Brianna's Mom

For awhile I was afraid that I would be known as the mother that had a still born baby. It kind of bothered me since I didn't want Brianna's life to be remembered like that. And I didn't want the sad face that comes with that when people meet me.

Well last night I unexpectedly saw a dear friend. She was with her friend and introduced us. She said "This is Brianna's mom." I didn't realize it til later, but that was the best thing ever.  I am Brianna's mom and I always will be. No one else can be that. This woman recently had had an activity with her friends to make blankets so the friend knew about Brianna. But nothing was mentioned about her birth or anything. Just that I was her mom. I love that.

Thanks Mary!

Another group of angel helpers..

Earlier this week my church group put together a group activity for Blankets for Brianna. We collected 38 blankets and 9 beanies for these precious children. I spoke during the activity. Here is what I said and some pictures to share.

I am honored that you would have a RS Service project/activity centered on this charity, Blankets for Brianna.

Thank you to all the ward members for the prayers, comfort, meals and friendship during this extremely trying time in my life. My testimony has been strengthened by every one of you.

I am sure that many of you have already heard the story of Brianna's birthday or read the talk I gave at MOPS on my blog so I will not repeat what you have already heard. I wanted to just share tonight a couple of minutes on what I have learned from my angel, Bree.

Brianna has definitely changed my life and it wasn't so much during the pregnancy as the day she was born. That day, I learned what unconditional love is. I now have a teeny tiny glimpse of how our Heavenly Father feels about us. His love is immeasurable. He is hurt when we are hurt. He is happy when we are happy. Having a love that is so strong for Brianna has carried on to others. I feel sorrow and hurt on such a different level. Before when I heard about unfortunate things happening I just went about my life, now I am immediately adding these people to a revolving prayer list in my heart. I am constantly praying and pleading for help for everyone from a homeless man I see walking down the street to my best friend's husband who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer 3 weeks before Brianna was born.

This love has opened up charity into my life like never before. Of course, the blankets are a given but I am open to any kind of charity. I have met so many amazing people and have been able to give of my time, talents and resources. I am so grateful that I have the desire and ability to do this. My prayers every night mention my attitude in charity and my gratitude for that.

Brianna has also taught me patience. The whole time I was pregnant I was trying to be patient for her to come, but that is nothing compared to the patience I have for the time that I will be reunited with her. I consider her to be a best friend of mine. Many of you may think of her as a baby, but I always think of her as she is in the spirit world-an adult. I wonder what she is like, what her hobbies and desires are.

Most of all she has taught me to trust in the Lord. Joe and I bought this little card that has her name on it. The card has the meaning of her name and a scripture. Not until she was born did that card mean so much. Her name means "high, noble, exalted" and the scripture is Proverbs 3:5...my new favorite scriptures. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Some of you may have already heard this story, but it has touched my heart and continues to touch it daily. As we all know everyone wants to put in their two cents and advice before first time moms have their baby and I got plenty of advice. My last day at work, before I went out on leave a coworker came up and solemnly say down by me. She reminded me she was in her mid 30s, single and had no children. She said that even though she didn't have any experience with being a mother she had some advice for me too. Her advice was for me to trust in my God. This hit me hard. This woman is of the Hindu faith. She is faithful, but has a different faith than my own, but she still felt it was necessary to remind me to trust in God. I’ve talked to her since this experience and I believe that she followed promptings she received to give me this message. It stuck out to me more than if one of you gave me that same message. I thought about this every day while waiting for Brianna and I still think about it today.

Many people have asked me what happened the day she was born and most of the time my answer is you just have to trust in the Lord. It’s true. If you trust in the Lord the rest isn't as important. There is a reason it was Joe and I that got to be Brianna's parents and I have to trust the Lord and maybe someday it will be revealed. Until then that's when patience comes in.

One way I cope with Brianna being gone is think that she is just on a mission. If any of you have friends or family on mission you know they can't call and you understand they are busy and their work is important. Well as many of you know Je is a convert. His family has been waiting years for their work to be done. I am sure Brianna is there teaching them and showing the gospel, she is our missionary and we are trying to do our duty to take those names to the temple and do for them what they can’t while they are on the other side of the veil.

I am grateful for the lessons I have learned from her and know that I still have a lot to learn from her. I do know that while I am on this earth I will keep my focus on the celestial kingdom so that I will be reunited with her once again. I am grateful for temple marriage and the happiness that eternal marriage gives me and Joe. I am grateful for the progress this charity has made and the families that we will touch with comfort and peace through these blankets. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

More Moms groups and Houston

Blankets for Brianna had their first group event on May 2nd with the Menifee MOPS group.  It was so wonderful to see the women joined together creating blankets for such a wonderful cause. 

One woman brought her two daughers and it gave me such a good idea to one day have a Mother's Day event to create blankets with our children.  Not this Mother's Day of course, but just an idea for the future. It was so great to even see these small hands helping out.  Later she said her "girls will forever be changed.  They both prayed for Brianna and all babies last night.  Macy thanked God for her talens that she could make blankets to help sick babies."  How faithful these young children are and obviously grateful that they could help. 

They have inspired me along with all the other women who took time out of their busy life to spend the evening making blankets.  Here is a picture of the blankets collected just that night. This is not counting the blankets this group collected before and a couple of the women who took fleece to make more blankets during the week.

Then I got the chance to talk at the Canyon Lake Moms Next group about the charity.  I was there along with Align Ministries , Faithful Servants , and The 100 Mile Club . Thanks for the group for having us and taking the time to consider each of our charities for the summer off months. Hope to see many of you soon.

Lastly, I had a class in Houston this week for work. And even though I was only there for a total of 32 hours, I still made it a priority to squeeze in a hospital visit on my lunch break. The staff at the hospital was so wonderful and loved each blanket received.  They were happy for the donation and of course, I was happy to donate blankets in honor of Brianna and others like her.

Mother's Day is in a couple of days and although my heart is full, I am excited because it is my first.  I will be using my time to organize the blankets and add all the labels so that we can get them shipped out and in the hands of the families who need them.  Thank you to everyone for taking your time and talents to make such beautiful masterpieces. I love you all.

Fundraiser

Another  generous friend at Classy Cake Pops has offered a Cake Pop Fundraiser...just in time for Mothers Day. For the next 2 weeks, she will be offering 1 dozen cake original cake pops at $15.00. 50% of the proceeds will go to Blankets for Brianna.  She also does specialty items. Check out her page. She definitely has a talent!!

She has a tons of flavors, colors, designs etc. Let her know what your theme is and we can design something special for you! We offer cake pops in Vanilla, Chocolate, Red Velvet, yellow cake, devils food cake, funfetti, orange, carrot cake, spice cake, strawberry, chocolate chip, brownie, mint brownie, smore, rocky road etc etc etc.

Offer ends May 18th. Message her at Classy Cake Pops for orders.  I will help with the delivery between the Corona and Temecula areas