Went To Sick Kids Hospital Today!!!

Daniel and I went down to Sick Kids today and dropped off some hats that I've been working on over the past year. Darcy (the bereavement coordinator and our contact at Sick Kids) wasn't there to get a picture accepting the hats but here are the pictures I took last night.

There were 137 hats made by me this time around. I try to make one every other day and I would love to have some more people to come and crochet with me to give hats to this wonderful hospital.

If you would like to make some hats, donate some hats or yarn, please leave a comment for me and I will get back to you. Even if you don't live near me and still want to get involved let me know and I can let you know how you can help put these beautiful little hats on some precious little children's heads. I am always in need of soft yarn, white cardstock, printer ink and small safety pins (for the cards that go with the hats).

A Few Updates

We got to visit Ruby last month and add a couple things to her gravesite. Last year we put the flowers there and they lasted the entire year. This year we added some girly things and some hummingbirds. You see, Ruby never really talked, she would hum her sentences. You would know what she wanted cause you could understand the intonations but didn't say many words. Shortly after she passed away, my daughter Melody was looking through a book and saw the ruby throated hummingbird and commented that it was like Ruby, cause Roo hummed. So, since then we have been collecting ruby throated hummingbirds.

It was a bittersweet time visiting her. Putting these little momentos on her grave are one of the only ways that I can take care of my little girl anymore. I can keep her grave looking sweet and girly and it's so filled with love. She is 3 hours north of us and buried need some of my husband's family. She loved it up in the cottage area and we knew that this would be the best place for her to be.



I was looking through some pictures and can't believe that I forgot to post the after pictures of the yarn that my good friend Wennie donated to me. We'll be going down to sick kids next week and I can't wait to give the hats that have been made over the past year. Here is a link to the yarn that was donated and here are the hats that were made.



A few months ago I started running out of yarn. I've been down to tiny balls of leftover hats and have made a few multi-striped hats. Last week one of Daniel's adult teachers (he teaches private music lessons and this lady is a primary school teacher) gave us some primary books that she was cleaning out of her classroom. Well the other night, he came home with this HUGE bag of yarn. LOOK AT ALL THAT YARN!!!!!!!!!! I am SO touched and blessed to have this yarn and can't wait to start making some hats for Sick Kids. All the ones we gave last year have already been given out throughout the hospital.



I am ALWAYS in need of yarn donations. So, if you would like to support this cause and help me support parents who are pretty much going through hell with their child sick and in the hospital, send me an email and I will give you my address. If you are in the Markham area and want to come crochet or knit with me I'd love the company. If you have kiddos, bring them too. I can't promise that my son will want to share his toys (he's 3 now!!!!) but we have plenty of them. LOL

Blessings,

Dee =)

An Update On Us =)

Hey there everyone. I just thought I would do a post. I've done a bit of a blog makeover and hope to update some posts and get things running on here again.

We just had our 3 year going home anniversary with our precious Ruby. It seems like yesterday that we saying goodbye to her as I held her in my arms as her heart beated it's last mortal beats. Can 3 years have really gone by?? It seems like time has passed by and I haven't been moving at the same pace. I've gone through my grieving process and yet times feel that I am back where I started with unbelief and anger. But I know that she is in our Saviour's arms and she is safe and happy. I will be able to hold her very soon when I am called home, but for now I am asked to stay here and care for my other children, husband, family, friends and to support and show Christ's love to others who have lost a child.

I am in need of yarn to make more hats. We are going through a hard time financially right now and I do what I can to obtain yarn as I can, but it's hard. If you would like to donate yarn or money to buy yarn, please let me know and we can talk about the specifics.

Blessings my friends, Denise (((hugs)))

Snowflakes Of Hope Ministry

On one of my mommy forums, a dear friend has suffered a miscarriage and it has really affected her. Vallere is a wonderful mama and has started a ministry called Snowflakes Of Hope. Here is a little bit from her blog to tell you about the ministry.

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The Snowflakes of Hope Ministry

I began Snowflakes of Hope in August of 2009 after the loss of our daughter, Anna Zophia, at 11 weeks gestation. I had crochetted hats and blankets for each of my sons, and I found it very healing to make keepsakes for our daughter as well. I crochetted her a tiny hat, but it seemed odd to create a full sized blaket that wouldn't fit into her keepsake box, so I began to think of what else I could make for her.

The image of a snowflake seemed perfect for my little one...much like my daughter, snowflakes are individual and unique, and are gone much too fast - even as you hold them in your hand, they are gone.

That image for my daughter, and the healing I felt by creating keepsakes in her memory, developed into a longing to begin a ministry for other families who are also dealing with the heartbreak of loss during a pregnancy.

Snowflakes of Hope provides hand-made, crochetted snowflakes in memory of little ones lost during pregnancy. I have a variety of yarn colors, and can make snowflakes that are more appropriate for girls, boys, or I can use neutral colors if the gender was unknown.

The snowflakes are about 6 inches across, and are perfect for including in a keepsake box or for hanging in a window or on a Christmas tree as a memorial to your lost little one.

Who can request a snowflake?
Any mother or father who has experienced a loss during pregnancy can request a snowflake. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends are welcomed to request a snowflake for their loved ones who are or have experienced a loss during pregnancy.

How much do the snowflakes cost?
This ministry is a labor of love, and I will never ask a grieving parent to pay for a snowflake. Donations from those requesting a snowflake for a family member or friends are welcome in any amount, and will go to cover the costs of supplies and postage.

How do I request a snowflake?
Email requests for a snowflake to blessedbirth.vallere@gmail.com and please include the gender of your baby (if known), your yarn color preferences (if you don't have a preference, that's ok too!), the child's name (if one was given), and the mailing address where you would like your snowflake to be delivered to. Please feel free to include any additional information that will help me pray specifically for your family's needs during your time of grief.

How can I make a donation to the Snowflakes of Hope ministry?
Donations can be made to my paypal account: blessedbirth.vallere@gmail.com . Please be assured that any and all donations will go towards buying supplies and mailing snowflakes to families.


~~~~~~~ Please support this wonderful ministry and keep Vallere's family in your prayers. =)

Donated Yarn ~ THANKS!!!!

A big thank you to my friend Wennie for donating these beautiful skeins of yarn to be made into hats. They are so soft and sparkly. If you would like to see them better, just click on the photo and it will go bigger. I will post a picture when I get the hats made from this yarn.