Merry Christmas!

Eden's Garden

We’ve been doing so much lately to bring awareness to Eden’s Garden and we love talking about it, so I thought I would share some information here. 

Eden’s Garden came to be out of our desire to keep Eden’s legacy alive and to help families like ours who are going through the journey of being in the NICU.  We want to provide resources and support to these families because we know first-hand how difficult this journey can be. 

Since 2012 is our first established year we participated in a few events and are truly proud of our accomplishments.  In June Eden’s Garden made its debut and along with 20 friends and family we proudly walked in the Baby Steps 3K and raised money for Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.  During September, Eden’s Garden hosted an event that is close to our hearts, we served brunch at the Ronald McDonald House.  We were able to connect with families and served a hot meal.  Finally in November we recognized National Prematurity Awareness month but bringing awareness to premature babies and raising funds and gifts for Children’s NICU.   

Eden’s Garden is small but we are so excited to have bigger goals in 2013 and help more families.  We can only do this with your support.  Please make a donation to Eden’s Garden so that we can make 2013 a success. 

We are also thrilled to be recognized on Children’s 12 days of giving blog.  To read the blog, click on the link   http://www.childrensmn.org/giving/giving-news-a-highlights/1452-12-days-of-giving

Contact Eden’s Garden:  edensgardenmn@hotmail.com

Donate:  paypal.com recipient- edensgardenmn@hotmail.com 

Christmas Traditions

 Picking out our Christmas tree.

 Making cookies with Grandpa for the NICU!

An Eden's Garden milestone

I have an amazing family.  This is the thought I had on Friday night as I was waiting for Scott and Reagan to return from trying to go potty for the fourth time during dinner.  Scott, Reagan and Eden are amazing to me because of what we’ve been through and what we’re doing with our life changing journey.  We could easily retreat and stay quiet and grieve alone but instead we asked God for guidance on what to do with our experiences.  After many tears we decided to create Eden’s Garden.  It hurts to have to do something in honor/memory of Eden versus having her in our home playing with her sister, but we understand that this is what we need to do. 

We are in the process of making Eden’s Garden an official non-profit and having a website created, but these things are slow when funds are limited.  So we’ll always take more donations J.  This past week was a milestone for Eden’s Garden and we have to express a HUGE thank you to our friends and family who made this event possible.  On Thursday, November 16^th Eden’s Garden donated $1,000.00 directly to Children’s Hospital Minneapolis NICU!!!!  We are so proud of this accomplishment and cannot wait to give more donations!!  We chose November 16^th because it was Give to the Max Day which means that another donor matched our gift!!!!  Then on Friday, November 17^th Scott, Reagan and I took a whole wagon full with over 105 toys, valuing over $900 to the NICU which will help families play with their babies while in the NICU making them feel more comfortable there.  Some of our amazing physicians and nurses met us in the NICU to thank us and to see Reagan.  They were thrilled with her progress and we were so excited to see them and thank them!!!  They are so special to us and are part of our extended family always.  One of the nurses talked about how special Eden was and how her memory will live on forever.  My heart was so filled with joy at that moment!!!!  We are doing this for Eden and for all the families who have to go through the journey of being in the NICU. 

 

Eagle Brook Church

Our church, Eagle Brook Church has been an amazing support to us during the most difficult time of our life.  We feel extremely blessed to call Eagle Brook home.  In the most recent issue of Eagle Brook's CANVAS magazine publication they printed a story written by Scott.  He articulates what we have felt during the past two years, how our lives have changed and how our faith has grown substantially.  It's beautifully written.  

Twin Cities Harvest Festival

 Before the horse started moving.

 After.

A morning at the Twin Cities Harvest Festival with Grandma and Grandpa.  Reagan LOVED it!  Her recent obsession is goats so it was thrilling for her to be surrounded by goats.  She also LOVED the corn pit.  She immediately wanted mmmoooorrrree jumping in the corn pit when we left.  I am her horsey (or neee as she refers to horses) at home and she will ride on my back and loves it but this was her first time on a real live horse.  See before and after pictures- pretty funny. 

National Prematurity Awareness Month

Hi friends, November is National Prematurity Awareness Month and we are excited to do some very special things with Eden’s Garden. We will be making donations to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota NICU’s. These donations, both monetary and gifts will directly provide support for families going through the journey of being in the NICU. We would love for you to get involved and show your support for Eden’s Garden. When you are out and about please consider shopping for the following items:

Rattles, O-balls
Fisher Price, Sassy, Baby Einstein toys and toy sets
Mirrors
Mozart Magic Cube
Sound & Lights Aquariums (Fisher-Price)
Baby Board Books
Melodies & Motion Soothers (Fisher-Price)
Toy bars for strollers
Music CD’s

Once you’ve purchased these new items please connect with us so that we can collect the gifts from you. Or if you prefer to make a donation to Eden's Garden you can do so via PayPal. We will make one large donation to Children’s on November 17th from Eden’s Garden. We would love for you to join us on this special day as we honor Eden’s life with this donation. Please contact us if you have any questions and thank you for donating!!