Remembrances

Dear friends and family have given us so many thoughtful gifts in remembrance of David. This week I did a bit of pre-school-begins cleaning: organized the kids' rooms, ordered new photos to print, and found places for the beautiful things we've been given. Several people have asked what they can do to help others as they are grieving...everyone is different, but really if you say something and show up (more Nancy Guthrie advice) that's all you need to do. I think a lot of people are scared to bring up David, but it is more painful if you don't acknowledge the hurt at all. Grieving people need to know you haven't forgotten. I promise, even though it may seem like a person has processed their grief and moved on, the sorrow is still there. While the intense emotions may lessen over time, I don't expect the pain to every go away. However, along with saying something and showing up, these thoughtful gifts (and others I'm now realizing I've forgotten to photograph, like the Forget Me Not cup I drink my coffee from most mornings) are loved and appreciated, too. Find ways to acknowledge the hurt and the joy and the life.

Our church community group made this book for us. It is full of letters they wrote and Scriptures to hold on to.

My dresser top




The children each have a blanket that was made for David. We ended up with five. We buried one with David and gave each of his siblings one to keep.


Sweet mother and child heartbeat necklace


This necklace has a birthstone for all my babies, including my three diamonds in heaven

The David toeprint charm added to my Faithful necklace. Zion and Noel's names are on the other side. I wear one of my necklaces most days.








This blue jar is a thankful jar, filled with words of encouragement from so many who love us. Their words wouldn't all fit in this jar. I have a drawer filled with more!








My desk. My mom has had this picture for years and gave it to me recently. The Blessings sign I found for $2 at TJ Maxx years ago. The cross was made by my Papaw. The mother figure was a gift from a friend.


I blogged about this little cube a few weeks ago.



Before David was born, we made a "David Bear" together at Build-a-Bear. His heartbeat is recorded and we all love to play it. Each child has a stuffed animal or lovey of David's and they trade them around.