Can you believe in January this blog will turn a whoppin’ two years old? I can’t. I guess time flies when you’re havin’ fun :)
I started this blog sort of a way to share mostly my design stuff, because I didn’t see a logical way to combine my artsy stuff with my heavy grief stuff at my first blog. Making the transition over here was painstaking. But it was the right thing to do, looking back. At first I was a LOT nervous sharing intimate details on this blog about Jenna and her death. My pain, tears and trials after losing her. But I couldn’t keep silent for long. The direction of this blog morphed into something I never intended.
I realize the content of this blog is all over the place, but I hope to better organize this blog next year so you can find what you’re looking for- whether it be DIY craft projects, grief support sites, posts on rainbow baby stuff, blogger help, etc.
But today I have a little favor to ask of you…
Without sounding riDONKulous I’d love to know what you’d like to see more of on this blog… :) Would you like more craft tutorials, more posts about grief and loss, more inspiring stories of fellow babylost mothers? Community projects for BLMs? And don’t worry, there will still be *plenty* of giveaways!!
See, I have this idea. And it’s been stirring in my heart for some time now. Next year I hope to bring it to light, and share it with you. It will be a project of healing, inspiration and well… fun!- I hope.
So anyway- I covet your thoughts on this :) Just leave a comment sharing your thoughts and/ or ideas and you will be entered in the giveaway to win a book of your choice by the beautiful Nancy Tillman. If you don’t really have any preference, that would be alright to add to :)
Nancy Tillman’s books were part of Kohl’s Cares program recently (maybe still are?) but I have completely fallen in love with her words, illustrations… everything. One of her quotes from her books…
I wanted you more
than you will ever know,
so I sent love to follow
wherever you will go.
I’ll be choosing a winner sometime after Christmas :)
Big love to you all, always.
xoxox
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
All of the above, please!
I absolultely adore your bloggy tutorials. Helpful plugins and such for A DIY blogger. But I also adore your stories and being able to relate to you as a fellow mother of a “beautful mess”. Because really each of us has our own beautiful mess, right?
P.S. I would LOVE LOVE this book. xo.
i love the mix you already have going, i think its a fantastic mix of things! ♥ so, i guess my answer is more of the same?? lol
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I love everything you write! I think you should write about whatever is on your heart/mind.
Trisha recently posted..Saturday Morning Science: Cornstarch & Water
I’d love to hear more about your day-to-day life and craft tutorials are ALWAYS fun :) I absolutely love your blog.
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I love BLM community projects- this are always fun! Also now that Mason is here I’d love to see posts or projects related to parenting rainbow babies.
Hey Friend! I struggle with the same thing ~ so I hear ya on feeling all over the place! But here is the thing . . . when I read your blog, I don’t feel like you are one of the cookie cutter, just like everyone else, I wanna scream because there is no originality “mama blogs” that I keep seeing out there!
I personally think that your mixture of a little of this and a bit of that works well. You are being honest and authentic with everything you write and that speaks to all readers (not just babyloss ones). And that is what is original about you girl. Your beautiful mess, is art in and of itself. It is the gift that you not only share with us, but everything that you write is your story ~ your gift to Bubby and your family. This is history that your making here Fran. LOVE YOU!
Oh, and of course, I totally want to win this giveaway:) Do I get extra credit for writing a crazy amount of “I LOVE FRAN, she is perfect just the way she is” comment?! LOL.
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Honestly, Fran, I love your blog as is. You offer so much to pick us all up at just the right times. You are honest and open and we need that too. With that being said, your creative mind will probably make it even better (although I don’t know how that is possible).
I love the Wherever You Are my love will find you book, although again Nancy is brilliant any of her books would be wonderful. We check them out at the library, but I think this particular one would be great for our support group chapter. It’s lovely how books that were not intended to be about grief can be, 100%
Thank you for being you and being such a wonderful friend <3
I don’t know how, but you are always posting the right stuff at the right time for me. Just the other day, I got into my car after visiting Sam’s mausoleum and got an email about your post regarding visiting Jenna. This just after I was able to breath a sign of relief that Sam’s Christmas tree was still there and everything was just as I left it.
The mix you have now is perfect. Yeah, I would love to see the BLM stuff and community project stuff.
I can’t wait to see what you have in store for the next year. You continue to be an inspiration to me. Thank you Fran.
