Finally, I am able to post something! Blogger has been giving me problems, and I am very far behind.
Just a few updates:
We went back to Utah to visit family a few weeks ago, and my Mom and Sister loaded me up with all the blankets they had been storing from donations they had received. (Well, I shouldn't say ALL the blankets, because I had to leave some behind. I couldn't fit all of them in one suitcase!)
Thanks to everyone back home who has helped. There are too many of you to name individually, but you know who you are!
Next thing is, I think I am just about ready to make the big "delivery" to the funeral homes around Dallas/Fort Worth. I can't believe I have gotten so many blankets in such a short amount of time. Thanks to all of you who have helped make this possible! I will be sure to get pictures, and tell you every detail of my experience. The past donations I have been on, have always been bitter sweet to say the least. But this time, I am really looking forward to taking all of your wonderful, beautiful blankets. I might be getting used to it, or maybe time heals all wounds. Whatever the reason....I am grateful.
See you soon, Meryn
4/30/10
4/14/10
So many of you have helped...
I received another email today. I am so grateful for all of you out there helping out in your own areas. Thank you so much for your hard work and being such wonderful people!
Hello Meryntha,
Our ladies in the Silverbell Ward Relief Society enjoyed so much making the little blankets and were grateful for the experience. Over 40 blankets were donated to the Tucson Northwest Women's Center. It was a labor of love. Thank you for sharing your story. LY, Joan
Thank you to all the ladies in the Silverbell Ward. I hope you know how much this means to me and the mothers your blankets will help.
Hello Meryntha,
Our ladies in the Silverbell Ward Relief Society enjoyed so much making the little blankets and were grateful for the experience. Over 40 blankets were donated to the Tucson Northwest Women's Center. It was a labor of love. Thank you for sharing your story. LY, Joan
Thank you to all the ladies in the Silverbell Ward. I hope you know how much this means to me and the mothers your blankets will help.
2/22/10
One great experience
This story begins a couple of weeks ago when I ran into the gentlemen from Blessings Funeral Home here in Mansfield. His name is Jason. He was great to work with during our experience with Greyson. I will never forget him and what he did for our family.
I had been meaning to get in touch with him for quite some time, but couldn't bring myself to even look up his phone number. I even had some blankets set aside, especially for Blessings. But that wasn't enough motivation for me to call.
So one Saturday, we were out running errands all day. It was getting late, and the last thing I wanted to do was run home and fix dinner. So we stopped at my son's favorite restaurant, Texas Roadhouse. We have only been to this particular one once before. (On that day, we ran into Jason. It was interesting seeing him in different circumstances, other than how we initially met.) Anyway, as we were leaving the restaurant, my eyes happened to rest open a man standing at the jukebox. I walked past him, and thought to myself, "Hmm, that kind of looks like the man from Blessings Funeral Home. Wouldn't that be something if I saw him here once again." Then I stopped walking. I just had to go back and find out. I had prayed for strength to call or stop by. Maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't need to. And guess what... It WAS him! I told him all about Greyson's Gift and what all you wonderful women out there were doing. He was so excited! I know it was divine intervention that we were both there that night. Sheesh, if it were up to me, I would still be waiting for my nerves to settle.
So this past weekend, my husband and I delivered blankets to Blessings. And guess what? He talked to the owner which has 12 other mortuaries around Dallas/Fort Worth, and they all want blankets as well!!!! He told us that one if Fort Worth has many child deaths each year. No one knows why this is, but they could really use our blankets. They want flannel blankets as well as afghans. It was wonderful to see how happy he was. What a great experience!!!
I had been meaning to get in touch with him for quite some time, but couldn't bring myself to even look up his phone number. I even had some blankets set aside, especially for Blessings. But that wasn't enough motivation for me to call.
So one Saturday, we were out running errands all day. It was getting late, and the last thing I wanted to do was run home and fix dinner. So we stopped at my son's favorite restaurant, Texas Roadhouse. We have only been to this particular one once before. (On that day, we ran into Jason. It was interesting seeing him in different circumstances, other than how we initially met.) Anyway, as we were leaving the restaurant, my eyes happened to rest open a man standing at the jukebox. I walked past him, and thought to myself, "Hmm, that kind of looks like the man from Blessings Funeral Home. Wouldn't that be something if I saw him here once again." Then I stopped walking. I just had to go back and find out. I had prayed for strength to call or stop by. Maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't need to. And guess what... It WAS him! I told him all about Greyson's Gift and what all you wonderful women out there were doing. He was so excited! I know it was divine intervention that we were both there that night. Sheesh, if it were up to me, I would still be waiting for my nerves to settle.
So this past weekend, my husband and I delivered blankets to Blessings. And guess what? He talked to the owner which has 12 other mortuaries around Dallas/Fort Worth, and they all want blankets as well!!!! He told us that one if Fort Worth has many child deaths each year. No one knows why this is, but they could really use our blankets. They want flannel blankets as well as afghans. It was wonderful to see how happy he was. What a great experience!!!
