Last Friday marked the one year anniversary of Maggie's Day. Thank you to all the family and friends that reached out to us last week. Your continued support means so much to us. I am thankful for what God has done for our family this year (as we eagerly await the arrival of Maggie's little brother) and am thankful for the restoration He has brought to our lives. But the truth is, September 7th will never be "just another day" in our house. It will always be Maggie's day - the day we celebrated her birth, the day we gave her back to Jesus. My emotions ran high last week - not knowing how best to celebrate Maggie, how best to honor her.On Friday morning, I found myself at the funeral home where her ashes are kept. It just seemed like the right place to go. I sat in a parlor and gave myself the opportunity to grieve for a few minutes --missing someone you love is just part of the human experience. Then it was time to wipe my tears and celebrate the little life that touched so many.
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My sister, Julee, jump-started the celebration by bringing over cupcakes from McEntyre's bakery.
She also gave me beautiful red roses in a vase etched with Maggie's initials and adorned with a pearl necklace. |
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My parents sent a beautiful bouquet of pink and white flowers and
Charles also arranged two bouquets of flowers for his girls -- me and Maggie. |
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| On Saturday, Charles, Carson, and I visited the Angel Garden in Sandy Springs. It is a special memorial garden established by SHARE Atlanta for families who have lost babies. We have ordered a memorial brick for Maggie that will be placed in the garden this Fall. I am so grateful to have a place to go as a family to remember and celebrate Maggie. |
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| We left a single flower at the Angel Garden in celebration of Maggie's day. |
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| We have a special box to store our memories of Maggie -- the angel blanket we wrapped around her when she was born, the pearl bracelet and tiny pink hat we placed on her after she was born, ink handprints and footprints, the many cards of sympathy and support we received from family and friends, the hand-stitched blue smocked dress we received as a gift from a friend, a certificate from the milk bank where I was able to donate my milk to help other babies in NICU, the teddy bear I carried home with me from the hospital, small locks of Maggie's hair, a white blanket made by Nana, and pictures of the day we spent together. |
