Happy Thanksgiving

"It is literally true, as the thankless say, that they have nothing to be thankful for. He who sits by the fire, thankless for the fire, is just as if he had no fire. Nothing is possessed save in appreciation, of which thankfulness is the indispensable ingredient. But a thankful heart hath a continual feast." ~ W. J. Cameron

Mundane Monday

My local newspaper runs a column each week called "Monday Moaning." Readers can write in with whatever it is they want to complain about, and the paper runs it. This really bugs me, though the paper tries to counter it with a "Thankful Thursday."

I think we've got enough complaining in this world without giving it a forum. But then again, I have been known to use this space to do a little complaining of
my own.

So today I was running around doing errands, thinking about "Monday Moaning" and just how mundane today is...hence, Mundane Monday. Here's what I did:

1. Laundry. 4 loads.
2. Trip to Target for necessities and Christmas presents.
3. Grocery store run.
4. Exercised despite not feeling like it.
5. Listened to a podcast.
6. Did the school run, times two.
7. Tidied up, but not very much.
8. Phoned a friend.
9. Got caught in the rain.
10. Did a lot of dishes.
11. Made dinner.

So you see, yes, it was a very Mundane Monday. How about you?

*And don't forget to enter the giveaway for the book They Were Still Born: Personal Stories About Stillbirth, below.

They Were Still Born: New Book Givewaway

I  received my long-awaited copy of the new stillbirth anthology They Were Still Born: Personal Stories about Stillbirth on Saturday.

 

Yes, I'm a contributing writer, and I'm pleased to say my chapter, What No One Tells You is the first chapter in the book. Contributors include Kara L.C. Jones (aka, Mother Henna), Angie Yingst (still life 365), Joanne Cacciatore (the MISS Foundation), and Sherokee Ilse (Wintergreen Press), among others. The book is edited by the fabulous Janel Atlas who lost her daughter Bea, and has a foreword by Elizabeth McCracken (An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination).

If you'd like to receive a copy of this book, leave your name in the comments section below, as well as the name of the baby in your life who was still born. Contest will remain open until December 3rd, when I will draw one winner's name out of a hat.

Holiday Ornament Swap

Jumping in at the last minute here with news of this holiday ornament swap for babyloss parents. Jenni, of Demeter's Feet, is organizing this swap of handmade holiday ornaments, made by a babyloss parent for a babyloss parent.

Here's what Jenni wrote on the website, Remembering Together Swap: "Sometimes our “in real life” people don’t understand how much extra TLC we need at this season, or they fail to remember our missing children at those holiday gatherings. The gift-giving, child-centric nature of Christmas and Hanukkah can be particularly painful when you are missing a little one. Marking the end of the year and the passage of time without your baby can also be incredibly difficult. For some, the spiritual or religious elements of this season can be trying, when struggling with faith in the face of tragedy.

Our ornament swap is one way for babyloss families to give and receive support during this tough time of year."

Head on over to her site by THIS Monday, November 15th, to sign up to receive, and create, an ornament. 

Funny How Things Haunt You

I am sitting in my favorite coffeeshop as I type this, working on a book I am writing, about Ben.

As I started packing up to leave just now, a song came on the radio: "Life for Rent" by Dido.

That's the song I was listening to as I pulled into a parking space at the hospital the morning Ben died. The last song I listened to before I knew he was gone.

I haven't liked Dido since.

Wordless Wednesday