A day of remembrance for all of our sweet babies. Whether it's miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, or any other type of death.
Each year on October 15, at 7:00 pm, in all time zones, people light candles to participate in the 'Wave of Light'. Events take place all over the world. Memorial walks, candle light vigils, etc.
Our family always participates. We light candles. We hang out together as a family, and allow everyone to share whatever is on their hearts. We pray for all the babies, and the families who ache so badly for them. We let the kids pray. We let them talk about their sister, or ask questions if they want to. We cry. We smile and laugh. We long for our babies. We remember. We snuggle and hold each other tight. We thank God for the time we had with our missing babies and the time we have with our six living babies.
It seems to be one of the few days that we allow ourselves to feel and express our feelings without a filter. It's one hour of the year that we lay our masks down. That we give up fitting into society's one size fits all, three days to grieve, grief mold....we let go of the unrealistic expectations that we should be over her loss. Or that it shouldn't hurt, still.
Reality is, it hurts....still. And on days like today, where friends pictures from all over the world start popping up on my Facebook newsfeed as they light their candles....it gets a little raw. The numbers are insane. Too many babies. Too many families trying to survive without their babies. This 'club' is just too large. Too large for it not to be talked about, not to be more funded for research. It makes no sense.
Different continents, countries, time zones, languages.....it's amazing to me how the one common thread we have as grieving parents, makes us more like family. Of course, I would prefer not to have met any of these families. I would prefer to have all my babies, and for them to have theirs. But I am incredibly thankful for this 'family'.
Tomorrow we'll put our masks back on. But for today, it's been nice to be able to lay down our masks, and be real and raw....along side the thousands of other grieving moms and dads and brothers and sisters and grandparents.
Thinking of all these precious babies, and praying for the families who miss them more than words could ever express.
Some pictures from today....
From Reno, NV
From Perrysburg, Ohio
From Dallas, Texas
From Chapel Hill, North Carolina
From Burlson, Texas
From Illinois
This year, Niagra Falls was lit pink and blue for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day!
These ones are our display. A baby's name on each candle.
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