10.15.21 Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day
WAVE OF LIGHT CAMPAIGN
Light your BeLikeTheWillow Candle at 7 pm!
"I have wanted to do this for 3 years now ..."
I remember back to the months following the loss of our daughter Willow. My eyes had been opened to this brand new world of reality. It brought me comfort to hear stories of other families and parents that went through a similar experience. A close family friend said something similar to, "It's a club that no one wants to be a part of, but a club that will support you through and through" ... and WOW, was he right!
It felt as if this new part of my story had somewhat come to define me - most days leaving me overwhelmed as it lead me to learn new facts. ALL these new facts that I felt ignorant I didn't know prior to Willow. I could go on and on about all of these facts - I now can list at least 5-10 of them just off the top of my head and give you points on why I would've loved if someone would've prepared me with all of this info ... BUT, I will save that for another post.
In the time that I learned so much about loss, I also found so many resources of families, groups and even events that were bringing this new "club" I had become a part of, TOGETHER! My eyes would swell as I would find more and more outlets of ways to express my love and gratitude about my experience, while at the same time, allowing myself to grieve - giving me an overall understanding that it was OKAY to grieve! This post came up in my memories on Facebook yesterday from September 25, 2019 ... I found it fitting as it hits on a couple different ways that the community of people around me provided my with such comfort, without even knowing it ...
"As I prepare and complete all of the final tasks on the to do list to reveal the calendar this year ... I click in the same "BeLikeTheWillow" folder on my computer that all of the files from the past three years are in.
This specific folder lives within another folder that has ALL of the beautiful pictures that were taken the day we held Willow in our arms.
So, every time I open new file, my heart sinks and my eyes swell all over again when I see the thumbnail view of that day. I truly believe that this is the path God chose for us ... not the one that I expected, but I am humbled every single time I get in that folder to feel ALL the feels of just how incredibly blessed we have been and continue to be for many reasons - all of which would make me cry ... and that's just not productive right now. lol!
Just know how insanely good this movement makes me feel and that is all thanks to you. Understand that by you doing good, it makes me smile ... and when I smile, it takes me back to the months directly following losing our sweet Willow, which were filled with sadness - but also joy ... joy every time someone would place their hand on my back as they walked by in public to let me know their heart ached for me ... joy every time someone would come up to me and started blinking a lot as they were ignoring the tears filling their eyes trying to push through getting a "normal" conversation to make me feel better ... joy every time someone hugged me and held me just a little bit longer as I felt their entire body exhale a sigh of relief that they could finally express their sadness to me.
Each of these things you would think would make me sad, but it was the exact opposite ... what was very awkward and uncomfortable for those approaching me (because they didn't know what to say), was so humbling to me that I have SO many people that just wanted to comfort me.
Each time I smile, it reminds me of Willow and it reminds me of all of you - and those two experiences combined make me want this movement to reach SO many more people - to, in hope, bring that overwhelming amount of joy to others.
Thank you for being you ..
I am TRULY looking forward to watching you "Go out there and great things!"
I remember looking at different items to be listed on the October Calendar and one thing I came across was the "Wave Of Light Campaign". Each year on October 15th, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, at 7:00 pm, participants from around the globe unite to illuminate the night in remembrance of the little lives lost too soon and the grieving families that are left behind as the result of; however, not limited to: miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, prematurity, neonatal and postnatal death.
The very first year, I posted a picture on Facebook ...
FACEBOOK: October 15, 2017
"Tucked safely on the couch with Andrew cuddled watching tv. The candles are lit, our hearts are calm and we are thanking God for our blessings. Today is a good day."
#pregnancyandinfantlossremembranceday
#thatsalonghashtag
#LetsStartAMovement
#BeLikeTheWillow
#BeKindToOneAnother"
In the years following, I wanted to provide a small BeLikeTheWillow candle to followers to light in memory of their little ones.
- To honor the families that have been touched by this experience - through their own pregnancies, or a relative or a friend.
- I want to bring MORE awareness that loss happens.
- I want a visual, as a reminder that ultimately, it is out of our control.
- I want those who have had a loss to find comfort in knowing that what they are feeling is normal. To remind them that this path that has been chosen for them, has been walked by many others and that they are not alone.
- I want the candle to those who maybe haven't experienced a loss personally, to represent a sense of being humble and kind to one another. To have the understanding that the women and families around you may be putting on the bravest of faces, because they are fighting their inner struggles.
- I want the warmth that that candles provides to surround ALL of the movement followers with whatever they need in that moment ... love, courage, faith, happiness, clarity, strength.
I have wanted to do this for 3 years now ... up until this year, I haven't had the connections to be able to make it a reality.
Yes, you read that right "up until THIS YEAR!"
BeLikeTheWillow Wave Of Light Candle
The BeLikeTheWillow movement has partnered with The 1824 Candle Company
Click the link below to purchase your BeLikeTheWillow Wave Of Light candle! This 4 oz vanilla candle smells AMAZING! It has such a warmth in the smell, it leaves you feeling cozy and comforted. Each candle is $8, with a large portion of the proceeds going back to Ashlie's Embrace. The link will stay active until October 1. Your candle order will be shipped directly to you, so you can light it on the night of October 15, 2021 at 7 pm.Click Here To Order Your BeLikeTheWillow Wave Of Light Candle
How can you participate in the Wave Of Light campaign?
Post your Wave of Light videos and pictures to the social media of choice, ie. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or a similar platform, on October 15th, 2021 at 7 pm.
I am looking forward to seeing your BeLikeTheWillow candle illuminated. Every time I see Willow's name on anything, my heart expands. What a beautiful blessing. Thank you to all of our friends and family for helping to make each day without our sweet Willow, one filled with generosity, love, compassion, faith and most of all support.
We will forever be humbled by you.
Go out there and do great things!
#BeLikeTheWillow
#LetsStartAMovement
#BeKindToOneAnother
Want To Learn More About Our Story?
INTERESTING READ ABOUT OCTOBER!
"Each year, approximately a million pregnancies in the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of the newborn child. National observance of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, 1988, offers us the opportunity to increase our understanding of the great tragedy involved in the deaths of unborn and newborn babies. It also enables us to consider how, as individuals and communities, we can meet the needs of bereaved parents and family members and work to prevent causes of these problems."
Click the button below to be directed to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
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