International Babylost Mother's Day

Christian's mom, Carly, from Love Reign Over Me has created an International Babylost Mother's Day, to recognize that all women who have lost children are still mothers.  This day will be observed on the first Sunday in May each year.  This year's observance will be on Sunday May 2nd.

It is Carly's wish that this be a day that we can all come together to celebrate our connection, our children, and our hope for the future.  It is a day for love, peace, remembrance, and recognition.  She has created a fan page on Facebook - click here to become a fan.

Thanks to Jill and Maggie for helping to spread the news.

Where's Gracie??

Somehow I totally missed putting this on my blog.  Not sure how it happened, but I feel just terrible.  I want to thank Jill and her husband for sending off a dollar bill in honor of Gracie marked for the Where's George? tracking program.  They were nice enough to send me a picture of Gracie's dollar and the tracking info so I can track Gracie's dollar wherever it goes.  Thanks, Jill!!

Gracie's Name in the Stars

Many thanks to Amanda at Written in the Stars for doing Gracie's name!!! 

Favor Request

Hi Ladies...
I am wondering if any of you who are proficient with Photoshop or similar software might be willing to take on a very small project for me.  My sister sent me 3 photos that she took recently in Namibia (Africa), and I would like to piece them together into a panoramic shot.  If you would be willing to help me out with this, please drop me an email @ sand0113 at gmail dot com, and I will email them to you.  Thanks!!

#48 - Gracie's 2009 Christmas ornaments

Below are pictures of the ornaments that we had on the tree for Gracie this year.

A gift from Zeke and Jo when Gracie died.

A gift from Pete and Peg when Gracie died.

The first ornament that Jeff and I purchased

The second ornament that we purchased

Jeff's mom bought this for our tree.

My step-mom bought this for our tree.

We also have this ornament that was handmade by our friend Steve. 

#47 - WEEKLY LIST

I haven't had a whole lot to say over the last couple of weeks.  Not to say that I haven't had lots on my mind - I just don't have a whole lot to say that hasn't already been said here.  I've been sick over the last few days, and I'm starting to go a little stir crazy, so I thought that I would post a few of the quotes that have been helpful to me in the form of a weekly list.

• The risk of love is loss, and the price of loss is grief; but the pain of grief is only a shadow when compared with the pain of never risking love.    ~ Hilary Stanton Zunin
  
• He that conceals his grief finds no remedy for it.   ~ Turkish proverb
• What lies ahead of us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us.   ~ Henry David Thoreau
• It doesn't matter how tough we are, trauma always leaves a scar.  It follows us home, it changes our lives.  Trauma messes everybody up, but maybe that is the point of all the pain, the fear and the crap.  Maybe going through all that is what keeps us moving forward.  It's what pushes us.  Maybe we need to get a little messed up before we can step up.             ~ Grey's Anatomy
• If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must always remember.  You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think; but the most important thing is, even if we're apart, I'll always be with you.    ~ Winnie the Pooh
• Sadness is just love wasted, with no little heart to place it inside.   ~ Craig Cardiff

#46 - BEAUTIFUL BLOGGER AWARD...

How in the world did we function before the internet???  I have been so wrapped up in catching  up on some paperwork that I forced myself to break out of my normal internet routine for a mere 36 hours.  I am consequently going to spend 48 hours sorting through new emails, new blog entries, important news articles, etc.  I thought I was headed back to my pile of paperwork after leaving FB a little bit ago, but in perusing through some of the blog entries that I missed, I found that Jen and Jill passed along to me their nods for beautiful blogger award, so I figured that I would get a new post up and pass along the award to a few other deserving mamas.   Thanks so much for thinking of me, girls!!

The rules are simple: just give 7 facts about you and then nominate 7 people for the beautiful blogger award...

1. I’m not a terribly religious person, but I am quite spiritual and have my own beliefs about the divine world. I believe in signs, especially those sent by friends and loved ones who are no longer physically with us.  All signs, from the small and subtle to the large and profound. 

2. I have very little tolerance for people who have the ability to educate themselves about anything in life, but refuse to do so, and instead allow themselves to be functionally stupid. I have a similar amount of tolerance for closed minded people who refuse to think outside of the box - or even open the flaps of the box.

3. I struggle with the words ‘I love you’.  I tell my husband that I love him all the time, but I can’t seem to get the words out for anyone else in my life…my father, my sister, my closest friends.  I want to say it in the worst way, because I love them all more than they will ever know, but other words always come out when I open my mouth.  It’s like the words are physically blocked – they can’t be pushed or pulled out by any amount of force.  I have been conscious of this problem for years, yet the issue apparently still lurks (in fantastic camouflage) under the surface - somewhere out of my immediate grasp.

4. I have been a volunteer firefighter (I have been an assistant chief for over 4 years) in a fabulous, top-notch department for over 15 years.  Unfortunately, it appears that our department will likely close its doors some time within the next 1-2 years due to a variety of overwhelming circumstances.  I am really sad about it.  I am sad about what it means for my community; I am sad about what it means for the strong and distinguished history and tradition of our department; I am sad about what it means for many of our dedicated members who have been in it for the long haul.  I am sad about the choices that it will force me to make about my future in the fire service.  I am sad because my husband will probably hang up his firefighting hat completely, and this is something that we have done together for most of the last 15 years. 

5. I am allergic to caffeine.  Yep, you read it correctly.  Allergic to caffeine.  It’s actually not that bad – as far as health and nutrition go, it eliminates a lot of temptation.  But, it does mean that I cannot partake in gourmet coffee and chocolate like a normal woman.  To compensate for this loss, I indulge a little too much in jelly beans, cashews, salt & vinegar potato chips, and French fries. 

6. I love Celine Dion’s music.  Yes…really.  (The first step is admitting the problem, right?)  I was very disappointed that I did not get a second Las Vegas vacation in before her show closed.

7. I am a diehard New York Yankees fan.  It’s my dad’s fault.   :-)
   

I am passing this award along to the following bloggers:

    1.  Brandy @ Forever Elliot’s Mommy

    2. Maria @ The Sipirt of Sterling

    3.  Jamie @ Week by Week

    4.  Lareina @ Surviving Without My Little Man

    5.  Malory @ Mommy of an Angel

    6. Margaret @ She’s Come Undone

    7. Kristin @ Once a Mother

#45 - MY FAITHFUL VISITORS

A bunch of girls have this cute little picture on their blogs today to draw some of the blog lurkers to the surface. I know many of you who read here regularly, but I don't know others of you. Leave a snippet about yourself below!