10 Ways To Celebrate Your Angel's Birthday

‍‍1.) PURCHASE A CAKE FOR A STRANGER AT YOUR LOCAL BAKERY

 

Ask if you can also leave a little note or birthday card with their cake. This same concept can be applied to cookie shops. You can try a local party entertainment company or bounce house rental company. Whatever your budget entails, there are people who would love to accept your thoughtful gift.

soulful connection

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2.) KEEP IT TRADITIONAL

 

Bake your own cake and sing happy birthday to your heavenly baby. Remember those candles! Invite a few friends and family members, or keep it small. We all know too well that life is short, hug your loved ones extra hard at this get-together. Play a slideshow of your pregnancy photos. Watch a heartwarming movie. Eat good food and love each other.

 

3.) SUPPORT AN ARTIST

 

This is such a great gift to give yourself. Have an artist paint or draw your beautiful baby. Either as a newborn or the age, they are now turning. If you need help finding an artist, Etsy has many. Start with a search like "baby portrait" or "portrait from a photo." I wrote a little blog about this if you want to explore this further...

 

 

4.) DONATE TO A CAUSE

 

Find what speaks to you:

  • A local animal shelter
  • A charity for children
  • A research foundation
  • Something completely different

Plenty of people doing good in this world can use your help. And hey! We are a non-profit too!

 

Charities Worth Considering...

 

5.) PLANT A MEMORIAL TREE OR GARDEN

 

If it's springtime, go ahead and do this in your own backyard! If not, consider a donation to conservation organizations. Just like this one...

 

One Tree Planted is an environmental charity dedicated to giving back to the environment, creating a healthier climate, & helping reforestation efforts around the globe, just by planting trees. I love this charity because spending $1 still makes a difference if money is tight!

6.) SPREAD KINDNESS

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When my late grandma's first heavenly birthday arrived, we bought bubbles and brought them to a local playground. My daughter and new friends spent an hour blowing bubbles together. Seeing the flurry of bubbles traveling with the wind was just a magical sight. You can easily do this to honor your angel. Make a cute sign that says: Enjoy a bottle of bubbles in honor of my child who would have turned ____ today. Set out a dozen or more bottles at a local park or playground. Sit back and enjoy a scene full of swirling bubbles.

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Something similar would be to buy a toy you believe your child would have loved and place it in a random location to be found. Add a note with it saying: "Hey, you found me! Please keep this gift & give it a nice home in honor of my child in heaven.

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Another great concept is to pay it forward. Pay for the person behind you in a drive-thru, pay for the groceries of someone in front of you, or hand out $5 gift cards to strangers passing by. This will be sure to make someone smile. You'll feel great too!

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I have a FB Group dedicated to spreading kindness in honor of those we have lost. I'm hoping it grows and is filled with beautiful gestures. Join here ♡

 

7.) SEND FLOWERS, COOKIES, OR A MEAL TO A NEWLY BEREAVED COUPLE

 

If you haven't found a community of bereaved parents. I recommend doing so. Here's a very active FB group full of parents who have had a stillborn or lost their baby in infancy. We have no affiliation with this specific group, but it helped me not feel so alone. From here, you can decide how to choose a family to support you in this difficult time. A beautiful letter with your gift would be perfect as you are a year or more ahead of them in your journey.

8.) EXCHANGE GIFTS

 

Add a bit of surprise to your angel's celebration this year and find a birthday buddy. Find a bereaved parent with a child that has the same birthday month as yours & mail presents to each other. Set some guidelines and expectations; for example, spend no more than $25, or all gifts must be handmade.

 

Fill out a questionnaire if you have only just met. You can include the following: 

-Home address

-Child's birthday

-Any living children?

-What item do you have in your home that brings you the most comfort?

-Was your baby cremated or buried? (This can help you with gift ideas- maybe something for the baby's gravesite or a memorial shelf in the home)

-Do you have pictures of your baby?

 

Have fun with it. Try to have both packages arrive before the special day and open them on your angel's birthday.

 

9.) OFFER A GIVEAWAY TO BEREAVED PARENTS

 

The winner receives a book or item that helped you in your grieving journey. Contact your favorite charity that supports bereaved parents. Instagram DMs are always super easy for contact purposes. I promise they will be thrilled to help facilitate this idea with you.

 

I just received a book from a friend I met after our losses. Sharing the same book is such a sweet feeling of connection.

 

Great books to donate are: 

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It's OK That You're Not OK

Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand

By: Megan Devine

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Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby

by Deborah L. Davis

 

Grieving the Child I Never Knew: A Devotional for Comfort in the Loss of Your Unborn or Newly Born Child

by Kathe Wunnenberg

 

10.) SIGN UP FOR OUR BIRTHDAY CARD PROGRAM

When others may forget your special day or be weary to even mention this painful time in your life, we hope to help you cherish this milestone.

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SIGN UP‍

 

 

PS. Please try to avoid a balloon release & eco friendly lanterns as it is very harmful to the environment. Similar to released balloons, sky lanterns rain down as litter. Often marketed as “biodegradable” or “earth-friendly.” However, sky lanterns are made with treated paper, wires and/or a bamboo ring. They can travel for miles and always land as dangerous litter- to wildlife especially. It's a fire hazard in particularly dry areas too. Sky lanterns and balloon releases have been banned in some parts of the US. An alternative to this could be, planting or visiting a butterfly garden, participating in a local clean up, or connecting with nature by visiting a local park and watching the clouds for beautiful images your child paints in the sky just for you.

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