A Nest Necklace in memory of my little ones

Easter morning, as my kids hunted for their baskets, I noticed a little package among the mail awaiting me on the kitchen counter. I quickly opened the package and slid out this lovely, unique necklace:

Nest Necklace by Rachelle-isms.com

I gazed at it thoughtfully for a long moment, remembering.

Fittingly called a “Nest Necklace,” each blue bead represents my living children, while each pearly white one represents the two little ones I lost to miscarriage. The necklace was hand-crafted with love by Rachelle of Rachelle-isms.com. In honor of her own departed little ones, she very generously gave numerous Nest Necklaces to those who shared their own miscarriage stories with her.

Because my sister had so kindly thought of me and sent me the link, I saw the necklace and decided to share my story with Rachelle:

Hi Rachelle,

I’m so, so sorry for your losses. 

I love the Nest Necklace. What a beautiful, precious way to keep the memory of our little ones close to our hearts.

I am blessed to have three living children. I lost two babies in 2012, the first in May and the second in November. It was the worst, most heartbreaking, year of my life. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember my little Jonah and Gabrielle. The first loss was a complete shock when my doctor failed to find a heartbeat at my 14 week checkup. With the second loss, I spent much of the pregnancy dreading something would happen again, and so when I saw blood, my heart dropped. This baby hung in for a couple weeks and then, at ten weeks, no heartbeat. I thought I would never have another living baby.

Pregnancy after miscarriage is never easy or without fears, but last year I became pregnant in March. I waited each week with bated breath, fearing the worst. In December, I delivered a healthy, full-term baby girl. 

I pray that all women who have suffered miscarriages will hang on to hope for the future, yet always remember our little ones who left too soon.

Rachelle’s giveaway has ended, but I’m sure she’ll be filling many orders for these precious, symbolic necklaces here.

The necklace arrived attached to a lovely poem:

Little Snowdrop

The world may never notice
If a Snowdrop doesn’t bloom,
Or even pause to wonder
If the petals fall too soon

But every life that ever forms,
Or ever comes to be,
Touches the world in some small way
For all eternity.

The little one we long for
Was swiftly here and gone.
But the love that was then planted
Is a light that still shines on.

And though our arms are empty,
Our hearts know what to do.
Every beating of our hearts
Says that we love you.

Author Unknown

The necklace’s timely arrival was perfect for Easter morning as I reflected on the true meaning of Easter. Christ conquered death by His Cross. He rose in glory, giving us hope for everlasting life in Heaven.

I slipped on the beautiful necklace and wore it all day: first to Mass, then to my in-laws’, and then to my sister’s.

The necklace was noticed and received many complements. My five-year-old son touched it and said simply, “I like that, Mom.” My three-year-old wants one, and my four-month-old baby kept reaching for it–since it’s shiny and too pretty to resist.

All my children were with me–some physically, some spiritually–that day. And always. Little things help keep my departed babies alive in my heart and mind. The necklace hangs, a comfort, close to my lungs and heart, a remembrance of my babies with each and every breath and heartbeat.

Thank you, Rachelle, for the meaningful, memorable Easter gift. I will treasure it always.