Superman??

Blankets for Brianna has brought me so much joy in this past year or so. I hope that the mothers and ladies and families who receive blankets and beanies and other baby items from this organization find comfort and peace when their babies, either in the NICU or those who are already angels, are wrapped in them. 

We are here to leave a lasting memory of these sweet babies.  That being said sometimes I feel like Superman.  Now now... I know. Superman is way more life saving than Blankets for Brianna.  But I love being that person people turn to when they have no other place to go. 

A little background, I work in emergency services, but nothing has been as personal as this.  I get late night emails or random phone calls from friends or friends of friends or referral to us.  These people know someone suffering either a loss or a sick baby.  Blankets for Brianna is able to send care packages to these mothers.  Mothers who may not have had their babies at a hospital that currently has a stock of blankets from Blankets for Brianna.

The care packages sent to these mothers include:

• A labeled handmade blanket
• A  beaded bracelet for the mother to wear that says their child's name in Morse Code. 
• A journal (Once Brianna was born, I used a journal to write her letters, others may use it to journal their thoughts and feelings.)
• and a sympathy card to the mother.

We haven't received a thank you or correspondence when these packages are received, but I am sure these mothers are grateful for the memory of their babies that they are able to keep at home. 

I know I say it all the time, but thank you again for all your donations whether monetary or blankets and other items.  You guys all make this organization run.  Thank you to everyone for your love and support. I love you all.

A whirlwind of a year

Today marks the one year since we have received "official-hood" here at Blankets for Brianna.

Thanks to you all we have accomplished so much.  We have shared stories, experiences, tears, and laughs.  Every single item given to hospitals has been donated to this wonderful organization that is not only in memory of this precious angel Brianna, but other angels just like her.

We cannot begin to thank you all enough for the generosity and support.  We have donated blankets every single month since we started. 

Here is a quick little wrap up of all we have done in the past year. 

Brianna born	January 13, 2012
Opened Blankets for Brianna Facebook	February 23, 2012
Letter received from Secretary of State to say the name Blankets for Brianna available	March 13, 2012
Delivered first package of blankets to Parkview Community Hospital (where Brianna was born)	April 4, 2012
Articles of Incorporation endorsed/filed	April 11, 2012
IRS Employer Identification Number received	June 11, 2012
IRS Form 1040 and California Franchise Tax Board Form 3500 filed	July 30, 2012
IRS Form 1040 and California Franchise Tax Board Form 3500 accepted effective April 11, 2012	September 2012
California Registry of Charitable Trusts confirmed	October 8, 2012
Current Board of Directors	Laurel Taylor, Tiffany Hazelaar, Stefanie Muhlhauser
Total Likes on Facebook	547
Number of Hospitals donated to	43
Number of States donated to	11 (California, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Virginia, Illinois, Oregon, New York, DC)
Number of Countries donated to	4 (USA, Germany, Rome, England)
Number of Blankets donated	833
Number of Beanies donated	239
Number of other items donated	Booties- 8 Gowns- 9 Teddy Bears- 5

    To follow this charity... Please like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BlanketsforBrianna . We post updates on items that are donated to us including pictures, and updates on hospitals that these wonderful, beautiful items are donated to.  You can also message the Board of Directors with questions, comments and ideas to better the organization.

 

Thanks again and we love you all.

Living this mortal life...

I was recently reading an article in the January 2013 Ensign magazine called Whole Enough by Michele Reyes. http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/01/whole-enough

The article is about a women who lost most of her left arm in a car accident when she was 17, and she talks about being worried about her ability as a mother and if she would be able to take care of her children with only one arm.  Something that stuck out to me in the article was she said

“I once thought I was one of the people who most looked forward to the Resurrection and the idea of being made whole.  But now I am not in so much of a hurry.  Increasingly, I feel the Atonement working in my life now.  I have realized that the healing power need not begin only when the Resurrection occurs.  The wholeness has already begun…This realization has been just as meaningful to me as any miracle of physical healing.”

Although Michele is waiting for the Resurrection to be whole again and receive her arm… Mothers who have lost children are waiting too, but their reason to be whole again is to be reunited with their children.  When she said she was most looking forward to the Resurrection, I thought of myself.  Obviously, we are living in the last days, and so it’s possible that Christ will come before we pass away.  If that happens, Brianna and all our sweet angels will be resurrected and that is something that I cannot wait for.  If we pass before, I will still get to see her in the spirit form. 

So prior to reading this article, I was counting down the days until I get to see Brianna again, whether by the 2^nd coming or by my own passing, but as time goes on I am grateful for the Atonement and the life that I have here on Earth.  I know that I will see her again and all the other loved ones I have that have passed on before me.  I have a lot to learn in my mortal life and shouldn’t rush that along.  I know Brianna is working hard on the other side.  I will continue to be patient in getting to see her again and be grateful for all the experiences and opportunities I have here.

Until we meet again…

 

Forward with Faith

I should have posted this at least a week ago, but I procrastinate and in the new year I have already noticed that hasn't changed much.

