For Lily - Christmas 2016

Each year, I like to do something in Lily's memory at Christmas.

In the past, it's been special to donate boxes to little girls the age Lily would be through Operation Christmas Child or The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program. One year, a friend of mine hosted a baby shower for a young woman in an unplanned pregnancy and we sent her a gift. I share all this not to say look what I have done, but because I want to share Lily's legacy, even in the small things.

This year, I decided to honor her while also honoring other babies I carry in my heart, by having wood burned ornaments made with their names. These little ones were lost through stillbirth, miscarriage, abortion, and one lost shortly after birth. They are children, grandchildren, and an aunt. Because these losses impact many people and that is represented in the ornaments. And because there are many types of losses that hurt and all life is sacred and irreplaceable. The grief of other family members is oftentimes overlooked.

Over the past several months, I walked with a couple families through the losses of their precious baby daughters. All the details of how it worked out and how our lives are linked together is clearly the Lord's weaving. I knew I wanted to do something for them this Christmas, especially what should be their child's first Christmas.

These children's names mean so much. It means they existed, they were real, and they matter.

It is my hope that this has touched their loved one's hearts as much as it has mine to do this, especially during a time of year that can make someone's absence more pronounced. I like knowing these ornaments can be enjoyed again and again, Christmas season after Christmas season.

For a couple friends across the ocean, I sent images from Carly Marie's Christmas Beach Wonderland Gallery. ❤️🎄 🌟 

I think this made a neat photo... this is a painting I did a couple years ago and the 
ornaments look like they are hanging on the tree. I love how rustic they look. :)

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Angel Tree

Each year in Lily's honor for Christmas, my mom and I take part in something such as Operation Christmas Child (which is what we did in 2012 and 2013). You can read a post I wrote about that by clicking here.

Then last year, we gave towards a gift for a baby shower my friend Stacy was hosting for a high-school student, which you can read about by clicking here (I actually just published this blog post today because I never got around to sharing it before now, so if you want to read it for the first time follow the link).

This year, we chose to be part of the Angel Tree Program through The Salvation Army.

We can't shop for our own little daughter/granddaughter who would be 5, but we can pour love out on another 5-year-old girl. So whoever you are sweet child, I pray your Christmas is a bit brighter... because of Lily.

with the outfit we selected for a sweet 5-year-old girl

John 3:16 was on the card... the same Scripture reference on Lily's stone because her birthday is 3:16 (March 16)

On another note, I found some photos and a video of my grandmother and I at Lily's special spot last December sharing about her stocking, so if you'd like to see those things, you can see the updated post about her stocking by clicking here.

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"We carry our babies everywhere we go and their memories are special"

My friend Stacy hosted a baby shower in honor of her daughter Rachel's 4th birthday in Heaven. It was for a young woman who is expecting her first child in March, the same month Lily was born.

This is what Stacy shared on her blog when she first posted about it:

"God has presented us with another opportunity to celebrate life and share the love of Christ. We have been led to a young girl from our local high-school who is expecting a baby boy in March. We have never met her, the girls who work at the gas station around the corner told us that she is in need of help preparing for her baby and doesn't have much support. Her name is Lindsey and I hear she is almost done high school, will be graduating in January, has a job too and is a hard worker.
I gave her the option of us having a shower with her in attendance or just gathering and donating items to her. I told her I am pretty good at throwing parties and she accepted. :)  I admit this feels awkward to me. I am nervous about it being a flop and her feeling disappointed or let down. But God put it on my heart and so I am going with it and I'm hoping you will help me!!
I have been having fun helping her pick items and making the invitations. It's such an honor to remember Rachel this way... by pouring my love on others. I have to say the thought of having your first baby so young and not having a time where people gather and celebrate sounds sad to me. I'm pretty sure she would not have had a shower if it wasn't for Rachel. I think this young lady needs to know that choosing life doesn't leave you alone....and I want her to feel the love that God so freely gives through us. So if you are local and can make this, I would be ever so grateful if you stop by and show your support even if you cannot bring a gift."

I was touched that Stacy was doing this, especially after facing two unplanned pregnancies myself. I am passionate about the church of Christ loving on mothers who do choose LIFE for their baby.  

Each year for Christmas, my mom and I like to do something in Lily's honor. The last 2 years, we've given a box to Operation Christmas Child. This year, it seemed perfect to be a part of this baby shower... in Lily's honor for Christmas, in Rachel's honor for her birthday, and as a way to show this mama and her sweet baby some love. We could not make it in person because Stacy lives many states away, but we sent a card that shared a bit about Lily's life and legacy and encouragement for this young mother, along with $43 (43 is a special number to Stacy because that is how many minutes Rachel lives outside the womb).

