A2Zscrapbooking and Lasting Hearts blog hop

Hi Stampers!
Welcome to the Lasting Hearts Card Drive and A2ZScrapbooking blog hop. 
Lasting Hearts was created by a sweet person Kimberly, which I had the honor of meeting her while at CHA earlier this year. She is so sweet and always so happy and cheery.  Read below how Lasting Hearts was created/started and the purpose. 
For my cards I decided to use the Color Layering Orchid in a pot set from Hero Arts along with Mother of all Mothers set that was released by Hero Arts especially for this campaign. 
Using my MISTI tool I was able to make 10 cards in basically no time and have the images perfectly layered. 

Don't forget to use the code "Ilina15" at the Az2Scrapbooking store to get 15% off your orders of $25 or more (they have the Lasting Hearts campaign stamps in stock - and many other Hero Arts goodies)

Check out our blog hop participants and comment by March 25 at 11:59 pm EDT on all the blogs for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to a2z Scrapbooking.
llina Crouse --> ME








Lasting Hearts is here to help comfort mothers who have lost a piece of their heart. Losing a child, whether in pregnancy or older, can be one of the hardest pains a parent can endure. We would like to raise awareness and show other mothers that they are not alone, that they are stronger than they realize, and that there are people out there who care dearly. Hopefully, our story will move others to do just that.
Just 9 months after giving birth to our first child, we were surprised and overjoyed to be welcoming another one on the way. We did what all parents with a growing family would do: told our close friends and family, looked into buying a larger home, and started planning for another life-changing event. We were elated to be bringing our sweet daughter another brother or sister.
Our joy soon to turned to heartache. We found out at our first ultrasound that we were set to have twins, however one of our precious babies had passed early on in the pregnancy. With heavy hearts, we tried to stay positive and prayed for the surviving twin to be a healthy baby. In our second ultrasound we were relieved and comforted by our baby’s precious heartbeat and left the doctor’s office feeling hopeful. Sadly, our fears became reality in our third ultrasound. After examining the ultrasound, our tech turns to us and asks, “Did you say you heard your baby’s heartbeat”? Instantly, we lost a piece of our hearts. Our lives were forever changed after losing not one but two of our babies in the same pregnancy.
We sat in the examination room, completely devastated and broken, waiting for our doctor. She comes in and does her best to console us but nothing she says could ease the pain. Her clinical response of “25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage” or “there was nothing you could’ve done to prevent this” just fell on deaf ears. None of it satisfied the two questions that kept running through our heads – “How could this happen?” and “why did this happen?” As amazing of an OBGYN as she is, she just wasn’t equipped to comfort 2 people whose world had been turned upside down. The conversation continues to how best to proceed in removing the fetuses, a conversation that’s cold in stark contrast to how we imagined delivering our precious children. We were absolutely heartbroken.
We kept our loss private for some time, not knowing how to express our grief and slightly afraid of the stigma that comes with miscarriages. It was too painful to speak of and too agonizing to share. One of the first people I reached out to was my dear friend, Amy, who had lost her son towards the end of her pregnancy and who knew the heartache all too well. I looked to her for her strength and for guidance on how she’s been able to continue to be a great mom to her young daughter after losing her infant son. A couple of days later I received a book from Amy, “You are the Mother of all Mothers” by Angela Miller. After only reading a few pages, I finally let myself accept for the first time that what happened to us was not my fault and that I did have the strength to continue to be a better mom and wife. The book’s encouraging message is conveyed in a way that is thoughtful, uplifting, compassionate and relatable.
With a newfound strength, I brought this book to our OBGYN and asked her if she’d be open to distributing these to patients who had miscarried if we provided them. She agreed without any hesitation. The author, Angela Miller, has graciously agreed to offer 40% off the list price so that we may help those who are in the disheartening situation we were once in. I can’t help but think of the mothers who don’t have support, don’t know where to turn, or just need to know that “No one else could carry this unrelenting burden as courageously. It is the heaviest, most torturous burden there is”.
In summary, Kimberly is hoping to have copies of this helpful book along with handmade cards available for doctors to give to parents who lose their babies. What an amazing idea! And we can help.
So there are TWO ways you can help. You can do one or both – whatever you are comfortable with. You can donate money and/or cards.

DONATION

If you are interested in donating moneyyou can head HERE. This money will 100% be used to purchase You are the Mother of all Mothers” books by Angela Miller to give to parents who have just experienced the loss of a child via miscarriage. The price of each book is $12 but any amount helps.

CARD DRIVE

Kimberly also plans to include a handmade card from a caring stranger with each book. And I thought we could help!
If you are interesting in creating a card to be given to these parents when they get a book, here is the info. It is simple:
  • You can send as many cards as you would like.
  • Please use a sentiment such as: thinking of you, in my prayers, in my thoughts, sending hugs, sorry for your loss.
  • For the inside of the card, you can either leave it blank or hand-write a simple message. Not much – just simple and kind. The message can be something listed above, along with your first name and hometown. (Such as: “Sending lots of prayers from Ilina in Atlanta.”)
  • Please send cards in unsealed envelopes to:
          Lasting Hearts Card Drive
          2892 N Bellflower Blvd Ste 216
          Long Beach Ca 90815
  • Include a post-it note on the card(s) with your name and email address so you can be eligible for a prize!
  • If you would like to include a donation via mail, you are welcome to but not required to.
Creating cards is something we can do easily and a great way to share kindness.

Comments

Cindy C. said…
Beautiful set of cards Ilina!! Love the shimmer on the orchird!
Betty said…
wonderful set of cards Ilina!
Unknown said…
Gorgeous cards, Ilina! I love flowers and spring!
Dee Earnshaw said…
Love these cards - the sentiment is so perfect for this beautiful cause:)
Denise Bryant said…
Beautiful cards! I love the flowering branch you chose and the pretty color!
I plan to get some cards made to send in!
Aimee Phillips said…
Very beautiful card for an incredible cause :). I hope next time I can participate.
Gorgeous card set! I'm sure the parents who receive these cards will be comforted by your caring. Tfs! ~ Andrea
Karenladd said…
I love the simple and heartfelt sentiment and design of these beautiful cards. I am sure they will give comfort to any recipient.
Arlene said…
The cards are beautiful. Cas and gorgeous.
SHartl said…
This cherry blossom image and beautiful sentiment is so calm and peaceful. It's perfect to comfort a family going through a hard time.
Chark said…
so pretty, cool that you made multiples!
D.Ann C said…
Beautiful card for a beautiful cause!
Lya L. said…
Simply beautiful... It would surely bring some smile to a hurting heart.
Kanan Pandya said…
Beautiful set of cards, love the color combinations. :-)
Zelda said…
Lovely cards, gorgeous colors and such a heartfelt sentiment.