9 YEARS AGO...

It's hard to believe that it has been nine years already since Joe and I lost our first child.

2/17/2000

We try to make an attempt to travel back up to the U of M to look at the Magnolia tree that was planted in remembrance of our baby. I can remember our first trip, the October in 2000 (our first "Walk to Remember") that all of our families traveled to Ann Arbor with Joe and I. What a special and heart warming day that was for everyone. We still have the shovel that Brock used to help plant the tree and we have since received another shovel from 2 years ago when we went back up with Jackson and he helped plant another tree for other babies lost that year.

We were able to go yesterday to look at our tree and see how big it is getting. Below are some pictures that were taken.

Buds already on our tree...

We appreciate every one's support over the years and couldn't have made it as far as we have without every one's help. Thank you all for what you have done, the many talks, the listening without judging and forgiving all the mistakes we have made.

Loosing our baby in 2000 was difficult and only one person knows why we were not meant to be parents at that moment in our lives. In my heart, I believe He thought we were not ready and that our time was when we met Lois and Jackson. I'm grateful for Jackson and couldn't be happier to be his Mommy. He helps me answer why Joe and I lost our baby in 2000.

Even thought we were not able to ever hear our first baby cry, see him or her smile, hold our child in our arms or touch each of the fingers or toes, we heard a beating heart and saw a picture and the loss is still the same. I will forever wonder if we would have had a boy or a girl and how different my life would be today with an eight year old.

Thanks again to everyone who has given us support in the past and continues to provide encouraging words when needed. We love you all.