Happy Birthday little Dallas

Today is the day you were born one year ago.  I miss you more and more every day.  Not a day has gone by that you were not on my mind.  I love you son.  I hope you and Jesus are having one fabulous party in Heaven! 

Love Mommy

Mission Complete.

The food drive was held today.  There is still one week before it is the one year anniversary that Dallas was born.  Here are some pictures to see how successful this years food drive was.  After the overwhelming success it is evident that this is going to be an annual food drive.  What a wonderful way to keep my son's memory alive.  I loved him so so so much and even though I never got to hold him alive in this lifetime I am 100% positive that he is waiting for me on the other side.  Until then, I will continue to do God's work and share Dallas' Mission with others. 

Weeks approaching are overwhelming me...

Well it is official.  One week from today will be the baby food drive and two weeks from today is going to be the one year anniversary to Dallas' birth.  I am doing ok, surprisingly.  Ask me as we get closer to the date and I may give you an entirely different answer.  For now, I am good.  I am trying to focus all of my energy on the food drive.  We have collected quite a bit so far, and I anticipate to collect much more.  I am excited to see just how big I can get this to be.  This is God's plan, my journey, and Dallas' Mission.  I get to be the voice for Dallas. 

If you would have told me a year ago that the child that I was carrying and working so hard to save was not going to make it and instead of celebrating a birthday I would be holding a city wide food drive in his name to give God glory, I would have said you are crazy.   Yet here I am, funny how things work out sometimes.

A year ago I was frantically doing any and everything within my power to save my child's life and give him the weeks within my womb that he desperately needed to thrive.  At this point, I was on a strictly fluid diet.  Being half way through your pregnancy, having cravings, and not being able to eat was awful.  Not to mention I was also suffering severe and daily gallbladder attacks.  I was miserable but I did everything I had to so that my child would have a fighting chance.  He fought for as long as he could.  Reminiscing is bittersweet.  Bitter because I remember the pain I endured as if it were yesterday and sweet because I also remember the joy, excitement, and hope that Dallas brought into our lives.  He changed us.  In many ways.

I am moving forward, baby steps.  I am determined to NOT let this destroy me.  I am determined to allow God to be my master.  He leads.  I follow.  I am excited to see what the future holds for my family...and as long as we do it together, nothing else matters.  Today, so far, has been a good day. 

Dallas' Mission

Dallas' Mission is definitely off to a great start!  I have three more weeks to go, but something tells me this is going to be incredible. I am so honored and humbled to have found such an incredible out pour of prayer, friendships, support, and spirit in the most unlikely of places.  I am AMAZED at how God is always there to not only hold my hand but to embrace me and hold me UP.  I asked for guidance, and he answered.  Big.  He is turning this tragedy into a triumph.  Although my heart hurts and I miss my son Dallas terribly, I know that good things are coming for us.  I am going to scan a copy of the flyer later and include it into the blog this weekend. 

Dallas' mission

For months since I lost Dallas I was trying to come to terms with just merely losing him.  After I got over the hurdle of my actual due date things have seemed to have become easier for me…day by day…little by little.  As I am fast approaching the one year anniversary of his birth I have been racking my head on what I can do to remember and honor him while also giving glory God.  I have prayed relentlessly to try and figure it out.  I won’t go into all of the details, some say it is coincidence, others say it is divinity.  For me, I know that in my heart of hearts it was God talking to me, showing me just what he wants me to do.

Who am I to argue with God?

Here is the plan:

First I need to come up with a clever fundraiser name.  I have a friend already working on this, but any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Second, spread the word.  Share this with your friends, and maybe they can share it with theirs.  I want as many people as possible to participate.  I want to flood the food pantry with baby foods.  Think about it, how many food drives have you seen cans of formula at?  Not very many right?  Well, that is about to change!!  This food drive is solely for baby foods.  

Dallas mattered.  And this is his mission.

During the next month and a half I am going to gather as much baby food and formula as I possibly can.  I am not doing this to start hoarding so don’t worry. HA!  In honor of Dallas’ first angel-versary I am going to donate every thing that I have collected to the DMARC (Des Moines Area Religious Council) and they will be supplying the local food pantry with it. 

