Happiness At The Core

I love blogging for so many reasons. Topping that list is the fact that blogging opens up a whole new world of connections, people, and support.

Last week I wrote about my dear friends who lost their baby girl. (You can read that post here.) The outpouring of love and support that I received from that post was truly heartwarming. I am blessed to have such wonderful readers, who took the time to offer words of comfort to my beloved friends. It meant so much to me to read all of your comments, and I thank you for them, from the bottom of my heart.

When I sat down with my friend Annalee last week, she told me she has decided to write a blog about her experience. I hope for her sake that it becomes a healing outlet for her. I'd love for all of you to check out her blog, and share it with others if you feel so inclined. Her writing is beautiful, and I cried the entire time I read what she's written so far.

You can find her at Happiness At The Core. (And read the About Me. It explains the reason behind the title of the blog. My friend is an amazing person. Truly.)

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Baby Maya

For all intents and purposes, it wasn't my loss. I didn't carry the beautiful little angel for 8 months, I didn't painstakingly prepare a gorgeous nursery, I didn't deliver her and hear the horrible, devasting, life-changing news that she wouldn't make it. I can't even begin to imagine or try to put into words what that experience must have been like.

But I do know how much I loved that precious angel. How much I dreamed about her playing together with my children, growing up as cousins. Because even though her mommy isn't technically my sister, she is. We grew up together, we've been best friends for over 12 years. Maya was my niece. 

And so I grieve. I grieve for the loss of this precious life, ripped too soon from our world. And I grieve for my friend. Seeing her pain causes me pain. Watching this woman that I love so much experience such a great devastation causes actual physical pain. My heart aches for her, and I feel powerless to help. All I want to do is wipe all of the heartache away, but I know that isn't possible.

All I can do is sit there with her. Talk with her. Listen to her. Cry with her. Laugh with her. Hug her tight.

She's so strong, and I am in awe of the way she's handled her grief. The way she can get through each day, and begin the next. How she can look ahead to a brighter future and know that, while she will always remember and love her angel baby, life will go on. She will go on. She will live on.

In three days, it will have been one month since Maya died. I ask all of you, my readers, to continue to send your good thoughts, well wishes and prayers to my dear friend, her husband, and their little angel. And if you have kids of your own, give them an extra tight squeeze. Play with them a little more, listen to them for a few extra minutes. Read one more story, kiss them one more time. Tell them how much you love them, over and over again. Life is precious, and the children in our lives are little miracles that we should never take for granted. 

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