This month's Featured Mom is Sarina Baptista
Hello! My name is Sarina Baptista and my angel is J.T. I am so honored
to be April’s Featured Angel Mom. I have received so much peace,
camaraderie and comfort from this group, and am so thankful to be here
with all of you.I am 43 years old, have been married for ten years to a wonderful man, John. We have three children – my angel J.T., forever 7, my princess Lacey who is 6, and my “lightening in a bottle” Anthony who is 4. We live in Loveland, Colorado, a wonderful town that still has that hometown feel and great people!
Our journey began March 30, 2007. J.T. and Lacey both got the flu on the same day, same symptoms. That was Monday, March 26, 2007. Thursday, March 28, 2007, I woke up with food poisoning. I was so sick, I could barely get out of bed. Chills, fever. I did my best to take care of my two sick kids, and keep Anthony away from them, so he wouldn’t get it also. J.T. really wanted me to stay with him in his room, but I was so sick, I couldn’t even sit up in bed. At 11pm Thursday night, my fever broke and I got an unexplainable burst of energy. J.T. said, “Please Mom, I need you.” I stayed with him for the next five hours. Finally, at about 4am, we were laying down in his room. I was just about asleep when he popped up in bed and said, “Mommy!” I was startled. I said, “What? What’s wrong?” He said, “I want you to go to your room.” I said, “Oh, you want to try my room again? OK, let’s go.” He said, “No, I want YOU to go. I want to watch TV.” I was so tired, I didn’t argue and didn’t think twice about how out of character it was for him. He never would have sent me away. At 6am, I got up to check on him. He looked peaceful, until I saw his chest wasn’t moving. And our nightmare began. Despite my CPR efforts, police officers, paramedics, fire fighters, emergency room doctors, he was gone. The official cause of death was complications due to the flu. They believe there was a congenital lung issue, and the flu was too much for his body to overcome.
J.T. loved to laugh. Anyone who knew him would tell you the thing they remembered most about him was either his laugh or his “never give up” attitude. For someone who was on this planet for such a short time, he gave everyone he knew some very special memories and always lots of love.
We’ve been on this journey for a year now. I considered myself one of the lucky ones. For whatever reason, I’ve been able to hold onto J.T.’s joy of life and make it my own. I still miss my boy so very much. Some days, it seems like too much to handle. But then the day ends, and I feel renewed and strong once again.
I owe so much to my husband, who is my rock, my kids, who deserve so much more than to have to grieve their older brother, my friends who are still by my side (not all of them are!), and to my faith that I will be with my precious boy again one day. And, of course, I owe so much to this compassionate group of mothers who have been there for me over this past year, letting me know I’m not crazy, what I feel is real, and that one day, it will get better. We all know it will never leave, but it will get better. Thank you, Angelmoms! You all mean so much to me!
If you would like to read more about J.T., please visit his website at www.mem.com/Story.aspx?ID=1785969
Our Sweet Angel
Our sweet little angel,
Our sweet baby girl.
We anxiously awaited the day,
you would enter the world.
Mommy carried you inside,
keeping you safe and warm.
Trying to shelter you,
From any pain and harm.
We were told you would not make it,
even though your heart was strong.
We didn't want to believe it.
We wanted all the doctors to be wrong.
Although we wished to keep you here,
and give you all our love.
God needed you to be his angel,
and brought you back to heave above.
We will hold you in our hearts.
We will never let you go.
You will always be loved by Mommy and Daddy,
more than you will ever know.
Cara Molloy
In loving memory of her daughter
April
Spring is here and it is beautiful outside all the trees are blooming and the flowers are all blooming to.
Tiffany always loved this time of year she loved all the flowers. We have a big vine of wisteria growing by our house it covers a cedar tree and alot of the other trees around it, it is a beautiful lavender color. We have yellow Jasmine that grows out side to and lots and lots of honey suckle. When you walk outside it smells wonderful. Even though this time of year is so beautiful I am sad because she passed away this month. All the wonderful smells remind me of her and how much she loved this time of year and it makes me even miss her more. I know in Heaven it is beautiful to and I'm sure she is getting to see and smell the flowers there to and I'm sure it is alot more beautiful there than it is here but in my heart I want her here with me to see and smell the flowers. I know there are things I can do this time of year in her memory and one of them is planting a memorial garden in my yard and I do plan on doing that this year. I wish you all a beautiful spring and remember that our children are always with us we may not be able to see them but we can feel them around us and sometimes they send us a little sign just to let us know they are there.
