Friday, February 25, 2011

New Pages

Hello everyone! If you notice, right below the header, we've got some new pages going on. These won't appear as posts, but they are very helpful when it comes to information!

We now have a "form" for you to fill out if you would like to apply for a blanket. Just click on "Apply"

"About Us" is kind of self explanatory, don't you think?

"Angel Families" lists the current families we're ministering to, as well as families we have already ministered to. Eventually I would love to see a waiting list there as well.

I'm currently working on the "How To Help" tab, and it should be up soon!

I plan on having a "Contact Us" tab up there as well. What are some other ideas for things to put up there? Any thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Our First Angel Blanket is Done!

I don't have pictures, as my friend is the one who has finished it. But it's for sweet Baby C, who was only six weeks along.When my friend comes home next week, I'll be sure to take pictures of a finished blanket before we ship it off to it's Angel Family.

Also, if you notice at the top, we're slowly adding pages to make it easier to navigate. Stay patient with us as we slowly begin building this blog and this ministry.

Comments and suggestions are, as always, welcome!

Monday, February 21, 2011

How To Get Involved

I'm beginning to get interest in this ministry, which is awesome! I'd love to share with you how you can get involved.

If you would like to help produce the blankets: Great! We are currently doing knit & crocheted blankets. I will provide you with a (very, very simple and customizable) pattern, and if needed, yarn. I would then contact you with the color of blanket needed, and the final size (amount of rows).

If you would like to donate: I'm not going to ask for monetary donations in any way, shape, or form. I don't ever want anyone to feel "fishy" about this ministry. If you would like to donate, we do accept yarn donations. We ask that they be in pastel (baby) colors and of a soft yarn. Baby yarn works, as does brands like "Simply Soft." These blankets are baby blankets, even if they will never hold a baby.

If you would like to be ministered to: Please don't feel rude or odd about asking to receive a blanket. That is what we're here for! I'm trying not to search out blogs and push my ministry on them, I would much rather that they come to me and ask to receive a blanket. If you yourself have not lost a child but would like to nominate someone to receive a blanket, that works too! There are a few questions I would need to know before beginning the blanket, but they're easy and non-intrusive.

If you would like to pray: Pray for our ministry! Pray that we continue to find funds (or yarn donations) to meet the need. Pray that we truly are a blessing to families in need. Pray that we bring hope, or at least comfort to these families. Pray for me, as I pour over each babies story, and pour my tears out onto my keyboard. Pray that our message gets out, and we are able to minister to the ones that are sometimes forgotten because they didn't lose a child, they merely miscarried.

Other ways you can help:

Share our blog! Either on facebook, by putting our "button" on your blog, or by blogging about us. Doesn't have to be anything special, just a note that says we're here. I honestly don't have time (part time working, full time mothering/being a wife, crocheting, and blogging) to search out avenues to advertise by.... so your help here would be a blessing.

I'm hoping to get a navigation bar up at the top soon, and have this be a sticky up there. If you have any comments or suggestions, please, let me know. Thank you.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Our first Angel Families

We have our first two families to minister to! As much as I hate the fact that we have people to minister to, I am thankful that I have the opportunity to do so.

Please be in prayer for these two families.

Baby C was lost around 6 weeks. The Momma didn't know she was pregnant, and is unsure of how to process it.

Baby Aiden was born sleeping at 36 weeks. You can go here to leave your love for his parents.

Pray for my hands, as I crochet these blankets.

I have 3 people willing to help me with blankets right now! And I have 8 openings for Angel families. If you know someone you would like to receive a blanket, please let me know either in a comment (please leave your email) or by emailing me at rows4remembrance at gmail dot com!

Shaina

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Getting Started

Hey everyone!

I'm so excited to start this ministry. This is something that has been on my heart since November of 2008, and I'm finally pushing myself to just do it.

In November of 2008, I miscarried my first pregnancy. If you'd like to read more about it, please go to my personal blog, and read my miscarriage posts. I may post more about on here later, but for now, you can read my story there.

When I first found out I was pregnant, a family member began crocheting me a baby blanket. It was gender neutral and oh so snuggly soft. When I found out I had miscarried, she stopped crocheting it and just bound it off, then gave it to me.

It was perfect. It was soft and squishy. It was a blanket unfinished, which represented a life unfinished. It has became one of my most treasured items.

That's what I want to do here. I want to minister to families who have had a miscarriage, or suffered the death of a baby while pregnant. Sadly, I know several women who fit this niche, and I know there are thousands more out there. I want to give them a blanket, an "unfinished blanket", to represent their babies sweet lives.

Each blanket will have rows that represent the weeks of their little ones lives. Our blankets will start out with a specified amount of rows (20) and then will have an additional row for every week that you carried your baby. If you had a miscarriage at eight weeks, like me, then your blanket will be 28 rows long. If you had a baby born sleeping at 34 weeks, then your blanket will be 54 weeks. Each row signifies those memories you have of your sweet babe.

So, how can you help?

First, be in prayer for this ministry. Especially as I go through the organizational stages.

Second, If you can knit or crochet, please contact me! I would love to have a small base of crafters willing to help.

Third, You can nominate someone to receive a blanket. I'm starting out with 10 families to minister to, and my goal is to get them their blankets by April. Please email me if you have a family you would like to receive a blanket (or, if you would like to receive a blanket yourself).

I covet your prayers, and your support. Please keep an eye on us as we get this ministry started!

Any suggestions, or comments, are always appreciated!