Annual Butterfly Release and Picnic Recap
Moms, families, and friends gathered at Concord Park on September 18 to enjoy a relaxing atmosphere and release butterflies in memory of our children. Rain did not spoil the atmosphere as families ate a delicious meal, catered by Boogies Catering, and sat for Messages of Love portraits. Katie, Gabe’s mom, played her bagpipes and kids played on the swings despite the rain.
Anniversaries
When I think of an anniversary
I usually think of celebration
Happiness and cheers
Laughter with big smiles,
Then I lost my child
I had no concept
Of such an anniversary
A dreaded day that comes year after year,
To think there were mothers
Suffering such great loss
Which I never even imagined
Nor did I try to understand,
As I took my child
To the playground
The park and the zoo
Passing those so unfairly robbed,
Now, it is my reality
Every year as fall approaches
While the leaves are changing
The colors are pretty
I am anticipating
The coming of an anniversary
One which clutches much pain
One which brings tears
I question if my heart will
Literally break in two pieces
A solid and sudden split
Like this sudden reality
I have made it again
Through that horrible day
Family and friends speak of great strength
They know not, how exhausted I am.
Sawyer’s Mom
10-14-16
Submitted by Scarlett Powell:
“I’ll lend you for a while a child of mine,” He said.
“For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three,
But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,
You’ll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.”
“I cannot promise he will stay; since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked the wide world over in My search for teachers true
And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love, not think the labor vain,
Nor hate Me when I come to call to take him back again?”
I fancied that I heard them say, “Dear Lord, Thy will be done!
For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we run.
We’ll shelter him with tenderness, we’ll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we’ve known, forever grateful stay;
But should the angels call for him much sooner than we’ve planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand!”
Submitted by Pam Johnson:
“If you know someone who lost a child, and you’re afraid to mention them because you think you might make them sad by reminding them that they died — you’re not reminding them that they died. What you’re reminding them of is that they lived. And that is a great gift!”
Widow of Senator John Edwards
Advisory Council
The Listening Hearts Advisory Council has kicked off! What does that mean for you?
We now have a group of moms to provide input for programs to fulfill our mission of reaching out to moms who need us. The group’s launch has started with the moms who originally gathered in 2008 to form Listening Hearts! Feedback from these moms will continue to strengthen the programs we offer.
Our Days of Giving campaign will run for the entire month of December this year, beginning with #GivingTuesday on November 29. This is an opportunity to give back with your tax-deductible donation in any amount. We appreciate our donors so we can continue to provide quality programs and activities for moms and their families. Visit our website at https://listeningheartsmoms.org/donate to make a secure donation. Thank you!
Worldwide Candle Lighting
December 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Candles are lit for one hour across all time zones, creating a 24-hour wave of light, in memory of our children, gone too soon. Don’t have a candle? Use a flashlight or any other light source!
Listening Hearts Candle Lighting Ceremony and Remembrance Tree Ornaments
Plans are underway for our annual candle light ceremony at our Knoxville gathering location, Redeemer Lutheran Church. Highlights of this annual event include the reading of our children’s names while moms and families light candles in their memory and a fun gift exchange.
Moms will decorate personalized tree ornaments at all gathering locations in November to hang on the Listening Hearts remembrance tree in December. This year’s tree theme is “Angels Hear Our Hearts Sing.”
Stay tuned for more information about these two memorial events.
Thank You to Our September/October Donors
Kroger Community Program
Debra & Lewis Sartain
Karen Archer
Debra & Alan Reagan
Amparo Atencio
Opal and Colin Webb
Brenda Black