Love the books :-)
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I love the quotes you post!!! I also LOVE Tillmans books!!
I love blogs that have a wide scope. I feel the same way in my blogging — I need to leave it wide open, simply under my name, or else I feel pigeonholed. I’m a new visitor, but I’m super interested in hearing about your life now, how you grieve/grieved, DIY stuff, your projects, and community projects. <3
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Since I feel like mine is a mess…crafty. grief. life. family…I thoroughly enjoy it JUST the way it is. It is a beautiful mess ;) as they say!
<3
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I don’t know if I have anything specific to want more of, I adore your blog. I always love tutorials tho :)
Would love to have the book in memory of my angels. Daniel and Daniella
fran your blog is beautiful, a perfect mix of emotions. thank you for sharing your life, your work and your grief with us. the greatest gift anyone can give a BLM i feel is honesty. that way no one has to feel alone in this. there is no right or wrong way, just BE! xxx
i love your handmade pics, your quotes, how you share your life with us, your beautiful real life pics. i love your blog!!. and you are so creative.whatever you decide to do i would be happy. and i would love a chance in your book giveaway. any of her books would be such a gift! thanks Fran. have a wonderful christmas to you and yours ;)
I think “I want [to see] it all!!” just about covers it… 8-P
This is the first I have seen of your blog so I don’t really have any advice. I look forward to looking back at your blog and your story. I recently saw (and bought) your book at Kohls for my daughter. I loved it and reminded me of my mom who I lost August 29, 2011 and my daughter who I lost April 22, 2010.
I havent heard of these book, so would love to have alook, may get some for christmas :) thankyou for sharing as always
I LOVE your blog. I really enjoy everything I have read on here. I love anything DIY, so more tutorials would be great. I find it comforting to read about your experiences and thoughts on grief and loss. I would also love to read more inspiring stories of fellow babylost mothers. I have never participated in a community projects, but I think it would be great. Basically I want everything you already have to stay the same, but more posts! Your blog is already awesome!
I have enjoyed all of those things! I am so thankful to God that I discovered it! It was special to have both baby loss mamas sharing special ways they honor their baby’s memory during Christmas, coupled with the crafty things we can do, like making an ornament for example. Hearing other mommies inspiring stories definitely has been encouraging for me! Rainbow baby postings would be great, too! I would love to hear about other baby loss mamas with living children, how they handle some of the many questions about the loss of their sibling. My 4 yr old loves her baby brother ( our rainbow baby) but she says repeatedly that she wants a baby sister, she wants her baby sister, she doesn’t want her in heaven, “she is ours!” Would love to hear about those. It would be neat to hear if anyone has had any spiritual experiences since their loss. I have had many but 2 specifically. One myself and one through my 7yr. old daughter.
I love your artwork and pictures of Bubby! You have a good mix on here – I can always connect with you on your Jenna & grief posts (they sometimes come when I absolutely need them)
Thank you for the beautiful cards – to quote you, I LURVED them!.
I love everything in all of your blogs and would love for you to continue to share everything with the public. I admire how honest you are with all of your emotions and feelings it has helped me to be more open about the loss of my son Colvin.
I’ve really enjoyed the diy craft projects lately as the ideas have been keeping me busy right now during Christmas, but I enjoy all your posts.
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Wow what an awesome blog ! I have tried to find Nancy Tillmans books and seem to not be able to get my hands on ‘em. Thank you for sharing your heart and your creativity on here ! I love it !!
Bianca
PS. Baby loss and grief is what I’d like more read on ……<3
I love your blog and the variety of content. Your ideas for Christmas crafts have inspired me, your honesty about your grief, the way you celebrate your Buddy – I love it all!
Nancy’s books are beautiful and I’d be honored if I won as another way of remembering our daughter Heather.
Your blog has been inspirational to me, I would be forever greatful if I won this book :) my baby angel twins are about to spend their 3rd birthday in heaven, seems impossible to me as the pain is always there. I miss them terribly
I honestly love all the things you post about. I have been blessed by them all. It’s always healing to see a fellow baby-loss mom “live” and share the journey with us who may be “newer” in our grief journey. Not a fun club to join I know… But you have been a blessing to me all the same. I live Nancy’s books. I read on the night You were born to Christian, so it holds a very special place in my heart!
Your pictures & thoughts warm my heart, and i would love to devour any books about special people, grief & loving someone so much who is not with me. xxxx