The 13-19 of this month is National Crime Victims' Rights Week. It is a week to honor the victims of crime and remember them. It is also to make people more aware of crime. We see and hear about it every day on the news and read about it in the paper. For some people, they will never be touched by crime, but for others, it will change their lives forever, it did mine.....I am the mother of a murdered child, a title I never dreamed would be mine, a title I never wanted. I had never had to deal with the media, but I learned fast, I had never had to deal with the court system, but I learned that too. I learned that the court system can rip you to pieces, be cruel and unfair. I was naive, I thought if you committed a crime, you paid for it, it's not true. Shane is in a cemetery and his killer walks free. Not only did I have to learn to live with out Shane, I had to learn to live with the injustice of his murder.
Most of the time I don't think of Shane as a homicide victim, he is my son and he is gone, it doesn't matter how......but there are times that I am reminded that he was murdered, that someone held my child's life in his hands, they could choose life or death for him and they chose death.
We went to trial in April of 2000 for Shane's murder, it has been eigh years now. I can still remember how it felt to sit in that courtroom and hear things no parent ever wants to hear. I can still remember hearing the jury foreman read the verdict "Not Guilty." I felt like Shane had been murdered again. For a long time I was bitter and angry, the anger was eating me up and turning me into someone I was not. I realized I had to let it go because by continuing to let it eat me up, I was letting Shane's killer take even more from my family and he had take too much already. It wasn't easy and there are times I still get angry, but it doesn't consume me like it used to.
I had been told to prepare a victim impact statement to be read at the sentencing, a sentencing that never happened, my statement was never read. Below is my statement.
Today, I am at a place I never dreamed I would be, doing something I never dreamed I would do. A victim impact statement was not something in my vocabulary. I have agonized over this, agonized over what to say. How do you put into words what the murder of your firstborn, your only son does to your life and the lives of all those around you.
In the Spring of 1977, I was a teenager, unwed and pregnant. I was faced with a decision, the decision to chose life or death for this baby. I was scared, scared of raising a baby, scared of the responsibility ahead of me, scared of it all. But I chose life for this baby and with the help of my parents and the baby’s father, on December 3, 1977, Shane was born. Almost twenty years later, someone else held Shane’s life in their hands. They had the choice to let him live or die. Adam Carrier chose death for Shane.......
By doing this, he has destroyed so much. Shane was a wonderful young man, not perfect by any means, but someone who enjoyed life, he was a son, father, brother, husband, grandson, great-grandson and a friend to many. He would help anyone he could. Five and a half months before he was murdered, he became a father to twin girls, Krista and Kristen. He loved it and he loved them. He was so proud of his baby girls and though he was young and unprepared, he was turning into a wonderful father and growing up. Not long after the birth of the twins, one day he was talking to me about them, he was trying to describe how he felt. I said it’s like you finally love someone more than you do yourself, he looked at me amazed and said, yes, how did you know? I told him because it was the way I felt the day he was born. Two weeks before he died, Krista said “da-da” for the first time, he was so proud and so happy. He never got to hear Kristen say it, Adam took that away from him. Shane never got to see his daughters take their first steps, share their first Christmas with them, or a birthday, he will never take them to their first day of school, never go to a father daughter dance with them, never be their for them when they have a problem and need him, never get to meet their boyfriends, never walk them down the isle on their wedding day, never be there when they have children of their own and would make him a grandfather. Adam took all of this away from these two little girls............Krista and Kristen don’t remember their Daddy, but they know all about him, we take them to the cemetery and they give him little gifts, pictures, necklaces, toys, cookies, suckers, send him balloons and things like that. They think this is what a Daddy is, a headstone, they call it Daddy’s rock in a cemetery where you take things to. Someday, we will have to explain to them what happened to their Daddy and why he is not here. I dread it, how do you explain to a child that to another person, their daddy’s life meant nothing, had no value, that this person thought they had the right to play God and end it, when they are no better than the devil himself?
