A Time To Remember

On Thursday May 28, 2009 Jon, Tanner, Dad and Mom Groen and I made a trip to Children's Hospital for a Time To Remember service that they have every year. It's a service that the hospital does and families come who have lost a child over the years. The staff read poems, little stories, as well as sing and provide music. At the end they do a flower service. This is where all the families that are there walk to the front of the auditorium and say who they are there in memory of and place a rose in big vases. This part of the service is beautiful and as I sat there watching all the families come forward I got to thinking that everyone of us there has at some point in time lost a child. I am glad the hospital does this every year and I hope that we can keep going every year. After the service they have a big reception with lots of good food. We were able to see some doctor's and nurses that we haven't seen in a year. One of the nurses came up to us after and thanked us for the baskets. She said that the families that got them were thrilled and so thankful that we thought of there child and them. She also said that while she was on her shift she went through the basket and pulled some stuff out of it and used it right away. When the parents came in the next morning the baby wasn't wrapped in the hospital blanket but the blanket from the basket and the socks. Jon and I were thrilled hearing this. We then decided to head over to the hospital to see one of our other favorite nurses Joanna. We then went over to 8 east to see if nurse Lauren was there. She was there and it was so good to see her again. It was neat to hear her share that she thinks of Lindsay all the time when she is working. We stood with her for a long time talking about Lindsay and I found myself missing her so much more. I think because such a big part of her is still there and that she is still being remembered by people. My hope and prayer is that she will be remembered for years to come and that her life will continue to bless other people's lives.

We also want to thank everyone for all the prayers on May 16. We sure felt them all day long. We had a very nice day at home and being together as a family. We let balloons go at 1:00 and then had a BBQ and ate outside in the warm sunshine. We played games and we planted a few things in memory of Lindsay. My parents and Jon's parents joined us for the day which was nice. I still can't believe that it's only been a year. Some days it feels like this all happened yesterday and some days it feels like more than a year. But not a day goes by that she isn't thought of and missed like crazy. I am sorry that I haven't updated in a while but life here has been really busy. Jon has been busy working and trying to get our master bedroom done before the baby comes. He is almost done and hopefully we will be able to move in soon. We are getting really excited about Baby Groen's arrival especially me :). Please keep praying that he or she will come safely and healthy as well as a safe delivery. Also that this baby will come soon and in enough time that I get to be apart of the walk. Speaking of the walk we have 19 people on our team. We have raised over $3,000.00 so far which is awesome. Hopefully this week I will get the t shirts to a place that will add her picture to our walk shirts. We are all looking forward to June 14 as we get to celebrate Lindsay's birthday as well as give back to such an awesome hospital. Thanks to all of you who have supported our team so far.

Well that about wraps up what has been happening here in NH. We ask that you continue to pray for all the babies and kids on 8 south. I would especially ask you to pray for Shanyah who is on 8 south right now. Her parents have been told there is nothing more they can do for her little heart. They have some big decisions to make soon and they need our prayers. We were able to meet Shanyah's mom the day we delivered the baskets. Keep checking back for updates on Baby Groen's arrival.

If you haven't scrolled down to the bottom in a while we are over 70,000 people who have checked the blog since April of last year!!!

A Day To Remember

We are fast approaching Lindsay's one year in heaven. These past few days for me have been filled with crying and smiling as I look back over this past year. I seem to be missing her even more as this week goes on and just longing to hold her in my arms. Tomorrow will mark the day when we were preparing for her to have the Berlin heart put in and looking forward to moving along with her recovery. But little did we know then that God had even bigger plans for her and that He would totally heal her from all the pain and give her that brand new heart. As I look back I wish sometimes that I could have changed God's plan and all the what ifs that we go through. I know now that we did everything we could have done for Lindsay and that God just needed her more in heaven with him.

My parents will be heading here to NH tomorrow morning to spend the weekend with us. I know this weekend will be sad and I am sure lots of tears will be shed together. But we can all rejoice knowing that we will one day get to see her again and hold her. We can look back and remember all the happy times we had with her and enjoy being together. We have been thinking about what to do on this one year of her being in heaven and I think that we might get a tree or bush and plant in her memory. If you would like to do something on Saturday in memory of Lindsay please do so. Even if it's baking cookies or letting balloons go, planting flowers, what ever you feel led to do we would encourage you to something. If you decide to do something please take pictures and email them to us. We would love to see what you did in her memory. We again say Thank You to all of you who have been following her blog for a year now. I am shocked every time I see the numbers on the bottom of the blog go up. We will never know until we get to heaven how many lives she has changed and how many lives she has touched. Please don't be afraid to share your stories with us. We love talking about Lindsay and we would love to hear your story.

Please be praying for the rest of our family who won't be here with us this weekend. They need your prayers as much as we do. I also have added a few more names of heart babies for you to pray for and check there blogs. The new ones I added are at Children's Hospital Boston right now. I don't know if any of you had been following Baby Kayleigh story since I added her blog. She passed away this week so her family needs your prayers as well.

Lindsay Bear, Daddy, Mommy, and Tanner miss you so much and we love you more than you know.

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day last year will always be so special to me. To have to spend Mother's Day in the hospital with your child isn't really fun. But for me it was a special day because Lindsay decided to open her eyes and say Mommy. I can remember being filled with so much joy and now I hold that memory close to my heart. I have to admit that I really just wanted today to pass by and not even think about it. In fact as I write this Tanner and I are in a hotel in Boston that Jon surprised me with. I don't know what the day will be like until Jon gets off the plane from D.C where he has been since Wed. I know this day won't go by with out thinking of Lindsay.

Mom Welte ~ Happy Mother's Day to you!! You have been such a big support to us this past year and through out our lives. We Thank God for you everyday and for the way that you have taught us many lessons and helped us through the good and bad times. We are even more greateful that you spent 7 weeks with us in Boston living out of your suitcase to help us with Tanner and Lindsay. We love you very much Mom and may today you feel our love and especially Lindsay's love for you. You are the greatest Granny to all your little apples.

Mom Groen ~ Happy Mother's Day to you!!! Jon and I love you very much and can't Thank You enough for all the support you have given to us over this past year. We are greatful for all the times that you and Dad drove every night to come and visit Lindsay and to help with Tanner. We thank God for you and for the love that you have shown us each and every day. You are the greatest Grandma to all your grand kids and even to the 3 news ones who are just joining our family. May you be blessed today in a special way and know how much you are loved and how much Lindsay loved you.

I hope all of the Mom's in my life have a great Mother's day today. May God richly bless you all in a special way today!!

Keep checking back in the next few days about how the basket delivery went. We have lots to share and I know you are going to be blessed.