So its 2013... I saw so many posts about how people are so happy to be done with 2012, how it was such a horrible year and nothing could have been worse.  Each and every post I read, I was becoming more saddened by people's 2012's. In all that happened to me last year, I did not have that same feeling of what-a-horrible-year and how I was so happy it was over.

Last year was hard.  Last year I cried lots, I slept less, I worked more, yet I learned more, I met more amazing people, I served more, I grew up more, I loved more, and I got more Faith.

I have so much to be thankful for and I am sure we all do.  Its whether we actually pay attention to what those things are and whether we cherish those things that makes the difference.

I love my life. I woudn't trade it for anything.  I miss Brianna, but I would hope that she is missing me too.  She is busy doing her thing in heaven waiting for me and I am busy doing my thing here until I get to see her. I just hope she is proud of me.

And thanks to all of you.  Without you, I couldn't do even a fraction of what I do.  Thanks for the support and love and help throughout these few months.  You are all so wonderful.  I look forward to what the future holds for me, for Blankets for Brianna and for all of us. We all are due greatness no matter what type of years we had last year. 

Corona Ward Mutual Activity

I love the service project activities that I have been involved in.  Whether it is Young Men/Young Women, camp, women's groups, girl scouts or whoever else contacts me, I just love them.  I love thinking about Brianna and how the experience of being the mom to an angel can help who ever is hosting the service project.  For one girls camp it was "Dancing it Out." For others it has been faith and testimony.  For this activity, I originally wanted to talk about the importance of temple marriage, but later chose to talk about happiness and finding true happiness now.  I figured these youth have heard numerous talks about temple marriage and no matter how important it was to me at this point in my life, happiness could be just as important since it is something they can have TODAY if they strive for it and work for it.

After my short talk, we went into the cultural hall and everyone made blankets, even the Young Men and I was loving the visiting and felllowship of all the youth.  Mutual is such an awesome program and I can't wait for my own children to be a part of it someday.

Here are some of the pictures from the evening....

Have I mentioned I love my job at Blankets for Brianna?

Walk to Remember 2012

This year was my first year at the Walk to Remember IE.  It was also, of course, Blankets for Brianna's first year and we even had the opportunity to have a booth at the event to promote the charity.

Thanks to Pinterest for most of the ideas for the decorations. I made the banner with dictionary pages (hey, words are in style right) and the old fashioned scissors and glue.  I think it turned out pretty good. We displayed a bunch of different types of blankets that we have received and even had a handout on how to make different types of fleece tied blankets.

 The brown box was also courtesy of Pinterest. Its a diaper box covered in fabric. LOVE IT!
 I also made Pink and Blue ribbons for anyone to wear symbolizing Pregnancy and Infant Loss.

Here is some angel wings that were made in honor of our angel babadfies by a support group I attend called Face 2 Face. Brianna is at the top... 

Now into the walkers....

Best friends for life since 2nd grade... Laurel and Jenn

All the families.. The Ingrams and Taylors

The grandmas

The girl scouts leading the way on our walk holding all the names of the babies we are walking for

Bree's poster. Too bad somehow we missed it on the walk, but we will be there again next year.

My precious angel

The balloon release to our angels

Our basket donation to the raffle table. Couresty of SCM Designs for an awesome basket. 

I was busy the weeks leading up to the Walk to Remember. I wanted our booth to be perfect to make my daughter proud, and I thought it turned out perfect, but now thinking back, I am sure she would have been just as happy having the special people there who came to support her and walk for her and remember her. We will definitely be back next year. It was an awesome event and so much time and work goes into it by the Walk to Remember IE organization. It was a huge success and I can't wait til next year... Who knows who else will be walking with us *wink*wink*

The article about the event can be found at 

http://www.sbsun.com/columnists/ci_21715270/walk-remember-tearful-tribute-loss-young-children 

International Blanketeer

This week my husband and I had the opportunity to travel to England and of course what do I do... research hospitals and pack blankets (in his luggage).

We took 2 packages of blankets to London and 1 to Liverpool.  This by far has been my favorite location geographywise. One of the hospitals was right on the River Thames across from Parliment. How awesome is that.

I didn't call ahead like usual, but all the staff was so appreciative and wonderful.  This was also the first time my husband went along for the delivery. 

First stop was the Liverpool Women's Hospital.

Taxi ride there then about a mile walk back through the city. So worth it...



2nd stop... St Mary's Hospital near Paddington.

 

Last stop, St Thomas Hospital. My favorite.

 

This was such a wonderful experience and I should have more to report once my dear friend delivers some blankets to a hospital in Germany. If anyone else is going on vacations or trips and would like me to coordinate a delivery for you to take that would be wonderful. Just let me know. I have blankets that need to be labeled then I will have plenty to ship out.  I will have them boxed (for trips via car) or smaller packages in bags (for trips via plane).

 

I hope everyone knows how appreciative I am for all the love, support, talents and blankets that I continue to get.