I have told you what it has done to the lives of his daughter’s, now I will tell you what it has done to mine. It hurts, it is the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. I never knew you could feel such pain and live through it. I almost didn’t, I came close to taking my own life on January 17, 1998, thank God I didn’t, that would have let Adam Carrier take more from my family and I will not let him do that. I am stronger now than I was then, but I still hurt, there are times I just want to destroy things and scream with the pain, there are times that I do.......I watch my husband and my daughters hurt and see them wanting to reach out and help me even though they are hurting just as much as I am. I have seen my husband age years before my eyes, I have seen him try and control the anger and rage he has because of what Adam has done, this is coming from a man who before was quiet, controlled and easy going. I have heard the screams and cries in the night from my daughters rooms, hurting, missing their big brother. I have seen their pain and their fear, somebody murdered their brother, that means somebody could murder them, their parents or someone else they love too. Parents are supposed to be able to fix things for their children, I cannot fix this for them or for Shane. I try and take it day by day, I try not to look at the big picture or the future, to see myself living without Shane for the rest of my life is something that is so hard to do.
My heart breaks for myself, my family and Shane’s friends, my heart breaks for a lot of people. One of them is Jan, Adam’s mother, how hard this must be for her. We love our children no matter what, but what has this done to her? This is not her fault, I am sure just like I did with Shane, she loved Adam and raised him the best she could, how could she know this baby, this child she brought into the world with love would grow up to be a cold blooded killer? Nothing Adam can ever do or accomplish the rest of his life can she be proud of the way she was before, Shane’s death will overshadow any accomplishment he could ever possibly make. I know lots of people judge us by the accomplishments and failures of our children. I am asking that no one judge Jan for what Adam has done, she did not make him do this, nothing she did caused him to do this. Adam and Adam alone did this to himself, his family and Shane and his family, Adam chose this path for all of us. He must now take responsibility for what he did and pay the consequences.
Adam gave Shane a death sentence, but that is not what I am here asking for him. I have no more right to ask for life or death for Adam than he did to chose it for Shane. And as a mother who has lost her child, I could not ask for Adam to be put to death, that would be me wishing my pain upon Jan and I would not wish this pain on my worst enemy. I do ask you, your Honor to please give Adam the maximum sentence you can, please give him a life sentence, just like he did the rest of us when he took Shane’s.
Hello dear Angel Mom Sisters! I hope that spring weather has started to arrive where you are – it’s still struggling to show up here in Ohio! It’s always nice to see the tulips and daffodils start to come up. So I have jumped on the Oprah bandwagon and have joined her big on-line “class” involving the book A New Earth by Ekhart Tolle. If you have not heard about it, it book is about trying to find your true self, and in doing do, find your true life’s purpose. Cheesy I know! But it is a very interesting read, and I admit that I have discovered some things about myself and the grief process that I never thought of before. There is a section in chapter 2 about how many people, when they experience great loss, somehow find themselves with a new sense of being, some kind of peace. Looking back, I know that I have had moments of this, but many times it feels hard to come by. Even the author claims that this is “a kind of peace doesn’t seem to make sense, and even the people who experience it ask themselves: In the face of this, how can it be that I feel such peace?”. Personally, I think it takes a lot of work to find that peace. Of course I think it may depend on the circumstances of the loss. For me, my angel Zackary was so sick for such a long time, and I felt after he died that he was now at peace, that he was healthy and whole and in no more pain. Somehow it helped me to accept the fact that he was gone. If your loss happened very unexpectedly, I can imagine that it would take so much longer to find that acceptance. Tolle states “Whenever tragic loss occurs, you either resist or you yield. Some people become bitter or deeply resentful; others become compassionate, wise and loving. Yielding means inner acceptance of what is.”. This really struck me, because I feel that we all are better people because of having had our children with us, no matter how long they were here, and that we are more compassionate toward others because of our loss. It is part of the legacy our children leave behind, and the inner strength that we all carry within us. I send you all many prayers of comfort, strength, and, most of all, peace.
According to my calendar, spring has sprung but my thermometer says otherwise. It’s been a long, cold winter but I have faith that soon the warm weather will arrive, the flowers will bloom and a new season of renewal beings again. April is the month for Arbor Day, a good day to plant a tree in memory of your child. Find their birthday below and read about the tree that corresponds and see if it fits their personality. Maybe it will be the type of tree you would like to plant for them. It is a wonderful way to honor the memory of your angel while helping the environment at the same time. I wish all of my Angel Mom friends a happy and warm spring!
