The joy and sadness in creating memory boxes
Assembling memory boxes
Since I shared this new website on my Adalynn’s Gift facebook page on August 28th, I was so blown away by the support and donations that family, friends, and even someone I don’t know made of items from my Amazon wish list. I didn’t even have to ask for the donations — these individuals wanted to on their own! It warmed my heart so much to see such an outpouring of support. I felt joy that people were honoring my Adalynn and helping me to fulfill her gift to the world of loss parents! 99.9% of the items included in the boxes have been self-funded since I started putting together memory boxes. All the incredible, needed, useful and comforting items are helping me to put together additional memory boxes and I could not wait to assemble them, as odd as that sounds. Feeding off of the generosity of donors, I felt so inspired. Since all the donations arrived at my house, it led to me spending many evenings crocheting more items!
Donations received after launch of www.adalynnsgift.org
I had two storage bins filled with memory box supplies. Near daily, I am watching the price of the items on my Amazon wish list and other sites. Prices fluctuate on there so often! Since the items are primarily self-funded, it is time well-spent. In the Spring, Michaels had beautiful boxes. When I saw them go on clearance, I stocked up! I have a shelving system downstairs and have 25+ boxes ready in addition to the two bins of supplies!
So this afternoon, I couldn’t wait any longer. I had today off from work. I had a lot of supplies. I thought to myself, why not today?! My son, Alex, is doing 2nd grade distance learning and he was on his lunch break. I laid out the fabric and crochet gowns. I matched up hats. Turned out, I had 14 hat and gown sets that I could create memory boxes with! My mom had given me 5 gowns yesterday. Next, all of the other pieces, as my supplies allowed started to be matched up. Alex helped me. He really wanted to help lay things out. His break was short, but he placed hand print kits, books and stuffed animals with each. This is the first time I assembled boxes with someone else home. I have always done this when I was alone and it has served as a sort of “therapy” for me. It wasn’t the silent, sad but satisfying, experience that it historically has been. It was a warm and shared experience. While it may not have been as special to Alex as it was to me, I loved that he was a part of it and I could share a piece of Adalynn’s gift to the world with him.
I take time to make sure each item included in the memory boxes complements the others. Making sure that the headbands match the gowns. The colors of the decorative receiving blankets coordinate with the hats included. When Alex went back to his laptop to finish his school day, I spent time making sure all the items worked together.
The last set of boxes I put together, I created an inventory ticket to help me organize each box and make sure I include all I intend on doing. This time around, it has helped me to see which pieces I need to order more of. I need to order a few more receiving blankets, books, and seeds. I am short a couple of crochet angels and Fimo clay heart sets. As my time allows, I’ll focus my energy on making those!
I don’t have a hospital determined yet to donate these near complete 14 boxes to, but I hope the families that receive them know how much time, love, and understanding of what they are going through has gone into each one.
