Wordless Wednesday~ Nothing Like A Chew Toy!

March For Babies.... Success 2013!!!

April 28th we walked in the annual March of Dimes walk March For Babies.

It was a huge success and a lot of fun. Our family Team  " For Lil C" raised $1230.00!!!!

The walk is a way we can honor the short life of our granddaughter by raising awareness and money for research and NICU support.

With this years generous donations some of the achievements made possible were:

• Researchers are investigating how genetics and infections interact to cause premature birth.

• In more than 100 hospitals across the country, we're providing comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.

• Expansion of our Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait® education and awareness campaign to help more moms-to-be and hospitals understand the risks of scheduling an early birth.

We had a wonderful team of 8 marching in an overcast cool morning.

Our 5K was refreshing, energizing and the turnout just amazing.

Our community (the Upstate of SC) raised together $328,000.

What a wonderful day.

I AM A Mother

I don't know why I was never able to have children of my own. I wonder often why God's plan for my life did not include a child made of my husband and I.

I do however have a daughter. In every way, she is my child. My husbands child. I love her like she was born into my own arms. Now she is a beautiful woman and mom. With our daughters pregnancy I was there every step of the way. I was able to witness ultrasounds, cravings, kicks, and the birth of our beautiful grandchild. I thought then my dream had been fulfilled.

But our sweet Chloe only lived 7 days here on earth. I wonder often why God's plan did not include our grandchild for many wonderful years.

I was and am a mother in many ways. To my daughter (step daughter just seems so impersonal and in my deepest heart there is no step, only my little girl), to my nieces who I spent many weekends with and to young girls during my years in ministry.

A mother is one who leads, teaches, loves, nurtures, encourages and loves unconditionally.

I am a mother.

But there is the one desire that I never will see fulfilled. A child made up of my DNA, made from generations of my families DNA and creation born out of the purity of my husbands love for me. As honored and thankful I am to be a mother to my husbands daughter I feel at times incomplete. Mother's day seems just a reminder of what could have been.

So to all you Mother's- those with children, those who wanted children and those who have lost children I honor you and wish you a most blessed day.

I wish you peace, fulfillment and strength as you need it. I wish you love.

Snapshot Sunday~ Daisies

The Daisy~

Maybe I originally loved the daisy due to its sun like appearance. That was before my granddaughter Chloe. Daisy is the April Birth Flower.

Did you know daisies are the second largest family of flowering plants? They make up 10 percent of flowering plants on Earth.

They bloom colors of white, yellow, red, purple and shades in between.

My wonderful friends and family buy me daisies in remembrance of Chloe on the anniversaries of her birth and death. They send me daisies for special occasions- the daisy has become a part of our family.

May you find a snapshot of something beautiful. A favorite flower perhaps. Let it shine in your home, your yard and your memory. 

Beauty of a Butterfly

I love to see a butterfly- gliding across the sky in rapid, careless motion.

The butterfly reminds me of our sweet Chloe who was wrapped in her little cocoon for 7 days and then became a butterfly, spreading her wings to heaven.

I was able to capture one in my own yard displaying its wonder.