[Anneinside]

There is a Children's Memorial in town for children who died before the age of 18. You can buy a paver for the walkway that is engraved with your child's name and dates or a plaque to put on the wall. The paver costs a forth of the cost of the plaque - about a hundred dollars. I had a paver made for my daughter finally. I had planned to do it for a long time. They install new pavers and plaques in Sept. They are having a ceremony for the new pavers on Sunday. I am going and bringing flowers to leave at Serena's paver. I am looking forward to it yet I keep crying.

[BlueInanna]

Will be thinking of you

[Anika.]

Anne that is really a beautiful thing to do. No doubt very hard at the same time , bound to stir your emotions, I am very sorry that you had to go through the loss of your daughter, well ..and still do. But I am also so happy for you that you are getting to get the paver you have been wanting in her memory. I am glad there will be a ceremony for that because it is a very special event, it's nice they take time to reflect on the children. I am sure it will be a nice way to connect with your daughter when you are missing her.

I never knew your daughter's name. It's a beautiful name, my childhood bestfriends name was also Serena, I don't hear it to often.

I will be sure to send some warm thoughts to you and Serena on Sunday Anne. I am sure it will be filled with emotion, but beautiful.

Do you have anyone to go with you, family or friends for some added support? I really wish you the best with ceromony and memorial, I hope it will bring you a bit more peace. let us know how it goes on Sunday. Please take care Anne, be gentle with yourself.

Keep talking here if that helps, I am listening, and will be thinking of you as you celebrate your daughters life.

[Anika.]

I can't send you a real flower, but I would like to..

[Victoria'smom]

As sad as it is I'm glad you are able to finally do this. I hope Sunday will bring you lots of healing.

[Trippin2.0]

Will be thinking of you and Serena

[venusss]

Crying doesn't have to be bad... it helps to wash away the pain.

thinking of you.

[Anika.]

Hey Anne, just cgecking in...wondering how you are doing and how the memorial went?

Hope you are well.

[Anneinside]

The ceremony was very nice. The hospital minister did a prayer, they read poems, sang songs. They called out each child's name and gave each family a red rose. We all went to the memorial and put messages written on rice paper in the pool in the center of the memorial. Some parents left the rose at the wall and others kept them. At the end they released homing pigeons followed by refreshments. Then I went back to Serena's paver and left the rose and the flowers I had brought. The ceremony lasted an hour. I cried for an hour.

[Trippin2.0]

Thanks for sharing Anne Sounds like it was a really special ceremony.

[Anika.]

Thanks for sharing and the picture Anne, it sounds like it was a really amazing celebration of lives. I am glad you got to experience that, and the flowers and paver are beautiful!

It's ok to have cried the whole time. I imagine that many were, it's such a hard thing, I can only imagine. I hope tho you find some healing in the tears. I am sure it will always carry pain, but you must be a very strong women.

How are you holding up now?

[A Red Panda]

Thank you for sharing with us Anne.

[BlueInanna]

Thanks for sharing Anne, and the picture very pretty flowers. It must have been so hard & intense but sounds like a beautiful way to celebrate Serena's life. I hope you are holding up ok. We are here, sending many hugs and prayers.