Every year since then, I have picked an Angel off the tree at the local mall wherever I am and spent an outrageous amount of money on the child. From my heart and to theirs. My way of paying forward my pain and trying to bring something good, from something so tragic and confusing - to brighten a child's Christmas morning, if only for a few hours may the child's loved ones enjoy the smile and laughter.
SO 10 yrs now ... 10 Angles
This year I picked a 9yr boy ... why did I do that ??? Anyway after the back and forth with the shoes, the clothes size, the FREAKING PRICE OF LEGOS !!! WTH are they gold ?!?! They sure don't feel like it when you step on them. Anyway, his list asked for a pair of shoes size 8 adult - I tried 8 kids first, looked way to small, then I went with the 8 adult, they look way to big - gift receipt enclosed. Also wanted dress pants/shirt - Wal-Mart had a 4 piece suit thing(pants, shirt, vest, tie) for $20 - gift receipt also enclosed. I found a super hero Lego overpriced thingy and a pretty cool remote control monster truck. I wanted to play with it
I encourage you all to pick Angels off your local tree at the mall, the few hours of joy/laughter you can bring into a home on Christmas morning are just priceless.
I miss my Nemo every single day. Every. Single. Day. He is the driving warmth in my chest, the tears on my cheek, the sigh from my lips, the very beat of my heart, the breath that fills my lungs, the thoughts on my mind, and fills my dreams night/day.
The silver lining in my loss is my ability to pay it forward. I am an LPN because of him. My empathy and sympathy come from a deep inner pool filled and nourished by him, and I am forever grateful of the gifts I was left with.
(((Nemo)))
Dear Mr. Hallmark, I am writing to you from heaven, and though it must appear A rather strange idea, I see everything from here. I just popped in to visit, your stores to find a card A card of love for my mother, as this day for her is hard. There must be some mistake I thought, I saw every card you could imagine Except I could not find a card, from a child who lives in heaven. She is still a mother too, no matter where I reside I had to leave, she understands, but oh the tears she's cried. I thought that if I wrote you, that you would come to know That though I live in heaven now, I still love my mother so. She talks with me, and dreams with me; we still share laughter too, Memories are our way of speaking now, would you see what you could do? My mother carries me in her heart, her tears she hides from sight. She writes poems to honor me, sometimes far into the night She plants flowers in my garden, there my living memory dwells She writes to other grieving parents, trying to ease their pain as well. So you see Mr. Hallmark, though I no longer live on earth I must find a way to remind her of her wondrous worth. She needs to be honored, and remembered too Just as the children of earth will do. Thank you Mr. Hallmark, I know you'll do your best I have done all I can do; to you I'll leave the rest. Find a way to tell her, how much she means to me Until I can do it for myself, when she joins me in eternity. By Jody Seilheime
I do the same thing for my angel baby too. He would have been 12 this year.
Try and have a Merry Christmas, it's a really bitter sweet time of year.
Best thing I gained in my divorce - my freedom.
Life's good.
I did the same for my stillborn son, he would be 23. It was important to me to buy for an angel just like him -a boy his age. I used t get an angel the same age as him, organizations stop the angels at age 18. Now I just pick up stuff for a 23yo guy and drop them off at a homeless shelter or a group that helps young men get back on their feet. I think I'll be doing this as long as I can celebrate the holidays.
Hugs,
"Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you." -Walt Whitman
I gave you more than I ever got back You left me here to forget about that All the things you thought you had have gone Let that be a lesson to you -Richie Kotzen, "Special"
Thank you for posting your story. This year was a lot of firsts for me...first Mother's Day as a mom of 4 but only with 3, this Thanksgiving and Christmas would have been baby's firsts. I remember reading something along the lines of, "I don't need an angel on top of my tree because I have one looking down from Heaven on me." Putting up my kids' baby's first Xmas ornaments was difficult. Coupled with my youngest's first Xmas was 3 days after I confronted him. I've been trying to figure out how I want to remember my baby. I ran that 5k for the March of Dimes. I hate running so I don't think that will be my thing. I've looked at angel ornaments but I just haven't found the one that speaks to me. It's been a rough 2 years since you know what. And as I am sitting here racking my brain thinking about how I've wanted to come up with something like you have done I got an idea!! I can fake my way through crocheting but I really don't know how. My grandmother was awesome at it and she would send blankets, and purses, and ponchos when I was little. I think my New Year's resolution should be to learn how to crochet for real and start making baby hats and blankets. I know a lot of NICUs will take them for the babies. You've inspired me!!!
March of Dimes is what I do every year, as well. Everytime I pass one of those little incubators I put money in.
Nemo would be 10 on 3-23-14 ... this is the 10th angel I have done.
Thank you all.
You have such a caring heart. I'm sure those children are grateful and have huge smiles because of your kindness.
This story makes me smile ... And goes along with what I try to do.
I ♥ my Husband!!!
May you all receive extra special blessings and feel the warmth of your angels in your hearts this Christmas.
(((((Hugs)))))
"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." - Aubrie
You've made that little guy with the big feet very happy!
AJ's MOM
"Truth has no special time of its own. Its hour is now - always." - Albert Schweitzer ____________________________________________ Me: BW - Him: 200+ # tumor removed 7/09 DS - 31 - Yikes!
