Why Mangos?
Our sweet little girl was about the size of a mango when we finally started telling people that we were expecting. Since then, she has become one of the greatest adventures and blessings of our life.
Some couples never get this far. Whether trying or not, there are a high percentage of pregnancies that never make it to full term let alone to the size of a mango. While pregnant, we had three friends that experienced miscarriage. Seeing such tragedy in our friends' lives compelled me to action. What can I do to help support them? Is there any way that I can show them love and hopefully ease their pain for a moment?
Art is clearly my passion and profession, so I immediately started brainstorming what forms of art I could create to help memorialize their babies and make them feel seen. For the friends that had already gone through this heartache, I painted. And for the one's in the future, I hoped to do the same or create something personal to them.
Fast forward to my sleeping baby keeping me stuck on the couch for long spans of time - not really the environment to get much painting done. I found that crocheting could be done without disturbing my daughter, but was enough to keep my hands busy and keep me from napping too much with her. That's how this project was really born, through love of our friends and the ability to create. With each bear, I am praying for heartache to be eased and the hope of future children if desired. I might not be able to travel to offer hugs to each person, but I can easily use my time and resources to send love through the mail to those who are hurting. Not just friends, but all women and parents who go through such tragedy.
The final goal of this project will be to start adding birth weight to the bears as a memorial to the babies lost. From the experience of one friend, more bears, specifically weighted ones, are needed to help parents have a tangible way to hold their baby forever.
As Christians, we believe that no baby is left un-held. When babies and children are no longer held by their earthly parents, they are being held by Jesus. Mark 10 verses 14-16 gives us an example of Christ's love and acceptance of children as He says, "'Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them."
May these bears be a tangible reminder that each baby lost to earth is Always held - Forever loved.
How it's Going!
My goal with this project and business will be to always donate more bears than I sell. The bears being sold help pay for the materials to keep making bears to donate.