page or you can read about it in my post from a few months back.

I just wanted to share the amazing blanket that Shaina created for my little Aiden......it is perfect.

It's amazing isn't it?  I LOVE it!!!  I cannot tell you how soft and sweet this blanket is.  The first night I got it I carried it around on my shoulder the whole evening but then I had my mom put it away in Aiden's room because I didn't want it to get dirty.  Well a few weeks after that the blanket moved from Aiden's room and into my bed.  I sleep with it every night and it truly comforts me when I am struggling........didn't I tell you God blessed me with Shaina! This blanket has been a source of strength for me when I didn't have any strength left.  I can feel the love that was used to make it....I can feel the tears Shaina cried as she knit this blanket for Aiden and for me.......I can feel God all through this awesome blanket.  Thank you so much Shaina- you have truly blessed my life!!!

My last thank you for this morning is for another fabulous BLM who I'm sure you all know and love......Kristin who is mama to Stevie Joy- LOVE her name!  Kristin has given me an amazing opportunity!  As you all know she founded Faces of Loss Faces of Hope after losing her precious baby girl Stevie.  Faces does so much for the baby loss community but most important it lets other moms and dads know they are not alone.  I know I felt so alone outside of Nygel and my immediate family when we lost Aiden.  I didn't know how to interact with people anymore. I felt like no one "got it".  And then I met you all!!!  And I found Faces!  And I realized I was not alone and there were people that understood where I was coming from.

When I first found out about FOLFOH I was amazed!  And I wanted to help!  I wanted to be there for other moms the way so many others had been (and still are) there for me. And Kristin was so fabulous to let me!!!!  She has given me the great honor of serving as the Online Community Organizer and the Hope Stories Coordinator for the Faces of Loss community.  I can't tell you how excited I am!  *Doing a happy dance*

We've already got some great events planned so please check out our community page to see all the exciting things we have going on right now!  And if you have any questions regarding our FOLFOH events or suggestions for new events please feel free to e-mail me at natasha@facesofloss.com.  Again thank you so much Kristin for this opportunity!  You are amazing and so inspiring......I hope I can do you proud!

Again I am so thankful for you all.....thank you for sharing this journey with me......I couldn't do it without you!

Rows For Remembrance

I wanted to take a moment to share with you all the amazing ministry that Shaina has started. Rows for Remembrance was created to help families who have suffered a pregnancy loss remember their little angels. Here is a description of the ministry from the blog site:

"Rows for Remembrance was created to minister to mothers and fathers who are sometimes forgotten in traditional ministry. Some parents never hold a baby in their arms, but forever hold them in their hearts. This ministry is designed to bring them a way of remembering their little ones, no matter how short the time they were carried with them.

Rows for Remembrance strives to bring hope to families who feel like their world is crashing around them. We also strive to provide a lasting memory as a comfort to the families we call our Angel Families."

I was so touched when Shania reached out to me last month and asked if this ministry could create a blanket for Aiden. I am always in awe of how amazing this baby loss community is.....so much love from those who share your pain.  I am so grateful that she found me and offered to provide us with this loving gift.  

Each blanket has rows that represent the weeks each little angel lived. The blankets start out with 20 rows each and then an additional row is added for every week that the baby was carried.  Aiden's blanket will have 56 rows for the 36 weeks he was with us. Each of the 36 rows will be knitted so they stand out from the other 20 rows on the blanket to signify the 36 weeks of his sweet life.

If you would like to help with this ministry please visit the Rows For Remembrance blog and check out the how to help page.  She needs a variety of things including: people who can knit, yarn, stationary, and prayers. Take a moment to stop by and see what you can do to help.  You can also apply to receive a blanket for yourself or someone you know that has experienced a pregnancy loss.  Also please pray for Shania and all the other hands that are working so hard on these special sweet blankets.

I can't say THANK YOU enough to this fabulous mama and her wonderful new ministry!!!!