Me and a couple of my favorite Utah Share friends Shenara Jaynes (left) and Rachael Price (right) at the Utah Share Summer Social.
I went to a barbecue last night with my family. We met at a beautiful park. It was windy but the pavilion blocked some of the breeze and there was good food and good company.
After we ate the kids ran off to play games like fishing pond and cone toss. I sat at a table and painted kids faces for a couple of hours.
We laughed, some of us cried – especially the little boy who hated his new dinosaur mask I painted – and we all had a good time.
I didn’t know all of the people who came. I couldn’t tell you half of their names. But my heart has a special place for each of them.
For each person who came to our social last night has lost a little one.
I look forward to the Utah Share Summer Social each year. My kids love the prizes they win and the treats they can snag.
I love being around other parents, grandparents, sibling and aunts of angel babies. Their strength and kindness buoys me up.
I am forever grateful for the friendships I have made through Utah Share. I would never want any of my friends – or my worst enemies – to go through the loss of a child, but I’m grateful that there are those out there who know how it feels. And I’m grateful that we get together occasionally.
Playing games and painting faces doesn’t remove the pain we each have felt or the longing we have to see our angel babies again, but supporting each other and remembering our angels helps.
It helps me heal.
Boogers on the Wall 