Dec 23 to Jan 01 Apple Tree - Jan 02 to Jan 11 Fir Tree - Jan 12 to Jan 24 Elm Tree - Jan 25 to Feb 03 Cypress Tree - Feb 04 to Feb 08 Poplar Tree - Feb 09 to Feb 18 Cedar Tree - Feb 19 to Feb 28 Pine Tree - Mar 01 to Mar 10 Weeping Willow Tree - Mar 11 to Mar 20 Lime Tree - Mar 21 Oak Tree Mar 22 to Mar 31 Hazelnut Tree - Apr 01 to Apr 10 Rowan Tree - Apr 11 to Apr 20 Maple Tree - Apr 21 to Apr 30 Walnut Tree May 01 to May 14 Poplar Tree May 15 to May 24 Chestnut Tree - May 25 to Jun 03 Ash Tree - Jun 04 to Jun 13 Hornbeam Tree - Jun 14 to Jun 23 Fig Tree - Jun 24 Birch Tree - Jun 25 to Jul 04 Apple Tree - Jul 05 to Jul 14 Fir Tree - Jul 15 to Jul 25 Elm Tree - Jul 26 to Aug 04 Cypress Tree - Aug 05 to Aug 13 Poplar Tree - Aug 14 to Aug 23 Cedar Tree - Aug 24 to Sep 02 Pine Tree - Sep 03 to Sep 12 Weeping Willow Tree - Sep 13 to Sep 22 Lime Tree - Sep 23 Olive Tree - Sep 24 to Oct 03 Hazelnut Tree - Oct 04 to Oct 13 Rowan Tree - Oct 14 to Oct 23 Maple Tree - Oct 24 to Nov 11 Walnut Tree - Nov 12 to Nov 21 Chestnut Tree - Nov 22 to Dec 01 Ash Tree - Dec 02 to Dec 11 Hornbeam Tree - Dec 12 to Dec 21 Fig Tree - Dec 22 Beech Tree
APPLE TREE (the Love) - of slight build, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant aura, flirtatious, adventurous, sensitive, always in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, scientific talents, lives for today, a carefree philosopher with imagination.
ASH TREE (the Ambition) - uncommonly attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be egotistic, very reliable and trustworthy, faithful and prudent lover, sometimes brains rule over the heart, but takes partnership very seriously.
BEECH TREE (the Creative) - has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.)
BIRCH TREE (the inspiration) - vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.
CEDAR TREE (the Confidence) - of rare beauty, knows how to adapt, likes luxury, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, determined, impatient, likes to impress others, many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waiting for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.
CHESTNUT TREE (the Honesty) - of unusual beauty, does not want to impress, well-developed sense of justice, vivacious, interested, a born diplomat, but irritates easily and sensitive in company, often due to a lack of self confidence, acts sometimes superior, feels not understood loves only once, has difficulties in finding a partner.
CYPRESS TREE (the Faithfulness) - strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give, content, optimistic, craves money and acknowledgment, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered, unruly, pedantic, and careless.
ELM TREE (the Noble-mindedness) - pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.
FIG TREE (the Sensibility) - very strong, a bit self-willed, independent, does not allow contradiction or arguments, loves life, its family, children and animals, a bit of a social butterfly, good sense of humor, likes idleness and laziness, of practical talent and intelligence.
FIR TREE (the Mysterious) - extraordinary taste, dignity, sophisticated, loves anything beautiful, moody, stubborn, tends to egoism but cares for those close to them, rather modest, very ambitious, talented, industrious, uncontented lover, many friends, many foes, very reliable.
HAZELNUT TREE (the Extraordinary) - charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make an impression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody, and capricious lover, honest, and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgment.
HORNBEAM TREE (the Good Taste) - of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgement in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.
LIME TREE (the Doubt) - accepts what life dishes out in a composed way, hates fighting, stress, and labor, dislikes laziness and idleness, soft and relenting, makes sacrifices for friends, many talents but not tenacious enough to make them blossom, often wailing and complaining, very jealous but loyal.
MAPLE TREE (Independence of Mind) - no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress. OAK TREE (the Brave) - robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.
OLIVE TREE (the Wisdom) - loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.
PINE TREE (the Particular) - loves agreeable company, very robust, knows how to make life comfortable, very active, natural, good companion, but seldom friendly, falls easily in love but its passion burns out quickly, gives up easily, everything disappointments until it finds its ideal, trustworthy, practical.
POPLAR TREE (the Uncertainty) - looks very decorative, not very self-confident, only courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.
ROWAN TREE (the Sensitivity) - full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.
WALNUT TREE (the Passion) - unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.
