Operation "GRANTING HOPE"

I have been keeping this under wraps for awhile now, but some circumstances tonight have led me to share my heart with you.
For months now my heart has been burdened for families who will be called upon to endure the trial of losing their most precious possession- their child. This burden began as one afternoon Kris and I pulled into the cemetery to visit our child's grave site. When we approached the section where the infants and toddlers are buried, we saw a couple standing beside a grave with their arms around one another, and they were crying. My heart just broke for them and I told Kris "there has to be something we can do to help these people". Fighting back the urge to hug them, I went about the business of cleaning Grant's grave stone. Over the next several weeks, I lay in bed at night trying to pray and figure out what God would have us do. All I could think of was the evening after I had given birth via C -section to our beautiful little boy. My friend Kim had come to visit us and offered to help me walk up and down the hall so we could have some time to talk. As we walked, we passed the many rooms that were filled with the "happy families", flowers, balloons, laughter and much "oo-ing and "awwing" over their new arrivals. My heart sank as the reality of what I had lost began to sink in. The worst part of that walk was down the second hallway, where we saw both sides of the walls FILLED with diaper bags. All I could think was "I'm not going to be getting one of those this time." I wanted to die right there and thankfully Kim was there to help me get away from there and back to my room.

Several months later as I lay in my bed re-living that awful night, it came to me. These bereaved mommies may not be able to take a diaper bag home, but I can make up some things that they CAN take home. And so Granting Hope Ministries was born, named after our son Grant of course! Friend, I cannot tell you how excited my husband and I are to be a part of this. I have not seen Kris this excited since I told him we were expecting Grant! Everything is in the early stages at this moment, but the work has begun and we ask for your prayers, and very soon, we would humbly ask for your help.

The mission of Granting Hope Ministries is to provide hope and healing to families who have experienced a stillbirth or infant loss. A couple of our closest friends are working with us to help make this mission a reality. We will be distributing bereavement baskets to hospitals in our area. (photos will be posted soon) These baskets will include a beautiful handmade mini memory album, memory box, grief resource list, shower gel, lotion, lip balm, a compilation of verses and poems, and more. Each family will have the option of choosing a beautiful satin burial gown, also handmade by my friend Leah- who, by the way, made the most beautiful gown for Grant to be laid to rest in. In the near future, we will have a website up and running for those who are outside of Arizona but would love to be able to purchase these beautiful baskets of hope and encouragment. In the meantime, we have begun research on starting a not-for-profit organization. If you have any suggestions or connections in this area, we would love to hear your thoughts. You may contact us by using the "Thoughts from friends" feature at the bottom of this post, or you can email us at kjjg04@gmail.com

We humbly ask for your prayers for us as we embark on yet another journey in our lives. If you feel led to help us with this ministry, we will soon have it set up where you can send us donations. You will have the option of donating items for the baskets, or sending monetary donations for us to purchase these items ourselves. We are excited to begin this ministry, and our hope and prayer is that we bring some sort of healing, hope, and the love of Christ to those who are suffering the greatest loss in the world- the loss of a child.

Thank you!