•We selected a baby (roughly the same age as Gavin) off the Salvation Army Angel Tree and bought toys for him similar to what we would have bought for Gavin.  Also, this year (for the first time), we plan to decorate a tree with only angel ornaments.

~~Michelle Coburn, mom to Ethan, 2 Gavin, 10/18/03—10/23/03 and Rainbow baby due 4/9/05.

•The best thing we’ve done was last year.  A group of families who have loved ones buried at the cemetery together sponsored a lighting activity on Christmas Eve.  We used tea light candles inside of white sacks (with sand in the bottom).  We set out the luminaries early in the day and returned just before dark on Christmas Eve to light them all.  Many people told me they cried as they drove past the cemetery and saw hundreds of lights flickering in the snow on Christmas Eve.

~~Jennifer Scott, mom to Sam, 7, Gabe, 5, Savannah, born still 8/29/02, and Millie, 1.

•To remember our Samuel, we have a special 4 wick candle that we light on Christmas Eve, and then, while we open our presents.  We say what each light means to us: 

The most special tradition we do is to go outside and make Snow Sams.  We make snow angels and always take a picture to include in our holiday letter.  This years, my husband is going to make a really big one and we are going to put Jack, our rainbow baby, in the middle of it.

~~Lisa Ruppel, mom to Sam and Jack.

•Last year, for Wyatt’s first Christmas, we ordered a Classic Pooh Lenox ornament with his name on it for ourselves, our parents and our siblings.  It was very emotional as those special gifts were opened.  My mother-in-law asked if we minded if she kept theirs out on the piano year round.  My parents and sister have their ornaments displayed year round too.  Our ornament is also displayed in a special place.

~~Mandy, mom to Wyatt, born and died 6/5/03 and Maddie, 5 months

•We bought a few big presents that were special for Emily and wrapped them as usual.  We have saved them in our closet all year, and this Christmas we will donate them to Toy Time, in honor of Emily.  We will be buying more presents that she would have enjoyed at her current age, wrapping them and saving them at our house again with the plan to donate them next year as well.

~~Missy Gurik, mom to Molly, 5, Gabriel, miscarried 12/9/99, Emily 8/25/03-8/30/03 and Katie, 2 months

•For the last three holiday seasons, we have hung stockings for our angel babies, and everyone in the family has a chance to write each baby a letter, which I then put in their memory books.

~~Lindsay, mom to angels in heaven: Chloe, 5/24/01, Hope (Chloe’s twin) 3/3/01, Christian, 6/12/00, and Kim

•We will buy a present from May to Kathryn, which he will send down from Heaven for her, as a way to help her remember her brother as a friend and as a positive thing, not just someone we take flowers to the cemetery for.

~~Mary Stenberg, mom to Kathryn, 3, Man, born and died 2/3/04, and 2 miscarried babies

•Every holiday since my son has passed away my mom and I have taken special gifts over to his grave site.  It’s a way we can include my son in the holidays.  My family also buys gifts for him for Christmas, his birthday and Easter.  Usually a stuffed animal or a picture of him made in a special way.

~~Amanda Auer, Mommy to Mikey, born sleeping 4/23/03