Luke's 1st Heavenly B-day
Made it through. It was a sometimes stressful day. One of my family members was not very supportive. Thinking because I'm having trouble moving on, that Luke's b-day shouldn't be celebrated. To me those are two different issues. And my mom thinks this person can do no wrong. So she and I argued a couple of times, but she was as supportive as she could be when it came down to the events. (I really think he just didn't want to be bothered.)
Luckily friends from all over sent messages, lit candles, sang songs, prayed, and kept Luke in their thoughts. So that far outweighed the stresses of the day. Several people said that Luke's life changed them- people who had been following my pregnancy on FB, who mourned with me when he passed. I was truly in awe of the wonderful messages people sent. Some of them I don't even know, other members of the Grieving Mothers group on FB. Some of them friends I haven't seen since high school, but they sent the most touching e-mails.
I try not to think about friends who have been really close to me in the past, who either have never said a thing to me about the loss of Luke or have been so awkward I feel guilty talking about it. One of my former best friends didn't want to see photos of Luke, which hurt. But her sister, who I don't know as well, sent me a beautiful book that had helped her children when their father had passed. You never know who will be there for you and who won't when something as awful as this happens. You may lose close friendships, but I guarantee whether you are open to it or not, wonderful people will want to come into your life and help you through. There are more wonderful people in the world than not.
So. On Luke's birthday, my parents and I went down to the river and released balloons. Each of us released a balloon for Luke, and I also released a balloon for a Facebook friend's daughter, Ember. Her mother and I both found out on the same day last year that our babies hearts had stopped beating. We wrote messages on all of the balloons (which were 100% biodegradable).
After, my parents and I had dinner by the river at sunset. Later, at home, we had a birthday cake for Luke. I lit the candle and it went out 3 seconds later, and I couldn't get it relit. A friend on FB said Luke blew it out. I love that thought. :) We also lit other candles on the mantel. One for Luke and some for other angelversaries I'd found out about on FB.
Here are some pics from the day.
Luke was loved and honored on his birthday. My beautiful boy. :)
Luckily friends from all over sent messages, lit candles, sang songs, prayed, and kept Luke in their thoughts. So that far outweighed the stresses of the day. Several people said that Luke's life changed them- people who had been following my pregnancy on FB, who mourned with me when he passed. I was truly in awe of the wonderful messages people sent. Some of them I don't even know, other members of the Grieving Mothers group on FB. Some of them friends I haven't seen since high school, but they sent the most touching e-mails.
I try not to think about friends who have been really close to me in the past, who either have never said a thing to me about the loss of Luke or have been so awkward I feel guilty talking about it. One of my former best friends didn't want to see photos of Luke, which hurt. But her sister, who I don't know as well, sent me a beautiful book that had helped her children when their father had passed. You never know who will be there for you and who won't when something as awful as this happens. You may lose close friendships, but I guarantee whether you are open to it or not, wonderful people will want to come into your life and help you through. There are more wonderful people in the world than not.
So. On Luke's birthday, my parents and I went down to the river and released balloons. Each of us released a balloon for Luke, and I also released a balloon for a Facebook friend's daughter, Ember. Her mother and I both found out on the same day last year that our babies hearts had stopped beating. We wrote messages on all of the balloons (which were 100% biodegradable).
After, my parents and I had dinner by the river at sunset. Later, at home, we had a birthday cake for Luke. I lit the candle and it went out 3 seconds later, and I couldn't get it relit. A friend on FB said Luke blew it out. I love that thought. :) We also lit other candles on the mantel. One for Luke and some for other angelversaries I'd found out about on FB.
Here are some pics from the day.
Luke was loved and honored on his birthday. My beautiful boy. :)