Hope and Healing after baby loss

Hope and Healing after the loss of a baby workshop  is on Monday May 30th, 2011 from 6:30-9:30pm.  Join me & tell your friends.  I hope my parents, mom in law, and maybe cousins can come to this workshop with me.  It's at 20675 87th Ave Langley at St. Nicholas Catholic Church .
 

This workshop is for those grieving the loss of a younger child, infant or baby who has died at birth, or during pregnancy.  It is also geared towards caregivers and volunteers dedicated to supporting these families.
Hear from an experienced therapist who works with bereaved families and a parent who will share her faith-based journey in search of hope and healing after the loss of her baby.  Discuss healthy ways to work through the grief process and ideas on how to honour your child.  You are not alone…meet others who understand what it is like to love and miss a little one.   

Who might be interested in attending?  Parents, adult family members and friends.  Professionals and volunteers who support bereaved families after the loss of a young life are also encouraged to attend.  Note that caregivers will be given the opportunity to hear first-hand the kind of support bereaved families need, as well as share ideas with one another in a group setting. 

Additional details and topics can be found here. 
 
Cost:  $30/person or 2 tickets for $55.  After May 16th $35/person or 2 tickets for $65.  Partial proceeds will be donated to organizations that support bereaved parents.
REGISTRATION
Pls. call: Denis Boyd & Associates at 604.931.7(two)11 to pre-register.  Email:  info(at)littlelightofheaven.com for more info.
~~~

*BABY & INFANT MEMORIAL SERVICE*

& Teddy Bear Tea

NEW date:  June 11     

 

Where:  St. Matthew’s Parish, Surrey

Memorial Mass Service:  5:30pm – 6:20pm 

 “Teddy Bear” Tea & Social:  6:30pm – 7:30pm
*RSVP:  Ann & Donna – info(at)littlelightofheaven.com
Prayers for parents and family members who wish to honour the lives of all young children gone-too-soon, including toddlers and infants, babies lost during or after birth, and all babies who have died during pregnancy including those who were miscarried and stillborn will be included.
Couples who are struggling with infertility and those trying to conceive; parents who are expecting and those on a waiting list to adopt; as well as parents who lovingly chose to give up and/or welcome children through adoption and fostering will also be remembered on this day.
TEDDY BEAR TEA
Coffee & tea will be available.  Please consider donating a small teddy bear in honour of your child, which will be given as a gift to bereaved families.  This social is open to everyone, especially bereaved parents and other family members including children, as well as those who support grieving families.   
Families can also enter the name of their child in the “Little Book of Life” and light a candle for a little one.
*Please RSVP so that enough programs, candles & refreshments are available.
For more info. click here.

Sitting next to a pregnant woman

Tonight I saw a woman who was VERY pregnant. Not only did i see her, I sat next to her at a bridal shower party I went to. In all honesty the first thing hat went through my mind was 'oh great, a pregnant woman is here, I avoid pregnant women, now what do I do?' I got up from my seat and deliberately walked away where I wouldn't notice her.

Then all the guests sat together around the coffee table so the presents could be opened and where did my seat end up landing? Right across from her. So now I have a full view of her very pregnant belly. Can't escape. Can't move seats, there are no more. Now what. Just gonna have to sit and focus on the bride not the pregnancy.

From the corner of my eye I saw her stoke her belly lovingly and thought 'I don't want to see this...because I can't have it... I want to be her.' Then more gentle touches from mama to baby as the night progressed, and I saw from the corner of my eye to a slight turn of my head to looking at her belly for longer lengths of time.

My heart changed along with my glances. As I saw this caring mother caress her unborn baby, I began feeling uneasy, to feeling light twinges of awe, to open wonderment and love. My heart softened and the agony for longing for my own child slowly sloughed off and wonder and amazement began to grow. Like a flower that starts of as a bud and as the sun and rain both fall the bud begins to grow and blossoms into a beautiful flower everyone can enjoy. Thats how I felt tonight. I thought in my quietness 'wow, there's a baby in there. A life. A real person.' It was the beginning of seeing the wonderful miracle that pregnancy is, without the sadness. Thank you Lord.

As I drove home and spent time alone with the Lord I gave to Him the burdens in my heart. There are many burdens. Many.

My Lord my God, take my stress, I'm trying to make decisions on my own and debate what the right decision is to make for a very important part of my life. Please make the path clear for me and John and remove the stress that surrounds it. Amen'
...
...
Right after I typed out this prayer, the Lord gave me this in my head: "My chid My plans are not to harm you but to prosper you to give you a hope and a future."