~♥ ♥ TODAY WE REMEMBER UNITED, EVERY DAY WE REMEMBER IN OUR HEARTS ♥ ♥ ~

~October 15th is a monumental day for families like mine, for it's the ONE day all year that we are recognized and given permission to mourn openly and remember our beloved ^Angel^Babies.

This is monumental as much of society still perpetuates the old way of thinking, instilling the Taboo Silence of Infant Loss.  A mother never forgets the day a child is born, regardless of the duration of that pregnancy, or newborn's life.  

All that we ask is that you all try to imagine what we've gone through, and understand with compassion that we are doing our very best to strive and survive through the greatest heartache imaginable.

It is a loss of hopes and dreams of future days spent cuddling as we watch our children learn and grow.  

Be gentle with us, as we are with you, for we also understand that it's so very difficult for you to deal with our grief.

Once a year on this date, families around the world unite and remember their angel-babies in a variety of ways.

http://www.october15th.com/

Many others, like myself, will release balloons in Loving Memory of our Angel Babies.  

In conjunction with Project Sweet Peas, and their balloon release event, I too released balloons to the babies of the families that sent in their requests.  I released balloons for 87 babies on my list; together Project Sweet Peas as a whole released balloons for over 400 little lives lost too soon.

My second angel-baby Bennett-Chadlen was born on March 29, and grew his tiny wings 8 days later on Good Friday, April 6th, 2007 at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, Ontario

My first angel, Noah-Alexander, was born with wings on August 6th, 1999

Tristan, Tanner, Mason, & Rheanne were there to help honour the memory of their beloved siblings

My boys and I ready to release the balloons!

Up, up, & away.....*photo courtesy of my boys as I was cutting the ties!

On behalf of Nimkee Blessings, I want to wish all families of ^Angels^ peace and comfort in your hearts, knowing that we all remember with you.  I wish you strength to get through the difficult moments as they inevitably come, and courage to face another day.  Set small goals, and don't fight the feelings.  Get through today.......then do it again tomorrow.  Be gentle with yourself.


~Love, Peace, & Nimkee-Blessings to all~

~ ♥ ♥ Today, we remember united; Every day we remember in our hearts ♥ ♥ ~

~1 candle for Noah-Alexander, 1 candle for Bennett-Chadlen, 1 candle for all~

~LaBelleDame.com~Jewelry to nurture and support the spirit~

~the following links are to a wonderful website which provides beautiful keepsake jewelry for mothers, grandmothers, aunts.....and also offer cards and links to support resources.

For every purchase made by following one of these links, I will receive a 15% discount which I am planning to put towards the purchase of items for recipients of my Nimkee-Blessings Memorial gift bags for families with newborns at the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) of Toronto, Sick Kids Hospital.


Thanks in advance~Melissa Roy, project leader for Nimkee Blessings


Miscarriage and Infant Loss Memorial Jewelry:






Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Loss Jewelry -Customised jewelry to celebrate the life of a child lost in miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss. Each piece is created using carefully selected symbols to help support the grieving parent after the loss of a baby.





Fertility Jewelry:



Pregnancy Jewelry:



Memorial Jewelry -Customised jewelry to celebrate the life of a loved one. Each piece is created using carefully selected symbols to help support the grieving process, and life after loss.


Fertility Jewelry - Each piece is created using carefully selected symbols and gemstones to help support the couple who is trying to conceive. Sensitive pieces make wonderful gifts for those who must walk a longer road to get the baby they dream of.


Pregnancy and Birth Jewelry -Customised jewelry to celebrate and support your pregnancy and birth. Created using carefully selected gemstones and symbols to honour this exciting time!


Pet Memorial Jewelry - Pet Loss - Cat and Dog Sympathy Gifts
Pet memorial jewelry created to keep your cat and dog's memory close after the loss of a pet. Touching pet loss sympathy gifts. Free online pet memorials

~CLAIRE'S HOPE~

http://www.claireshope.com/

~Claire's Hope is a beautiful website created in Loving Memory of a little girl named Claire Hope Cox.  Like Bennett-Chadlen (prenatally diagnosed with Trisomy 13), Claire was born with a rare chromosomal syndrome called Trisomy 18, or Edward's Syndrome.  Despite her poor prenatal diagnosis, her parents welcomed her into their waiting arms, and continue to feel blessed for the gift that Claire is in their lives.

Claire's family has created not only this beautiful website, but also a real place where families can go to remember and memorialize the lives of their own babies who left this world all too soon.

Claire's Hope, and Hope's Corner, are located in Mobile, Alabama, in the halls of a 3-story building which used to house an abortion clinic.

(taken from the website)

-"On November 28, 2008, Hope’s Corner was opened to the public as a memorial, a museum, a tribute and a place where women, couples and families affected by crisis pregnancies can get the information they need to honor the sanctity of human life."

