NC Tears Foundation Rock & Walk 2017

This past Saturday, October 21st, we walked for our Lily-girl at the North Carolina Chapter of the TEARS Foundation Rock & Walk! We look forward to this event each October, which coincides with Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. 💗 💙  

Lily's family! #TeamLilysLegacy

The TEARS Foundation financially assists families walking through the loss of a baby. It's such important work!

All the butterflies lined up that honor the babies that the families are walking for. 

Here's a little video I took of all the butterflies...

Here's a video from before the Walk when they read aloud all the names of the babies.. Lily is mentioned towards the end.

Cousins 💗 As were standing near the butterflies before the Walk, a family arrived and a little girl, probably 7 or 8, ran up and found a butterfly, excitedly shouting, "I found my cousin!" It brought tears to my mom and I... soo precious. I hope Harvest is like that one day about Lily.

Lily and Harvest ~ cousins... This is Lily Bear from the ministry Molly Bears. They make bears for families that have lost a baby, weighing exactly what their little one weighed. Lily's is 7 pounds 9 ounces (her birth weight). I've gotten a photo of Harvest and Lily bear at the Walk the last 2 years and want to make it a tradition. 

Here's the photo from last year. :)

Walking for her big cousin!

Lily's butterfly!  They made each of our babies one that we got to take home. :)

I love me some Ellen!

Bo's mom is pretty great!

Bo's grandmother... one of the sweetest ladies for real!

I'm thankful for what these ladies do!

Walking for her cousin wears her out!

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NC Tears Foundation Rock & Walk 2016

Some years, there hasn't been much of anything to do in my local area to mark Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October. This year, there were several events and I participated in almost all of them that I knew about and those that I was free and able to make it. I wish the events could be spread across the year, rather than having to be all lumped together. Not that I'm complaining, it would just be nice to have more things to go to in Lily's honor throughout the months. :)

The second annual North Carolina TEARS Foundation Rock & Walk was held on Saturday, October 22nd this year. I've been able to walk in it both years. It was held at Lake Benson Park in Garner, North Carolina, which is a lovely spot. Just like last year, it was a beautiful Fall day, perfect for the walk!

At the start of the walk, they had the pathway lined with butterflies, each with the name of a different baby who was being remembered and who we were walking for. We each got to take home the butterfly with our baby's name on it. :)

I took a video of all the butterflies for our babies.

I of course loved all the butterflies everywhere!

Team Lily's Legacy 2016! 

Our team this year consisted me of, my twin big brothers, Adam and Joseph, my sister-in-law, Kala, my niece, Harvest, and my Bible study leader/friend, Terri. My mom was sick and wasn't able to make it. I was disappointed more people didn't come. Sadly my aunt, uncle, and grandmother who were planning on being in town that weekend couldn't make it. And I didn't get much response, interest, or commitment from local friends. The walk is important to me... things like this, that I do in Lily's honor in March and October primarily, are like the equivalent of what could have been her birthday parties. These are the only things I can do as her mommy and I appreciate those that understand that and make an effort to be there. Instead of dwelling on my disappointment, I choose to be thankful for those that did come.

I brought my Lily Bear, created by Molly Bears (a beautiful ministry that makes weighted bears for families that have lost a baby that weigh exactly what their baby weighed at birth, to help fill empty arms). Lily Bear weighs 7 pounds 9 ounces. :) I thought it would be a sweet way to incorporate her into the day. I wanted to have Team t-shirts made, but was unable to get them ready in time. That's a priority for upcoming dates and events. Here is Lily Bear and Harvest at the Rock (hence the rocking chairs) & Walk. 🐻  I love this sweet photo! Also, Harvest wore her butterfly shirt in her cousin's honor! As I told Kala, it is incredibly healing and such a gift to have my beautiful niece to go to these things with me. :'-) That little girl has me completely wrapped around her finger.

Harvest and Lily Bear riding together in the stroller on the walk. :)

It was wonderful to see friends that I haven't seen for a while. I love each of them and their precious babies and it is an honor to walk with them and for all our babies. 

One of the friends I saw was Rachel, Rosie's mommy. I will share a post about how I met her soon. Here we are together holding our butterflies for our baby girls. :)

And just for fun, I will end with this hilariously random video of the Chick-Fil-A cow swinging at the walk.

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NC Events for PAIL Awareness

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. There are a couple scheduled events happening in my area in North Carolina in recognition of this.

The North Carolina Chapter of the TEARS Foundation will be hosting the 2nd Annual Rock & Walk on Saturday, October 22nd.

About The TEARS Foundation: It's "a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that seeks to compassionately lift a financial burden from families who have lost a baby by providing funds to assist with the cost of burial or cremation services." They "believe that every baby's life deserves to be honored and memorialized."

Last year, I didn't think I was going to be able to participate because I was in Colorado on the scheduled day of the Walk, however it was rescheduled due to bad weather. The walk was held days after I came home. There was gorgeous fall weather and I was glad I could be there. Click here to read my post about it.

This year, we have a team that will be walking for my girl called "Lily's Legacy." I am hoping several local friends and family will come. I am also raising some money for the TEARS Foundation. If you want to register for the event or simply wish to donate and help continue the impact of Lily's Legacy, you can do so on the team page by clicking here. There will also be a time of remembrance for our babies at the Walk. I'm hoping to put together some team t-shirts.

On Sunday, September 25th, there will be a Candlelight Memorial Service for our babies. 

In years past in the Raleigh area, there has not been anything going on in recognition of PAIL Awareness Month, so I am excited to have a couple different things to go to this year. I will also of course be participating in the Wave of Light on October 15th (PAIL Remembrance Day) and hope to do some other special things to mark that day.

Be sure to look up what events are being held in your local area this month or next!

Your baby can be remembered on PAIL Remembrance Day with Stillbirthday at The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. Click here for more information and to submit your baby's name. :)

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NC Tears Foundation Rock & Walk 2015

On October 17th, my mom, sister-in-law, and I participated in the first NC Tears Foundation Rock & Walk! It was a beautiful day.

The Tears Foundation offers financial assistance to those experiencing infant loss. We walked for our Lily girl. It means a lot that they want to be a part of such things with me for her.

I was thankful I could be there because the walk was originally scheduled for October 3rd and I was in Colorado on that date and thought I would miss it, but with all the rain, it was rescheduled for the 17th. It worked out perfectly on time, because I got back from Colorado early in the week, went to speak in Michigan, and then got home the day before the walk.

Because I didn't know I would be able to be at the walk, I was unable to get Lily's name on the back of the t-shirt, get her name in the program, or on one of the butterflies lining the walking path. I am just thankful I was able to be there and besides, there's always next year! An event like this has been missing in the Raleigh area, which is surprising since it's the capital city.

Now get ready for picture overload. :)

Kala, me, my mom

my friend, Ashelyn

my friend, Morgan

my friend, Bonnie, who started Covered in Love, one of the local infant loss support groups in my area

my mom wore her "Lily" necklace she made... and I wore my Lily's handprint necklace

this picture of Kala is funny

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