This is what Stacy wrote on her blog about our gift for the shower (I think what she selected is perfect):

"My friend Hannah Rose - we (you!) helped her get her daughter Lily's headstone last year - sent $43 in honor of Rachel's birthday and in honor of Lily for Christmas and asked me to get something special for Lindsey. I waited to see what would be left on the registry and it was mostly just diapers... which didn't feel enough like Lily and Rachel...so this morning, when I opened my eyes, it came to me! A baby carrier and a memory book! What else says "We carry our babies everywhere we go and their memories are special" more than those together?! So I left to go get them and decided KMart would be faster than Walmart (I don't often go to KMart so I had no idea what to expect from their baby section) I picked up the carrier and the memory book I wanted without even thinking of price, because honestly, I didn't have time to! Do you know how much they cost? Yep, $43. UNREAL!!
I also added in the little "I'm on my way!" ultrasound picture frame as a special thing in Lily's honor because Hannah is a pro-life speaker and writer and I felt like the idea of celebrating LIFE from the beginning - not when they come out, but when they are created - would be a good way to honor Lily for Christmas too! Love you Hannah"

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From My Girl to You, Little Girl

This year, for the first time in Lily's honor, my mom and I packed and donated a box to Samaritan's Purse for Operation Christmas Child. We have decided to make this an annual tradition. 

What I love about Samaritan's Purse is that they provide both physical and spiritual aid to suffering people worldwide in the Name of Jesus Christ. It is not a humanitarian effort, but is all done for the glory of God and for His Kingdom. It is because He first loved us. They want to share the love of Christ and the hope of the Gospel, which is why I think it's wonderful to support organizations such as this, rather than just any organization.

It is hard around Christmas not to have our daughter and granddaughter here to give beautiful gifts to, when we so long to. Doing this brings such joy to our hearts and gives us the opportunity to shop for a precious little girl around Lily's age. You can choose whether you want your box to be for a boy or girl and what age group. The youngest age is 2-4 and since Lily would be 2 this year, it's the perfect time to start this tradition. We want to donate a box each year to a girl who is the age Lily would be that year.

We are able to give another precious child in need the things we would like to give to Lily. We still got the joy of shopping for things for a 2-year-old girl and we are so blessed knowing the box will be a blessing. A little girl is going to have a very special Christmas box that she wouldn't be receiving if it weren't for Lily.

The website gives a few recommendations as to what to add to the boxes, but really you can be quite free with it. We also chose to "Follow Our Box" and will hopefully be able to track by email to see where our box ends up.

These are the things we included in the box: a doll, a bunny, a toothbrush and toothpaste, hair clips, a coloring book and crayons, a book about Jesus and what Christmas truly means, a washcloth and gingerbread soap, and a comb. We wanted to include both fun and practical things. We wrapped it up in lovely Christmas paper and prayed over it.

We were able to include a note in the box, with our address, just in case anyone wants to write back. :) This is what I wrote in the card:

Merry Christmas, Little One! Even though we don't know you, our Lord Jesus does. It is because of His love for you that we love you too! You are on our hearts and in our prayers. This is a gift given to you from our little sweetie named Lily, born March 16th, 2010. 

With love from the United States, Lily, Hannah Rose, Ginny, and Emmaline (my mom and sister)

So Merry Christmas, little girl...whoever you are. From my girl to you.

Here is Lily Bear with the box!

Here is my mom and I with Lily Bear, my kitty, a mini-Christmas tree, and the box :)

The National Collection Week this year wrapped up on November 19th, to give enough time for the boxes to ship overseas so the children can have them for Christmas. But, I recommend everyone do this next year and all the years after that! For those with babies in Heaven, you could even ask your family and friends to donate a box in your baby's honor as well.

Since it's too late to put together a box now, for those who are interested, check out the Angel Tree Program, which is another way to help bring a beautiful Christmas to children in need. It is also a Christian based program.

I got a sticker that says "I donated a box to Samaritan's Purse" and am putting it in Lily's memory box. I will get a new sticker to go with a photo of the donated box each year and will put them in her scrapbook. :)

Lord, we ask that You would send this box to the little girl You have specifically picked out. You don't see the millions, You see each precious and individual life and You love this little girl beyond what we could ever comprehend. Please bless this little girl across the world from us. Draw her close to your heart. Use this box to show her a glimpse of the vast love You have for her. Thank You for using the legacy of our Lily in another beautiful way! Amen.

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