Here is the thing; they are in GREAT need of baby foods.  So please, please, please participate.  One can, one jar, one box…anything you can and are able to donate would be much appreciated. 

All of the items will be donated right before Dallas’ first birthday July, 7^th. 

How it feels to be me, within my grief

When I run into people who know and they ask the simple, yet complicated phrase, "How are you" my heart wrenches to tell the truth.  But instead, to spare the other person from the uncomfortable awkwardness that is my reality, I lie, and say that "I am doing great" and thank them for asking.

The truth is, I'm not.  The truth is, I am learning a whole new normal.  The truth is, our lives will never be the same as they were before we became pregnant with our little Dallas.

Congratulating friends and family on their wonderful blessings is now bittersweet.  There is a twinge of guilt and jealousy with each new arrival.  Our son never got to be welcomed joyfully-at least not here on earth.

Walking down any particular isle at the store, especially one that is stocked with baby items instantly brings a flood of sadness.  My son will not be needing these.

Driving in a parking lot and passing the special "Mommy to be" spaces reserved for new and expectant mothers is a painful reminder of what we will never have.

As if having my son in an urn on special shelf is not hard enough, we also get numerous reminders throughout the month that our son is not with us.

Baby coupons. No Baby.
Baby magazines. No Baby.
One mommy, one daddy, one big brother.  No Baby.
Friends who didn't know. Awkward conversation. No Baby.
Stuffed monkey bought for baby. No Baby.
Feelings of guilt. No Baby.
Dreams of holding my son.  Wake up.  No Baby.
Medical bills from his delivery.  No Baby.
Empty arms.  No Baby.

 After my son died, I felt a pain much greater than I have ever experienced.  Within the storm of my grief, I found God to be more present than I would have ever imagined.   God clearly carried me during my darkest hours of grief.  When we hear the verse, "Jesus Wept" it is hard to imagine what it really means to weep.  Now, I know.

To weep is far greater than a simple cry that I knew as normal prior to losing our son.  For the first time in my life I also experienced it.  I wept.  It is a cry of sorrow, pain, anxiety, depression, and longing for answers.  To weep, you feel the cry deep within.  You not only shed tears of grief, but your entire body responds to the grief in the same manner.  I know that while I was weeping for the four straight months that followed my son's death, God was there.  He was whispering and continually showing His presence to let me know that we were being taken care of.  He made sure to offer us comfort and allowed us to find strength within His promise that one day, we will be reunited with our son.

I am learning little by little to be more patient.  I am learning to be more grateful.  I am learning to be a better mother to the son that I do have here on earth.  The things that once seemed so important, have little to no significance in the grand scheme of things.  I am learning to let go of the reins and to give God control.

As I do all of this I am reminded that had we not lost our son, changes in our lives would not have taken place.  It is time to give thanks to God, our creator.  Thank you God for the short, but sweet and precious time that you gave us with our son Dallas.  I know that he is in heaven and is completely perfect now.  Someday we will get to see him again.  Until then, I can rest easier knowing that he is in your kingdom now and gets to continually experience your love while he waits there to meet his family.  Thank you God for helping me keep my head above the water.  Thank you God for my friends and family that truly did their best to help me during my extended time of grief.

The Holy Spirit is kicking me into gear today!!

I have to get this down before I lose it. The most incredible thing just happened to me. Obviously God is calling me to lead a mission. On my way to work I was thinking about calling my church and talking to them about the nursery. I wanted to see if there were any items that they were in need of so that when I gather items in honor of Dallas in the next few months, I know what to ask for. Well as I was thinking about this, the announcer came on the radio for DMARC (DES moines area religious counsel--or better known as the food pantry) and how they are in need of some food donations. Almost instantly it hit me and I started thinking..." babies need food maybe I can gather formula." HERE is where it gets weird! If you don't think this was the Holy Spirit yelling at me then you are crazy lol! Right after I though about the formula supply issue, the announcer said that the biggest food shortage that DMARC is in need of is baby formula!!!! So I guess that settles it! I'm gathering baby formula in honor of my little Dallas. I can't wait to see how this turns out!