Team Grady

Hello long lost friends! Yes, I'm losing the battle with blogging again. So many things have happened since I last blogged. Emma Grace turned 9, Matthew started walking - YAY! - and so many other things.

I wanted to take a minute, though, to tell you about an upcoming event that our family is participating in. The organization that I volunteer for, Rock Goodbye Angel, is having a 5K on Sunday, May 6, 2012. It is a fundraiser, but it's also a Mother's Day event for bereaved moms. There is also a one mile Memory March to honor angel babies before the 5K starts.

If you have lost a baby, or know someone who has, and you live locally (North GA), please consider participating in this event. If you sign up for the 5K, you can also participate in the Memory March at no additional cost. You can register at:

http://www.active.com/running/oakwood-ga/angel-baby-5k-and-1-mile-memory-march-2012

If you would simply like to donate to this worthy cause, I have set up a fundraising page for "Team Grady", and donating couldn't be easier. All monetary gifts are tax deductible. Please visit the following link to donate to our team.

http://www.crowdrise.com/TeamGrady/fundraiser/tonyalowry

Thank you in advance for your support! If you would like to join us, please register by April 22nd.

Love,
Tonya

October 15th Remembrance Event

It's down to crunch time for the Candlelight Remembrance Event with Rock Goodbye Angel this coming Saturday, October 15th. If you are local and have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss, or you know someone who has, please visit the website at www.rockgoodbyeangel.org to register. You may call 770-331-1281 to register as well. The sooner the better! We want to make sure we have enough food for everyone and be able to email a free parking pass to the event.

This will be a beautiful time of fellowship with other bereaved families, along with a special time to honor your baby. If you are able to attend, please find me and introduce yourself. I always love connecting with new friends! But watch out, I love to talk! :)

Love and blessings!
Tonya

Light a Candle and Remember

I have lots I would love to say, but I simply don't have the time right now. Emma Grace has an art show and Jessica has a choral performance tonight.

But I wanted to take a minute to remind you that tomorrow, October 15th, is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. I wrote a longer post about it last year. You can click here if you'd like to read it.

We will be lighting a candle for Grady at 7 pm tomorrow night.

To remember.

Not just him, but all the babies who have left this earth way too soon.

If everyone in all time zones lights a candle at 7 pm, there will be a continuous wave of light to honor and remember the little ones lost.

And even though I don't have anywhere to go tomorrow, I will also wear my pink and blue ribbons. I'm hoping my family will wear theirs like they did last year.

Love and peace to you all,
Tonya

Remembering Them - October 15th

In case you didn't already know, October is *awareness* month for just about everything. I think it's great, but there is one category that I honestly didn't know existed until Grady died.

Pregnancy and infant loss.

Not only is October pregnancy and infant loss awareness month, October 15th is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

It was passed in 1988 by Ronald Reagan, but very few people know about it. This is a website where you can learn more if you're interested.

Everyone is asked to light a candle in memory of the babies at 7pm in all time zones and keep it burning for one hour. If everyone does this, there will be a continuous wave of light over the entire world on October 15th. (I'm not smart enough to figure that out for myself...I'm just trusting what the website states!)

I will definitely be lighting a candle for my Baby Grady tomorrow night. Call me crazy but even if Jessica's softball game doesn't get cancelled due to rain, I most certainly will have his candle with me at the ball field to light at 7pm. I don't care what anyone thinks of me. I can handle the strange looks. And, honey, bring on the questions!

That's what it's all about - awareness! It is so true that too many parents grieve in silence.

Awkward silence.

I will also be wearing an intertwined pink and blue ribbon pinned to my shirt all day tomorrow, which I'm sure will bring about questions. I think Gib is going to wear one and the girls too. That makes my heart H-A-P-P-Y!

We won't be the only ones lighting a candle for Baby Grady tomorrow night. My sister-in-law emailed to tell me that they will be doing the same thing to remember him tomorrow evening. They just had a baby boy in August, and it touches my heart beyond words for them to show that kind of love for us and for Grady. Thank you Shannon, Arthur, Kylie and Collin.

If you feel led and think about it, would you light a candle, too?

One more thing...my candle won't just be for Grady. It will represent all of your precious babies who went to be with the Lord way too soon (at least according to our plans).

Love,
Tonya