Donations

It's turning out to be a pretty good weekend. My friend, Wendi stopped over with her boys for a play date today and she brought a ton of fabric for us. (Thank you!!!) I received an email from MatAnna, over at Lost Innocents, letting us know that she has been working on some beautiful new sets for us! She sent pictures and they are just amazing! (How cute are those ducks!?!?) I also recieved a donation in the mail from the Ackley family, which will allow us to purchase our new memory boxes!!!! (Thank you!!!) We're still in need of funding for other items so take a moment to check out our fundraiser page. I know money is tight for everyone but remember that every dollar amount helps... even if it's just $5 or $10! http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?url=memoryboxes&fundraiser_id=9948

Donation Update and Angel Ornaments

I checked in with the hospital and they only have 4 of our memory boxes left. Currently, we don't have any completed memory boxes available to donate to them when they run out. I know everyone is struggling financially but if you have, even just a few dollars to spare, please consider donating them to us. Here is the link to both our online fundraiser and our Amazon wish list.

http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=9948&url=memoryboxes
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2WMMQ6BU9AYW9

I also wanted to let everyone know that I got an email back from Randolph Hospital and we are good to go on the angel ornaments!!! If you are interested in making some for us... let me know. We need to get these made and ready to deliver to the hospital before Thanksgiving, if possible, so that they can be mailed to the families for Christmas. If you aren't interested in making the angels, perhaps you would consider donating money towards stamps and envelopes to mail them.

Fall Fundraiser Flier

Here is a PDF of our Fall Fundraiser flier. Feel free to share with friends and family :-)
There is an orange "Menu" button, located within the document below. Clicking on it will open a menu section that will allow you to share on your favorite social media site. (Ex. Facebook)


Fall Fundraiser PDF

Updated Needs

The "How You Can Help" page has been updated. We have about 10 empty memory boxes available. After that, we are hoping to have the funds to purchase new boxes. We have been waiting patiently for these boxes to become available in the United States and they finally are. The minimum order is 20 boxes. They are more expensive than the "photo boxes" that we've gotten from the local craft stores, so any amount is helpful in getting us to our goal of purchasing them. Our hope is that these beautiful boxes will be durable and spacious enough allow parents to add additional items to their memory box and that it will serve as treasured space for their keepsakes and memories.

Boxes

Finally, finally, FINALLY... the boxes we've been looking at purchasing (since last year) are available here in the US!!!! I emailed the company this morning to order the samples and color swatches. :-)

First Memory Box

Our first complete memory box has been assembled and is on its way across the country. I received an email from a friend on Friday afternoon about a couple who delivered their baby boy early Friday morning. He was born still at 18 weeks gestation. Since their baby boy has already been delivered, I know that the memory box won't make it in time for hospital use. However, I pray that it will still bring some comfort to them as the prepare to make burial arrangements.

I went to bed last night with a heavy heart. Each time I hear of another loss, I can't help it... it takes me back to July 21, 2011, the day I delivered Nathan. It breaks my heart to think of another family having to go through that. I got up this morning and drove across town (since our post office isn't open on Saturdays) and dropped it off. It is a gray, rainy-looking morning here in North Carolina... which seemed to fit my mood and mindset. On the way, I spent most of the drive praying for the family. Right before I got off the highway, I turned on the radio (which I keep on K-Love) and the Casting Crowns song, "Praise You in This Storm" came on. It is a song that has helped me on my journey... so I kinda felt like it was a small message from God and Nathan saying, "We're here with you and we understand what you're feeling today." That made me smile... something that, 9 months and 1 week ago, I didn't think would ever be possible again. I will never stop missing him but I can feel a difference in my grief. I know that God is healing my heart and I'm thankful for that.




I wanted to include this story and picture of the memory box, so that you can see what exactly you are supporting. I want you to see how you are helping and making a difference... one family and one precious baby at a time. Thank you, thank you, thank you... to EVERY single person who has supported us either through prayer, making and donating items or with a monetary donation.

(A bereavement pouch, hat and blanket are included in this box so that

the parents may choose to have an item to bury or cremate their baby in,

as well as, be able to keep an item that their baby was held and loved in.)

(One teddy bear for the parents to keep and one

teddy bear to be buried or cremated with baby.)

April Update

 I realize that communication has been very limited on here and I apologize. It seems to be so much faster to post on Facebook, when I'm already on there, sometimes.

First off, thank you to everyone who helped with the flower fundraiser!!! We were able to earn $92.00! I hope that you are pleased with your flowers. Feel free to email some pictures, for us to share, as you plant or as they begin to bloom!! Be sure to let me know whether you think this is something we should do again next year. As always, we are looking for interesting fundraising ideas. If you think of or know of something... share it with us!! (Just keep in mind, that we are not a 501/Non-profit organization.)

I wanted to offer a short update and let you know that we're still here and still committed to giving back to the bereaved community. I checked in with our "box company" today and it looks like their April launch, here in the US, has been delayed until May. :-( I did get more information as to the sizes and colors that will be offered. There aren't as many choices as their UK line but it still looks like the ones offered will fit our needs.

Oh, well... I'm not sure that we're going to be able to cut through the red tape at my first choice hospital so I may need the extra time to start communication with other hospitals. They seemed to be more concerned about the cost of certain items in the proto-box that we took to show them. I just keep getting the feeling that they don't want any "outside" help... but that they are interested in specific items so they can purchase things themselves. A little bummed but not letting this stop me... someone, somewhere can use these memory boxes!

Thank you all for your continued support!!!

Michael's BOGO Boxes

I just got an email from a friend. Apparently, Michael's is having a special insider sale. She forwarded me the email and they're having a Buy 1, Get 1 for a Penny sale on the photo storage boxes!! If you missed out on the last sale, here's another chance! I don't see where it asks for a coupon... so I don't know if you just mention it at checkout or if you print the page below from the site and take it with you. (Here's the link.)

Awesome Storage Box Sale

Our local Michael's store (Greensboro, NC) is having a 40% off scrapbook sale, which includes the photo storage boxes!! (Go online and check your local store's weekly flier.) Print the coupon below - good for today ONLY between 4-8pm - and get an additional 25% off!!! It would be awesome if we could get some extra boxes donated! If you live near me... I'll see you there! :-) Thank you, Hip2Save!

http://hip2save.com/2011/08/michaels-save-25-off-your-entire-purchase-814-only.html

Sale on Storage Boxes

If you have some extra cash and get a chance to run into Hobby Lobby... pick up a couple photo storage boxes for us! They have them on sale until Saturday for less than $3.00 a box. These are a perfect size for the memory boxes.