International Bereaved Mother's Day.

On the Sunday in the week before Mother's Day in May is International Bereaved Mother's Day, a special day that began a few years ago to honor and celebrate the mama's who have experienced the loss of a precious baby or sweet child. It's a bittersweet day but one that was created to provide opportunities for sharing our stories, for receiving unique support and for providing awareness to the World around us. I cherish both of these days as a way to honor, love and remember our sweet babies: Bretton, Ciara, Birkley, Cabriola, Cambria, Beau, Cree and Bentley without guilt. And a week later, honoring and remembering this special time we've had raising and loving Chelsea, Brady, Brodie and Chynna. I wish there was also an International Bereaved Father's Day and hope to encourage the creation of another special day, just for dad's who have experienced tremendous loss in their lives. This year, IBMD was held on Sunday, May 7th, with Mother's Day itself on Sunday, May 14th. Father's Day this year will be on Sunday, June 19th but for today, I'm choosing to honor my dh as he remembers our babies in his own way, with grief and love, tears and gratitude.

                                      ~ Chy

So Very Loved.

I forgot to post about Mother's Day .... it was a

sweet day, with love and gifts, laughter and good

food. I was, as always spoiled with items that

made me giggle but also feeling so very loved!

~ Chy

Mother's Day.

 

To all who are mothers with little ones, Happy Mother's Day. To all those with now grown up babies, Happy Mother's Day. To all those who are mourning the loss of a precious baby or child, I hold you dearly in my heart today. To those who are missing their moms who have died, or those who have a mom who cannot clearly remember that today is special, you pain is known by many and I hope you know we all think of you as well. Today is a beautiful reminder of where we come from, who we strive to be and who we become. But it can also be bittersweet. Be gentle to those around you as they navigate a million and one feelings on a day like today. 

No breakfast in bed for me this morning as we are 8 months in to Intermittent Fasting, so no eating in the morning. But lunch was amazing ~ leftover pasta from last night's feast that we ordered from The Olive Garden. I wasn't sure if mine would be okay on the 2nd day but it was actually even better than last night. We had a small sleep in and then I had a workout in our little gym. Showered and listened to dgs's radio show. Went outside to take the covers off our outdoor furniture and sat in the sun for a bit. So grateful for the rain we've received for the last 2 days. Everything is magically green again. The trees have leaves that seem to blossom even more, every time I look up to look at our landscape. Soon we won't be able to see our neighbors house next door. We did a walk around the yard, sat in the sun and made our landscaping to do list, pottered about in the greenhouse, got the Adirondack chairs out from the potting shed, along with some of my bigger pots, ate lunch, and we've been sitting outside every since. Dh has just gone in to do his workhout, so I might go in and work on a project OR write a bit more of my grant. It's due next Saturday but I'd like to send by Thursday at the latest. I work on it a bit each day so it's not so daunting. Our landscaping to do list is quite long but we had a bit of sticker shock when we received the 1st of 3 quotes back ~ $52,000 to do all we hope to accomplish in the next year. Yikes! For now, we'll wait for the other quotes but likely will end up either doing it all ourselves or breaking it down and letting someone else do the big we feel are out of our league. I was surprised that dh's first reaction was "ya, no, we can do it all!" Proud of how far he's come over the years in taking on these tasks instead of paying someone else. He's feeling pretty confident that we could do it all, except for re~grading the front path and re~gravelling the driveway. I agree on both those points. The rest is a lot of work but manageable. And much more reasonable in cost. I love projects so not worried that it will be too much. But it will definitely be a later completion date as we spread it all out. Wish us luck as we put our energy in to creating beauty!

Quiet afternoon planned, then a call to wish my mom a beautiful day, dinner and a favorite show or 2. I hope your day is just as you hoped, or filled with love from those around you if it's a hard one. Every day, we miss our little ones who died at birth. I know the feelings that surround loss during special days. Take good care of yourself today. 

Namaste!

~ Chy

My Mother's Day Flowers.

My dh surprised me with beautiful flowers in a

sweet little wooden box on Mother's Day this

year. None of the stores were open for gifts, so

he thought this was the next best thing, along

with a heartfelt card and the best dinner ever. I

wasn't expecting anything and told him so. But

I felt so loved that he still found a way to make

this day extra special. Our kids were so sweet too!

~ Chy

For all Moms ....

---- who have new babies in arms, toddlers to chase,

older kids to homeschool, teens to banter with, and

adults to be proud of. For all moms who are missing

their own moms on this special day. And all moms

who have aching hearts as they visit the graves of

their child who has died too soon, too young. This is

a day to be celebrated, honored, wherever you are in

your mothering journey. I hope you are loved and

spoiled today, with breakfast in bed and sunny skies

to look forward to. Happy Mother's Day to you all!

~ Chy

Mother's Day ....

Today, May 3rd, 2020 is International Bereaved

Mother's Day. Always the week before traditional

Mother's Day, it is held to honor all those mama's

who have broken hearts with the loss of their child.