WEEPING WILLOW (the Melancholy) - beautiful but full of melancholy, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful and tasteful, loves to travel, dreamer, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with, demanding, good intuition, suffers in love but finds sometimes an anchoring partner.
My Son, Chris
My son, Chris, has grown into manhood. At 24, he has completed his undergraduate degree and is pursuing a master’s. This was the bouncing, and I do mean bouncing child, that pinched his uncle on the behind, pulled ears and caused quite a commotion at times. That curly headed little person, is still alive, but the man he has become surrounds him. Chris and Mike were three years apart and so close. Chris would climb out of bed every night from the time he was two until he was six and climb into bed with Mike. I know Mike loved Chris openly, helping the wonderful person he is, emerge.
We sat and talked this past Easter weekend and the conversation turned to loss. He said he knows that he can survive loss, he has already. However the most painful part is that five days, five weeks or even five years from now he knows he can’t make plans with Mike.
Memories are the most precious possessions we have. The most painful part of loss is that there are no more opportunities for memories, except the ones that include our Angels in thought, but not in the physical sense. Mike can’t break my new couch, drive into the garage door, bring flowers to me, take my breath away with his bear hugs or make me laugh until my sides hurt. It is a loss more deep than I could have imagined when first I started down this road and it is highlighted by how many memories I am making with my other sons. How different we would all be if he were still here and how different I am sure we became because he couldn’t stay. We did not have a choice as to the path, but I can’t help but think that as Robert Frost wrote:
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Diana's Memory Lane
Through sharing our memories
It keeps our children alive.
With each special moment remembered
They help us to survive.
As we walk down memory lane,
We always keep them near.
For they are the ones we will never forget.
The ones that we hold so dear.
Written by:Zana Maxwell-AngelMom to Alex
alexchristopher.memory-of.com
This month Pam has shared a memory of her Angel Freddy with us...thanks Pam!
Have 26 years of memories but here is one I am most proud of...
Freddy was a senior and April was a junior. They were going to April's Junior Prom. 4 couples planned for months to all go together Complete with limo & a suite at a hotel with all the trimmings. I was Hesitant about the hotel part but I trusted my son. They were so Excited! And what a beautiful couple they made. Everything went Perfect and off to the Prom they went. My husband and I went to bed Around 11 PM. Shortly after we hear commotion at the front door. I Open the door and who is there but a tux clad Freddy and a sequined Gowned April!!! Freddy had his "ugly face" on that he got when Something went terribly wrong or when he got up every morning. LOL! Both started talking at the same time. Finally we got the story. After Prom they all went to the hotel which they had stocked earlier With food, games and videos. All the other couples started pairing off Immediately to go do what a lot of teens do on Prom night. Freddy & April went to have fun and enjoy a good night of fun with friends. What the other couples were doing was not what they wanted to do. So Freddy brought April here and here they stayed the night. I felt so Badly for them, yet at the same time both my husband and I knew we had Instilled something in our son that was priceless.....he was his own Person and wasn't afraid of anyone knowing it!!! We did our job very Well!
Please send Memory to dianaandharold@bellsouth.net
Thanks Diana
National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week
In 1983 Congress requested that President Reagan proclaim April 22 through April 28, 1984 as National Organ Donation Awareness Week. Not long after, the name was changed to National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week. Tommy Thompson, Health and Human Services Secretary, announced in 2003 that April would be a time to recognize the need for donations of organs, tissue, marrow and blood. President Bush issued a proclamation recognizing the observance. He called National Donate Life Month a chance to “honor living and deceased donors and their families across our Nation.” He also urged more Americans to follow their example.
By expanding the event to a full month, more public awareness activities can take place. Thousands of partners throughout the country take part in National Donate Life Month, including associations, state governments, federal agencies, private companies and fraternal organizations. The partners help millions of people learn what they can do to save the lives of those in need.
The event’s message is an important one. Although more than 22,000 organ transplants and 46,000 corneal transplants were performed in 2002, there are still more people needing transplants than there are organs available. Every 13 minutes, a new name is added to the nation’s organ transplant waiting list. That adds up to about 110 new people every day for a current total of approximately 84,000 names.
Kidney transplants- Many people are waiting for kidneys and the number is growing. In 2001, 47,830 patients waited for a kidney to become available. In 2002, the number was up to 50,855. About 75% of the increase was among people 50-years old or older. This age group makes up half of the total waiting list, up from 34% in 1993. Fortunately for kidney patients, dialysis is an alternative lifesaving treatment. This is not the case for other conditions such as heart and liver disease.
