Butterfly Bench for Lily's Garden

I got this beautiful butterfly bench last week for Lily's Memorial Garden! 😍  I've wanted one like it for a long time. A friend of mine had sent me a photo of this same bench in a different color when she saw it at the beach recently. And then I saw the bench in a downtown area recently (but it wasn't for sale). I love it, but had no idea where to find one... and then I "happened" to drive by a store last week and saw one sitting outside. It was on sale and this was the only white one they had, which was sent to them by accident. It was meant to be. If you are interested in getting one, I found it at Kirkland's at a price I've never seen before! 😌 💕 #LilyKatsMemorialGarden #butterfliesforLily

Lily Katherine's Loopy Name

My sweet friend Jessica made this for me. I LOVE the way my girl's first and middle names look written out, especially when they are loopy like this. The pink and hearts don't hurt either. 😌 💕

"A Quiet Love"

This song below is called "A Quiet Love" by Caroline Kay Music. She wrote it about babyloss.

Here is what she said about it on her Facebook page: "I wrote this song for (someone who had a miscarriage) on my flight home to Dublin the other day and sent it to her. It is not my attempt at understanding or explaining what she is going through, but when something moves me, I write. Rebecca has asked me to share it in the hopes that other women might appreciate it too."

It reminds me oh so much of my beautiful Lily girl. 💕 🎶 

"A Quiet Love" Lyrics:

"You'll always be with me

Though I never got to know the person you'd be

Your heart knows my heart

But I've loved you from the start

And me, I will be strong

I'll try to heal, and in time I'll go on

But 'til my dying day

Your memory will never be far away

A quiet love

Forevermore 

A quiet love

I'll always be listening for

And though I wish the world could hear you

Your quiet is enough

Sleep, my quiet love"

From Shannon

My friend Shannon captured this photo for me recently of a beautiful arrangement of pink lilies she came across at a little drug store in Virginia. It means more than I can say each time my girl is thought of by others. 

Handprint Art

An Instagram follower named Hannah sent me these photos with Lily's handprint. Hannah has a precious nephew named Carson who was stillborn that she started an account for, to process her own grief, which I find quite touching. 💕

Harvest Turns 1!

It's crazy that a year has passed (on May 20th) since I held Lily's darling cousin Harvest in my arms for the first time... yet she captured my heart many months before that. She's a precious gift to our family and it's been a joy and delight to discover part of who God created her to be over these past 12 months. She is full of laughter and spunk and has truly made my world a lot brighter. I love you more than you'll ever know, my beautiful niece, Harvest Brooke!

It was fun capturing the milestone of her turning 1! These were taken a couple weeks ago at the park where her birthday party was. Isn't she adorable?! ❤️

Auntie Em Turns 23!

My little sister Emmaline had a birthday on May 19th!

It feels like just yesterday I was a smitten new big sister holding her for the first time and somehow now that lil' baby is 23!

She's still just as adorable as ever, with her blonde-haired, blue-eyed, talkative, bubbly, sweet petite self.

Happy Birthday, Bub!

Love, Sis ❤️ 🎂 🎈 🎁 🌹 🎉 🎊 😘 

Here are some photos of Lily's Auntie Em! :) You can click here to read blog entries about her.

Summer 2014 - visiting Lily's special spot

November 2009 - 25 weeks with Lily

Auntie Em with sweet Lily girl on March 16, 2010

Handmade Mother's Day Cards

A little project I did this year in Lily's honor for Mother's Day was to make handmade cards for some people who the day is bittersweet for... most of them were for mothers who have lost babies and don't have any living children (*still* mothers like me, who hold a special place in my heart... this may be the only Mother's Day card or wishes they'll receive), mothers who do have living children as well as babies in Heaven and I am close with or this was the first year without their little one, a friend who is a birthmother who placed her son for adoption, friends who lost their mothers, and those who always wanted children but are not at the age where they most likely will never have them, and friends who are battling infertility. In Lily's memory, I wanted to send some love and light to these precious people. Card-making is something I got into while I was carrying Lily, so it's a craft that makes me feel close to her. I wish I could send one to everyone I know! #LilysLegacy #handmadewithlove #snailmail 💕 

Butterfly Earrings

My first stop in Virginia this past weekend was at Minda's Boutique for a couple pairs of the butterfly earrings I've been thinking of. The turquoise pair is one of my favorite colors and the others are like the classic Monarch butterfly colors.

These are actual butterfly wings from a butterfly farm in Thailand! The butterflies live out their beautiful little lives and then these are made. And the profits go towards a local home for trafficking victims. Each time I wear them, I will think of my Lily girl and my Bumma, who also loved butterflies.

If you are interested in a pair yourself, visit the website and contact them. They may be able to ship directly to you. There are many different colors to choose from! My family knows the owner. 💕 😌

Lily Remembered in Haiti

My sweet friend Jordan took Lily along with her on her cruise and wrote her name in Labadee, Haiti (the first time there)! That scenery is gorgeous! 😍 ❤️️ 🌊 ☀️ 🐚 🐳 🐬 🐠 🐟 🐢