Tonight, we lit a pretty candle for Bretton,

Ciara, Birkley, Cabriola, Cambria, Beau, Cree

and Bentley. Our sweet and tiny babies,

precious in our eyes and our aching hearts.

This candle will stay lit until it's time

for us to head off to bed later tonight.

It is for our babies, for the babies lost in

our family, for our friends who are all

remembering their precious and sweet

babies and children. We have met over

the year hundreds, if not thousands, of

parents who are grieving. It is an honor

to walk with them as they grieve and as

they remember. Sending a virtual hug!!

~ Chy

Love Locket.

Last weekend for Mother's Day, we

ended up having an impromptu lunch.

Our son, daughter~in~law and our little

granddaughter wee supposed to go for

lunch with dils family, but some were

ill, so we filled in and had a great time!

I received many amazing gifts on this

special day, including this locket from

granddaughter to carry with me always.

Both grandkids will be inside, once I

figure out how to get some photos this

tiny! Looking forward to wearing it.

~ Chy

Bittersweet Mother's Day.

Today in Canada, mothers across this vast country are celebrated, honored and smothered with extra love! It's a sweet day for most. But for some, Mother's Day brings heartache, difficult memories and even loneliness. Some mama's don't even have their children with them on this special day. They may live far away, are incarcerated, a relationship is fractured, or have died. Bittersweet.

My husband and I were privileged to achieve 12 pregnancies but unfortunately, we were only able to physically raise 4 bright and healthy children. Our babies were lost to stillbirth (2) and miscarriage (6). Every day, we think of them and miss them to pieces. We are so very grateful and blessed to have the 4 we have who call me mama. Bittersweet.

I fall in the category of having a mom who doesn't know who I am most days. Other days, she remembers when we visit. She knows I'm her daughter. But my name is lost to her. I'm glad she's still here with us but truly wish she could remember who we are when we see her. Bittersweet.

My mother-in-law resides in Heaven. A sweet thought, though we are not really sure Heaven exists. We hold her in our hearts and remember her contagious laughter. She loved being a gramma. She would have loved being a great gramma. I hope she knows we miss her. Bittersweet.

However you navigate Mother's Day, if it is a

Bittersweet day, know you are in my heart ....

~ Chy

Mother's Day with Nana.

My mom on Mother's Day. She was so

excited to have us over to share her day.

We brought cupcakes and the little

grandson who named her "Nana" ....

.... and gifts for her to oogle over. It

was so much fun. He loved visiting.

Under his picture he gave her for her

birthday that is called "My Nana."

Quiet Mother's Day.

Mother's Day this year was quiet, just the way

it should be. I was spoiled with brekky in bed.

And ended the day with a rainbow cake. So truly

yummy. Thoughtful gifts that were abundant, notes 

full of love from my children and shared posts 

from many dear friends. The only thing that was 

missing was my mom. She is living with dementia

at this time in her life and she was so mixed up for

the day that we all agreed to try another time. Today

we'll pick her up when we are in the big City and

bring her home for dinner and gift tonight. I truly

hope it goes well. She did call us at 6:00 a.m. this

morning asking why we hadn't picked her up yet

but at least she hasn't cancelled yet. Fingers crossed

it all goes well today. I wish I could have her back. 

I really miss my mom the way she was ....

Happy Mother's Day.

 I hope that today was special for

all those who have little ones, teens, 

grown children. A day of hope for 

those who are waiting for a tiny 

baby to arrive. A day of anxious

remembering for those who have lost 

a precious baby or a child of any age.

A day for those whose mother has died.

Whatever your story is, where ever you 

are, know that today, in the midst of love,

memories, grief and celebration, you were

honored and thought of by other mothers.

What made your day special? Or difficult?

What did you today to mark this day?

Happy Mother's Day.

If you are a mama, I hope your day was

filled with family, love, memories & gifts.

If you are a bereaved mama, I hope your

day was filled with support & understanding.

If you are not yet a mama, I hope your 

day was filled with honoring your mama.

If you cannot be a mama, I hope your

day was filled with dreams & wonder. 

However you observed this day, I hope

it was joyful, healing & memorable.

Was there something special about today for you?

A Favorite Thing.

In my world today, "A Favorite Thing" is the beautiful flowers given to me for Mother's Day by our youngest dd. 

She knows how much I love 

pink, green and white together, 

and did a wonderful job in 

choosing these blooms!

Looking forward to gazing
at these for the next week.
Thank you dear CJ!

Thank you Claudia
for another great week
with "A Favorite Thing!"

Happy Mother's Day!

Heartfelt wishes to all the

momma bloggers who are

being celebrated today. 

I was spoiled with a yummy

breakfast in bed that included

turkey bacon, cheesy brown 

eggs, organic raspberries,

blackberries and strawberries in

yogurt, real orange juice and

a warm Cinnabon cinnamon bun. 

So good!

Wherever you are, good wishes 

from my little corner of the world

are sent to you today!