While the number of people wanting transplants is on the rise, the number of people donating organs hasn’t changed much. This means patients must wait longer to get organs. On average, 16 people die every day while waiting for an organ to become available.
There is also a growing trend in live organ donations. With the typical wait for a cadaver organ being a few years, many people in need of a transplant look to their relatives, friends and other acquaintances to make living donations, which decreases the wait time for an organ. Willing donors will go through testing to determine if they are a suitable match to the recipient. National Donate Life Month emphasizes how valuable organ donation is for so many and encourages everyone to become a donor.
How to donate
Almost anyone 18 years or older can donate organs, regardless of their health. If you would like to donate your organs to help save another person’s life, follow these steps:
Put your decision in writing. Since laws differ from state to state, log onto www.organdonor.gov.
Tell your family what you want to do. Making your loved ones aware of your intention to donate your organs will help them honor your request in the event of your death. It is important to discuss this, because your relatives will be asked for the go-ahead to donate your organs, even if you have a signed donor card. The Donate Life website ( OrganDonor.gov
National Crime Victims' Rights Week
April 13-19, 2008
Justice For Victims. Justice For All.
From April 13-19, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will be observed across the nation by victims, survivors, and the professionals and volunteers who assist them. This year’s theme is “Justice for Victims. Justice for All.”
To crime victims, justice means that they are heard, treated with respect, and that their losses will be recognized. Victims’ Rights Week brings us together to make justice truly meaningful for crime victims. It helps us recognize the rights and needs of victims and survivors of crime, and that crime isn’t something that “happens to someone else.”
National Organization For Victim Assistance (NOVA)
Office Of Victims Of Crime
Parents Of Murdered Children
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers
Funky Flower Photo Box
Click here for instructions: Photo Box
Acts Of Kindness
The Act Of Kindness Award will be given to an AngelMom that was nominated for their kindness and thoughtfulness. It will not be a contest, it is "Thank You" kind of award. Anyone can be nominated. If someone has touched your heart by doing something special, please nominate them by emailing Loni. There is no exclusions, everyone is included. We will list each member that has received an Award.
Acts of Kindness for the month of March were presend to
All Angel Moms by Nancy Pion
Angel Mom's Acts of Kindness
Chinese Chicken with Cashews
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup lite soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup dry sherry
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger (or 2 teaspoons ground ginger)
- 3 medium cloves garlic, crushed
- 1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced (1 cup)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup unsalted cashew nuts
- 2 scallions
Directions:
Mix soy sauce, vinegar, sherry, ginger, and garlic together in a small bowl. Add chicken and marinate while you prepare the other ingredients. Heat a wok or skillet over high heat and add oil. Remove chicken from marinade with a slotted spoon, reserving liquid. Add chicken to work and stir-fry 2 minutes. Remove to a plate. Add red pepper and stir-fry 2 minutes. Mix cornstarch with reserved marinade. Add marinade and chicken to the wok and stir-fry 2 minutes with the peppers. Remove from heat. Add salt and pepper. Sprinkle cashew nuts and scallions on top and serve over rice.
Ladyfinger Lemon Dessert
Ingredients:
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1 package (3 ounces) ladyfingers, split
1 package (3 ounces) lemon gelatin
1 cup boiling orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1 cup reduced-fat whipped topping
Directions:
Pour milk into a small metal mixing bowl; place mixer beaters in the bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Line the sides of a 9-in. spring form pan with ladyfingers; set aside. In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in orange juice. Stir in the sugar, lemon juice and peel; cool to room temperature. Beat chilled milk until soft peaks form; fold into gelatin mixture. Pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or until firm. Spread with whipped topping. Remove sides of pan. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 10 servings.
Some Links To Share
I Can Only Imagine
Personalized Memorial Gifts & Personalized Sympathy Gifts
Healing Jewelry for Miscarriage, Infant Loss, Fertility, Sympathy, Pregnancy and Birth
The risk of love is loss, and the price of loss is grief -
But the pain of grief is only a shadow when compared with
the pain of never risking love.
Memorial Donations
In Loving Memory Of
Angel Moms Newsletter-April Printable Version
If you have something you would like included in next months newsletter, please e-mail Judi
Editor: Judi,
Staff: Diana, Karen, Krista, Lynn, Laurie, Holly, Linda, Natalie
Angel Moms Web Site
