7 Months

Seven months ago today we met the most perfect, beautiful, precious gift! So blessed to be your mama and daddy! We miss you with every ounce of our being. We miss the memories we will never have. We love you so much and feel blessed to carry you in our hearts for the rest of our lives.

Capture Your Grief: Day 16

Release

Capture Your Grief: Day 15

Wave of Light

I invited friends on Facebook to join us in lighting a candle in memory of Abigail on Monday night.  I asked them to post a picture with their candle on Facebook and to mention Abigail.  I asked them to tag me and/or Luke in their picture so we would be sure to see them all. There was an overwhelming response and it sang to my soul! So many people posted a picture of their candle and said sweet things about Abigail!  I sat at the computer for hours and watched live as everyone posted their picture, or wrote a sweet comment, and cried as I read each message.  It was so therapeutic for me, and it was one of the best days that I have had in almost seven months.  I hope that it brought friends and family joy to know they were doing something for our sweet Abigail, and for us! This is the picture we posted, and our caption.    

For our sweet Baby Abigail and for everyone else who has lost a child! We love you so much and look forward every day to seeing you again! So thankful that Jesus has conquered death for us and that you are safe in His arms!

Capture Your Grief: Day 14

Community

This banner was hanging at The Race to Remember that we were a part of at the end of July.  It was such a beautiful way to honor our babies and the grieving families!!!

Capture Your Grief: Day 13

Sign

Although I don't really believe in signs, the picture of this sculpture is really special to me.  I am always asking God to give me a glimpse of Abigail somehow, or asking Him to let me dream about her.  When I ran across this picture, it gave me such a good visual of how she would not want me to be sad, and also of how she is so happy! It was an answer to prayer and a blessing to me. The only thing that would make this sculpture better is if Jesus was holding us both!

Capture Your Grief: Day 12

Scents

Luke and I got to give Abigail a bath and we used this little bottle of Johnson and Johnson baby wash, and put this baby lotion on her.  It was such a special time to have with Abigail and these smells will always remind me of her, along with everything else that is baby! Man, we miss her!!!

Capture Your Grief: Day 11

Supportive Friends and Family

Team Abigail!

Our wonderful family and friends came out to help us remember Abigail in the Race to Remember at the end of July.  The race benefited Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, the volunteer photographers who took Abigail's pictures.  We are so thankful for our loved ones and the support they've been to us along the way!

Capture Your Grief: Day 10

Symbol

These are Abigail's sweet bunnies. They were given to me by my mom and sister when I was staying in the hospital.  They are special to me because I held them during such a difficult time.  They stay in our room on our bed as a sweet little reminder of our precious girl.  

Capture Your Grief: Day 9

A Special Place

Although it is sometimes very emotional, we love to go to visit the place where Abigail's little body lays to rest.  We sometimes have picnics near her, or take a flower to her.  This pink rose is from my brother. We don't have her headstone yet because I want it to be just right. I am still trying to perfect what I want it to say.  It is still so surreal to me that her precious little body is there and not with us.  I don't know if I will ever really be able to wrap my mind around the fact that she's gone.

Capture Your Grief: Day 8

Jewelry

Abigail's actual little prints!

Capture Your Grief: Day 5

Memorial

Abigail's flower bed we planted from some of the flowers that were given to us by friends and family.  It is much bigger than this now!

A pink dogwood tree planted for Abigail at work.  Pink dogwoods were everywhere when Abigail was born and passed away.  They will forever remind us of her.  They are a wonderful reminder of what Christ has done for us, and also a reminder that she is with Him! Praise the Lord!

A pink dogwood in our backyard planted by our friends.

This little rosebush was given to me while I was in the hospital by my sweet little grandmother.  It is huge now!

This butterfly changes colors at night and was given to us by our little friend, Kendyl.  It sits right next to the dogwood tree and we enjoy sitting outside in the evening watching it, thinking and talking about Abigail.

Capture Your Grief: Days 6 and 7

Day 6: What not to Say

Since losing Abigail, I have certainly learned that there is great power in the words that we speak.  It makes me wonder how often have I said something hurtful to someone when I had no idea? Many times I am sure. Words can be SO healing, or so hurtful.  I have learned that it is better not to talk if I'm just talking idly, with no purpose. Eventually idle talk will lead to hurtful words, even if it's unintentional.  I never know what someone may be going through, that my words may cause them pain. So I think it is so important to choose our words wisely.

T- is it true?
H- is it helpful?
I-is it inspired?
N-is it necessary?
K-is it kind?

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.
Proverbs 13:3

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 2:14-16

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.  Therefore stand in awe of God. Ecclesiastes 5:7

Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house.  And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.
1 Timothy 5:13

Don't say anything that would hurt another person.  Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed.  That way, what you say will help those who hear you.  Ephesians 4:29

We all stumble in many ways.  Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.  When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  Or take ships as an example.  Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.  Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.  James 3:2-6

Day 7: What to Say

Let me know that you think about Abigail and that you will never forget her!  And please feel free to ask me about her. I would love to tell you all about her! She is no less a part of our life than if she was here with us!

“If you know someone who has lost a child or lost anybody who’s important to them, and you’re afraid to mention them because you think you might make them sad 

by reminding them that they died, they didn’t forget they died. You’re not reminding them. What you’re reminding them of is that you remember that they lived, and that’s a great, great gift.’”
- Elizabeth Edwards

"The mention of my child's name may bring tears to my eyes, but it never fails to bring music to my ears.  If you are really my friend, let me hear the music of her name! It soothes my broken heart and sings to my soul!"- Author Unknown

Thank you Tesha!

Capturing Your Grief: Day 4

Treasured Item

Little shirt Abigail wore with her sweet little blood stains.  It is so precious to me.  

Capturing Your Grief, Days 2 and 3

Day 2: Before Loss Self Portrait

So full of joy over our precious baby

Day 3: After Loss Self Portrait

So full of pain and sorrow that we don't get to keep her