Like me, Claire's family does not judge or scorn a parent's decisions regarding the lives of their unborn children.  We all have heartbreaking choices to make, and everyone is welcome to pay tribute to their loved ones amongst the halls of Hope's Corner---whether it be on the "Wall of Forgiveness", the "Children's Garden", or "The Virtual Wall".

"Claire’s Hope is your sanctuary and you are always welcome and will always be uplifted here."

~HALO SLEEPSACK~

Every now and again I stumble upon something too amazing to keep to myself.  This company is one of those!  They manufacture wearable sleeping bags for  your baby, which not only keeps them warm as they nap, but also keeps them safe as there are no blankets to gather up around the baby's face.


click here to visit the website for~HALO SLEEPSACK~ 

The website offers links to safety tips, and info about preventing SIDS.  There are HEALTH links, MEDICAL links, where to purchase links----check it out!


I have a very dear friend that lost her 6 month old daughter to this devastating syndrome.  For those of you that don't know what SIDS stands for, it means "SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME"---and it happens all too often for unexplainable reasons.  


Another heartbreaking story can be found at this LINK.
~exert from the site 
"Every year SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and accidental suffocation claim the lives of 5,000 babies. Our founder Bill Schmid and his wife lost their first born to SIDS. From this tragedy, HALO® and its mission were born. For over 15 years we've been creating products that help keep babies sleeping safely and help in the fight against SIDS through education and by donating a portion of every sale to SIDS charities."


If you or someone you know is the parent of a newborn, or about to become a new mother, consider purchasing one of these HALO SLEEPSACKs.  It's such a practical and beneficial gift for so many reasons.


If you are a grandparent, or babysitter----please click here for a link to safety info about how to lay the baby down to sleep safely.  SAFE SLEEP TIPS  They also offer downloaded information that you can print off and keep handy for those times when you aren't around to lay your little one down to rest.


~HALO SLEEPSACKS~ are available at retailers through North America.  Click here for a location near you!  https://www.halosleep.com/store_locator/


For information about the products available, click on the following link:  https://www.halosleep.com/products/


Let's work together to keep our babies safe.


Congratulations to all new parents, or those who are "soon-to-be",


Much Love, Peace, & Nimkee Blessings to you all,


Melissa 

♪♫♪♫♪ ~ INTRODUCING BENNETT ~ ♪♫♪♫♪

{Brendan, brother to Bennett-Chadlen}

~INTRODUCING BENNETT is a band hailing from Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. What started as my eldest son's solitary project in 'Loving Memory' of his youngest brother, BENNETT-CHADLEN, is now a full-fledged band guaranteed to entertain any crowd.

Recent News:

~**~NIMKEE BLESSINGS & INTRODUCING BENNETT~**~will be hosting a
benefit concert at Gordon's Park Eco-Resort on beautiful Manitoulin
Island...SUNDAY, SEPT 5th! We will have lots of great entertainment for
young and old alike, & fun things for the kiddies to do!

~ALL PROCEEDS go towards helping families with babies in the SICK KIDS HOSPITAL NICU in Toronto, Ontario. More info available on facebook at this link:

~Nimkee Blessings~facebook event info

~Introducing Bennett appeared at the 3rd Annual Crystal Shawanda Homecoming concert in Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island, on July 30th, following Crystal's performance. They've been invited back, so come on out next year and watch them play!!

~Brendan and Jay entering the concert grounds~

~on-stage at the Crystal Shawanda Homecoming Concert~

{Pete Jones ~ lead vox}

{Jason Girdwood ~ drummer, vocals}

{Hercules ~ mascot extraordinaire, belongs to Tedd Peltier ~ Bass player}

Just another day in paradise!

Brendan, big brother to Bennett-Chadlen

Lost in a sea of green, but making good time ~ love the paddles guys!

"Introducing Bennett"

~4-piece power-house from Manitoulin Island, "Introducing Bennett" brings the noise of your favourite modern day tunes and old alike.

~Currently working on originals, soon to be released at the Nimkee Blessings concert! Come on out and witness the grand unveiling of some guaranteed hits, by some very talented lads! :O)

Peter Jones - Lead Vox

Brendan Pinand - Guitar, Vox

Tedd Peltier - Bass, Vox

Jason Girdwood - Percussion, Vox

Contact Info:

Email: introducingbennett@hotmail.com

Office: (705) 368-3579 or (705) 370-1583

Websites:

~If you have facebook, join up through these 2 links, share with friends, keep up on all the latest happenings, new vids, & cool pics!

~become a FAN of Introducing Bennett on facebook by clicking this link.

~Click here to join Introducing Bennett's facebook GROUP!

~If you have a youtube account, subscribe and keep up-to-date on all new uploads!

http://youtube.com/introducingbennett

~If you have myspace, send a friend request, keep in touch with up-to-date announcements, new songs, and just a lot of cool stuff!

http://myspace.com/introducingbennett

*photos courtesy of Moi & the lovely Sophie J*