There is an ancient belief that each entrance of a child in heaven is marked by a falling star....Did you see Amanda's star?
 


Made by my new friend.... © Janice 2006

 
© Billie 2006

Your funeral was held on January 26, 1991 at 10:30am at First Lutheran Church.

It was such a beautiful ceremony.  You were dressed in your Christmas outfit that Grandma Winnie made for you.  Sami wanted to wear her outfit so that you 2 would match one last time. 

The 23rd Psalm was read & we sang Children of the Heavenly Father &  Jesus Loves Me This I Know.  How Great Thou Art was played for the Processional & I Know That My Redeemer Lives for the Recessional.  Lydia M. played the organ for you.  Officiant was Pastor Dave H & Intern Jodie B.  Todd & Dave K. were the ones we chose to be your bearers....At the end of the service we released balloons.  We now do this every year on your birthday & your angel day.  Sami has always said that the balloons are floating to Heaven for you.  We didn't get to bury you since the ground was so frozen so we had to wait.  

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life acknowledges with sincere appreciation your gift in the name of Amanda Jo Blankenship
This donation will be used to assist us in our endeavor to protect all defenseless, human life. Thank you for your support
Our sincere sympathy on your loss

Other memorials...
The Altar Fund of Glenville First Luth church
The cemetary (several donations made in Amanda's name)
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
First Lutheran Church
Mommy & Sami did a memorial in your name to the Cemetary

I was feeling so lost without my precious angel.  I had been praying & asking God so many things.  Is there really a Heaven?  What if there really isn't a God?  Do babies go to heaven?   

Me & Sami just got done visiting with Auntie Sarah & going to church.  It was very late & I was driving home.  I heard Sami (so I thought) say "Mommy..."  I turned to look at Sami who was in the back seat & I said, "What?"  but noticed she was asleep.  So I blew it off & kept driving.  Again I heard "Mommy."  So I turned & said, "What Sami?"  Then realized Sami was sleeping & hadn't said a word!  Instantly I KNEW (and I don't know how to explain it other then that)... but I knew it was my baby!  Amanda told me she loved me & I told her I loved her.  She said she okay and that she was walking with Jesus.  I told her I was so sorry (the sorry for not being there, the sorry for not taking her to the doctor, etc.)   She said, "I know, it’s not your fault."  I said, "I love you so much Amanda."  She said, "I love you too mommy."  Then that was the end.  I cried & cried.  I think I was crying more because I FINALLY KNEW the answers to all my questions, but I was still crying because it was such an overwhelming experience.  Because of this experience I have such total peace.  I thank & praise GOD for this experience & for answering my questions!!  This totally dismissed ANY questions in my mind about God, Heaven, & where babies go!!!!  My only regret....I wish it could have been longer!!!  

Some pictures of Jesus with children that I like:

   

We buried Amanda in Wanderer's Rest.  A beautiful, small country cemetary by Grandpa Dennis' house. 

I found out about Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day so we joined thousands of others by lighting a candle for the first time in remembrance of our angels!!!!!

  

Happy 15th Birthday, Angel!!!
I can't believe you would have been
15 yrs old today!   I miss you so
much!!  I remember every little detail
of your precious little face & the sound
of your cry.  I can't wait to see you
again!!!  We often wonder what you
would look like, how you would act,
what things you would like, etc.  But I
am happy knowing that you are without
pain & that you are in the presence of
our Lord!!! 

I miss & love you with all my heart,
Happy Birthday, baby girl!!!
Mommy

Hello my precious angel baby!!
Today has been 15 YEARS since you left this earth & went to be with our Lord!!  I miss you so much.  I long to hold you, to hear your cute little laugh, hear your coos, kiss your little face all over and to just cuddle with you.  But mommy knows that if I had that "one more day" I know that I would ask for another & another!!!  One day just wouldn't be enough!!  Me & Sami still remember the day you went to be with our Lord.  I don't think we will ever forget that bad day.  But we remember more, the good days with you...the sweet & precious memories!!!  Your smile is something I will never forget!!!  It is so comforting to know that you are with the Lord!!  He has helped me & Sami get through all these years!  He has held us in His arms & has comforted us!!!  We can't wait to see you again!!  We will be releasing 15 balloons this year in memory of you!!!  We released balloons at your funeral & have done it ever since!!!  We love watching them disappear into the sky & your sisters & brother always say that they are going to heaven just for you!!! 

I love you, Amanda, & can't wait to see you again!!!
Much love, hugs, and kisses....
Mommy

Birthday presents given in memory of Amanda Jo

              ©Donna Simmons 2006     

New Year's Resolutions For Bereaved Parents

I resolve...


That I will grieve as much, and for as long, as I feel like grieving, and that I will not let others put a time table on my grief.


That I will grieve in whatever way
I feel like grieving, and I will ignore those who try to tell me what I should or should not be feeling and how I should or should
not be behaving.


That I will cry whenever and wherever I feel like crying, and that
I will not hold back my tears just because someone else feels I should be "brave" or "getting better" or "healing by now."


That I will talk about my child as often as I want to, and that I will not let others turn me off just because they can't deal with their
own feelings.


That I will not expect family and friends to know how I feel, understanding that one who has not lost a child cannot
possibly know how it feels.


That I will not blame myself for my
child's death, and that I will constantly remind myself that I did the best job of parenting I could possibly have done.
But when feelings of guilt are
overwhelming, I will remind myself that this is a normal part of the grief process and it, too, will pass.


That I will not be afraid or ashamed to seek professional help if I feel
it is necessary.


That I will commune with my child at least once a day in whatever way feels comfortable and natural to me, and that I won't feel compelled to explain this communion to others or to justify or
even discuss it with them.


That I will try to eat, sleep, and exercise every day in order to give my body the strength it will need to help me cope with my grief.


To know that I am not losing my mind, and I will remind myself that loss of memory, feelings of disorientation, lack of energy, and a sense of vulnerability are all normal parts of the grief process


To know that I will heal, even though it may take a long time.

To let myself heal and not to feel guilty about feeling better.


To remind myself that the grief process is circuitous - that is, I will not make steady upward progress. And when I find myself slipping back into the old moods of despair and depression, I will tell myself that 'slipping backward" is
also a normal part of the grief process and these moods, too,
will pass.


To try to be happy about something for some part of every day, knowing that at
first, I may have to force myself
to think cheerful thoughts,
so eventually they
may become a habit


That I will reach out at times, and try to help someone else, knowing that helping others will help me
to get over my depression.


That even though my child is dead, I will opt for life, knowing that is what my child would want
me to do.

©Nancy A. Mower
TCF - Honalulu, HI