Happy St. Patrick’s Day! It seems appropriate that one of Molly’s monthly milestones would fall on this date, being that we live on the South Side of Chicago close to the South Side Irish (SSI) parade route. Here is a picture of our family from this year’s parade.
Around this time last year we got the news that there was nothing more that could be done, at least medically speaking, to help our baby girl. We had hoped and prayed up until then that Molly might somehow survive, come home with us and get do things like go to future SSI parades with our family. However, we do believe that our baby girl was with us in spirit at the parade this past Sunday, especially in light of the perfect weather we had that day (sunny and not too cold or hot).
On this eleven month milestone, as we approach Molly’s first birthday, instead of sharing with you something else that has helped us to feel close to and remember our baby girl, I am going to turn the tables and ask that you please share with me and my family how Molly’s journey has touched you.
If you have a special memory or something you learned from being a part of Molly and our family’s life over the past year, please comment on this post and/or send us an email to let us know. I know that many of you have faithfully read these monthly milestone posts that I have written since Molly was born and died. We so appreciate those of you who have commented here or emailed us and shared your thoughts and support consistently, as well as those who have done so from time to time. I know that those of you who haven’t commented or contacted us directly have held us close in your thoughts and prayers as we have grieved and healed over the past year. Today I invite those who may not have commented before, along with those who have and would like to do so again, to share and create this month’s honors and memories of Molly. Tell us what the past year has meant to you. Share a story, an antidote and/or whatever comes to mind.
Thank you in advance for sharing and for your continued support, encouragement, thoughts and prayers. It’s bittersweet to think that it has been almost a year now since Molly was born and went to Heaven. We look forward to celebrating Molly’s birthday and honoring her memory with those of you that will be able to join us next month, two days after her birthday, on April 19. I shared the details of Molly’s Birthday/Celebration of Life in last month’s memorial milestone post. We also decided to send out an Evite this week to get a better idea of how many people will be joining us that day. If you didn’t receive the Evite and would like to attend, please email us. Thank you. We know that those of you who will not be joining us on Molly’s birthday will be with us in spirit and that means a lot to us. May God continue to bless you and your loved ones.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Your sweet Molly helps me to hug my daughter a little tighter each night. As we are rocking and reading bedtime stories, I remember to be even more greatful for my sweet girl.
Though I continue to grapple with whether or not God wants me to have another child, stories like yours help me to never forget that loving the daughter I already have should be priority #1.
Sending hugs from Florida!
I haven’t been reading since your journey with Molly began, but I will say that in the last couple of months, I have been inspired by your grace and courage. I will thank your little Molly for that!
hi there! I’m your sock-it-to-me partner! Just sent them today via http://www.target.com. hope you like them!
I have been reading, following your infertility journey and watched from the sidelines and cried with you and for you and think of your beautiful daughter every time I hear the name Molly. Your true love for her and your son and your husband and your faith in life to prevail keeps me reading and gives me hope. She is remembered and thought of by people who will never know you but feel like we are friends.
Learning with Molly
I have learned that miracles can come in all shades of joy, sorrow, hope and grief at the same time but it doesn’t change it’s core, it is still a miracle!…
I have learned to live in the present, doing our best to enjoy and cherish the moment we are living…
I have learned that we are always stronger than we thought we were…
I have learned that great things can be discovered inside ourselves even in the most difficult circumstances, if we work hard to put things in perspective and don’t get lost in the process…
I have learned that our mission in life goes beyond our stay here on earth if we leave a legacy…
I have learned to trust even when things didn’t turn out the way we wanted…
I have learned to be at peace even when things are uncertain…
I have learned not to get consumed by difficult times because there are always many factors out of human control and understanding that can’t be predicted…
I have learned that hope is the last thing we should run out of…
I have learned that there is no foot too small that it cannot leave a lasting imprint on our hearts!
I started reading (I don't even remember how) either after Molly was born or just during that timeframe….
I just like to come to offer a word of support here and there. Sometimes I feel like if I come to read (from the L&F or wherever) I ought to stay if the mood strikes. Sometimes it seems to be a God thing, sometimes it's just right.
You're a testament to faith in hard times, you really are.
I started reading while you were still pregnant with Molly, and you helped pull me out of a major self-pity spiral. I have three children with varying levels of physical and developmental disability, and my youngest wasn’t doing too well. Your writing and positive outlook reminded me to look at the POSITIVES, not the NEGATIVES, and I thank you (and Molly!) for that.
I, too, found your blog shortly after Molly was born.
You, and Molly, have taught me to tell my family how much I love them everday. And how to get up and brush myself off, no matter what life deals me.
Your whole family is an inspiration to me.
((HUGS))
Hope
Faith
Love
Things I’ve seen in you during your journey with Molly.
I think of Molly often. If fact she is still on my fridge. Every time I see her picture I think of how blessed we are for our children and how fragile life really is.
Your story teaches me to be a more thoughtful parent. And your daughter reminds me daily that life is precious. Thank you for sharing with us. Your grace on this journey is inspiring.
I have learnt that one can remain standing amidst onslaughts, even such devastating ones as what you have experienced with Molly, if you are rooted in Jesus.