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Jack's Memorial Service and Balloon Release Saturday November 24th 2001
(The song you hear Playing is: The Prayer by Carole Bayer Sager & David Foster) This song was played by a friend of ours, 'Heidi Schwabe' on the piano ~ during Jack's Memorial Service in the Church... Heidi offered to play this for our Jack's special day, and it was absolutely beautiful. It will be remembered in our hearts and memory for ever...
Here it was, our Jack's 1st Heavenly Birthday... We just couldn't believe that One whole year had gone by, and all the planning for our Jack's special Day was now becoming real, and this was our little angels 1st Birthday... We had a Church Service arranged, followed by a '500 Balloon Release' on Mersea Beach. Throughout the few months leading up to Jack's Day, we were also raising sponsorship money for each balloon released, to be donated between our Midwives and the Church... (Please see below for money raised)... Here is how this very special day went by...
The Church Service The service was conducted by our Reverend 'Chris Newlands'... Friends & family starting arriving at the church and it was lovely to see our midwives, Lisbeth, Bev & Julie who had delivered our Jack at his birth... We had a large framed photograph of Jack at the top of the Church where it could be clearly seen throughout the service... We sang 2 hymns, they were Christmas Carols, 'Oh Little Town of Bethlehem' and 'Away in a Manger'. These were especially chosen by Sophie... During 'Away in a Manger', Andrew, Sophie, Ben and myself lit a candle in memory of Jack...
Reverend Chris Newlands remembered in our prayers all of the other little angels that are in Heaven and those that have been taken from this earth by 'Potters Syndrome'... The service was absolutely beautiful, at many times, very emotional but Chris made Jack's remembrance Birthday just so special and perfect... On nearing the end of the Church Service, as mentioned above, our friend 'Heidi Schwabe' had asked to play a piece on the piano, 'The Prayer'. During this most beautiful music, I had arranged a gift for Sophie & Ben and each of Jack's cousins, just a little keepsake for them to have and hold onto in memory of Jack's Day... So one by one, Sophie, Ben and Jack's cousins came up to me to receive their gifts... As they came, their tears were falling and the sadness and pain in their little faces literally broke my heart... I hugged them so hard and told them how much I loved them all and thanked them all for being so brave and strong this past year and for being a very special part of our lives... Towards the ending of the service, and on leaving the Church, family & friends all signed Jack's Remembrance Book, before making their way to 'Mersea Beach' for the 500 balloons which were waiting for us to release in memory of our Jack's Birthday... Heidi's beautiful music will be forever in our memory... |