2/20/10
Once again I feel overwhelmed.
I apologize to all those who have not heard from me for a while. I am sorry for not answering emails, phone calls, and letters. I am sorry for not posting new info or keeping everyone up to date lately. I have tried to use the "business" approach when dealing with Greyson's Gift. You know, keep things level, don't add all of my emotional stuff into it.
But the fact is . . . I AM emotional about it. I am all twisted up in every detail of this. Greyson's Gift has taken off like wildfire, (which I couldn't be happier about), but it has left me running behind to catch up. I want to be confident, well organized, and strong with all dealings here. But my feelings get in the way. I can't talk to anyone without getting a little choked up; not to mention my heart beats out of my chest. I can't read an email without getting tears in my eyes. And then there are the packages of blankets from readers like you. Which arrive weekly. I am so excited to open each one, but at the same time, I am sad. They remind me of what I lost. I go through my whole experience again.
And by the end of the day, I am emotionally exhausted. I never want to forget about why I started this, but some moments, I don't want to re-live it.
So why am I telling you all this? Because I am changing the way I run things. I am going to stop fighting to be super women and have everything together. Its not working. I can't keep waiting to do things because its too hard today. Today, I will cry, today I will be a wreck. Tomorrow will be better. Because tomorrow is never going to come. I am always going to be emotionally attached to this cause. Its the whole reason I started this in the first place! So I will pray for strength. I will ask the Lord for grace to help me where I fall short.
Until then, its me. Please forgive me for the unanswered emails, and letters. I am sorry for not following through on things I have promised. I am afraid that somewhere I have offended someone. I am sorry. I WILL be better. I might be a basket case, but I will do what I set out to do.
Thank You to all those who have shared your stories, sent blankets, given fabric, devoted your time organizing your own blanket deliveries, and much more. Without you, I could not do this. So many women will be touched by your efforts.
Be prepared to hear a lot more from me. I warn you its not always going to be pretty, or organized, or informative. But it will be genuine, personal and from the heart. I feel like there are times in your life when you have opportunities to become refined. To become a better person than before. This is my time, this is my journey.
I apologize to all those who have not heard from me for a while. I am sorry for not answering emails, phone calls, and letters. I am sorry for not posting new info or keeping everyone up to date lately. I have tried to use the "business" approach when dealing with Greyson's Gift. You know, keep things level, don't add all of my emotional stuff into it.
But the fact is . . . I AM emotional about it. I am all twisted up in every detail of this. Greyson's Gift has taken off like wildfire, (which I couldn't be happier about), but it has left me running behind to catch up. I want to be confident, well organized, and strong with all dealings here. But my feelings get in the way. I can't talk to anyone without getting a little choked up; not to mention my heart beats out of my chest. I can't read an email without getting tears in my eyes. And then there are the packages of blankets from readers like you. Which arrive weekly. I am so excited to open each one, but at the same time, I am sad. They remind me of what I lost. I go through my whole experience again.
And by the end of the day, I am emotionally exhausted. I never want to forget about why I started this, but some moments, I don't want to re-live it.
So why am I telling you all this? Because I am changing the way I run things. I am going to stop fighting to be super women and have everything together. Its not working. I can't keep waiting to do things because its too hard today. Today, I will cry, today I will be a wreck. Tomorrow will be better. Because tomorrow is never going to come. I am always going to be emotionally attached to this cause. Its the whole reason I started this in the first place! So I will pray for strength. I will ask the Lord for grace to help me where I fall short.
Until then, its me. Please forgive me for the unanswered emails, and letters. I am sorry for not following through on things I have promised. I am afraid that somewhere I have offended someone. I am sorry. I WILL be better. I might be a basket case, but I will do what I set out to do.
Thank You to all those who have shared your stories, sent blankets, given fabric, devoted your time organizing your own blanket deliveries, and much more. Without you, I could not do this. So many women will be touched by your efforts.
Be prepared to hear a lot more from me. I warn you its not always going to be pretty, or organized, or informative. But it will be genuine, personal and from the heart. I feel like there are times in your life when you have opportunities to become refined. To become a better person than before. This is my time, this is my journey.
2/13/10
I recieved an email yesterday...
On behalf of the bereavement program at IMC I would like to thank you for your generous donation of assorted blankets and quilts. Each of our grieving families appreciate the individualized beautiful memory items for their babies.
Please thank each of your contributors for their countless hours of work in our behalf.
With gratitude,
Shauna
IMC Labor and Delivery Bereavement Coordinator
Please thank each of your contributors for their countless hours of work in our behalf.
With gratitude,
Shauna
IMC Labor and Delivery Bereavement Coordinator
