Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

Tomorrow, we're going to be having David's 1 year photos taken with our awesome photographer, who is doing some special sessions to benefit an organization that is near and dear to my heart.  There are a lot of wonderful causes to support in this world, and limited time, money and attention to give to everything that needs it.  I have a few charitable organizations that I support and care deeply about, but none that touch my heart quite like this one.

Not all babies get to celebrate their first birthday.  For parents who lose their precious angels too soon, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep helps to support them in their darkest moments.

"Imagine a photo shoot where each moment is a last moment, where there will be no second takes, where what you're doing means everything."
http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org

I pray you never need them; in my perfect world, nobody would ever need them.  I also want to ensure that everyone who does need them, knows that they exist, and understands the importance of the precious gift they can give to a family in the most desperate time.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep photographs babies who left this world too soon.  Volunteer photographers go to grieving families, to document their beautiful children with magnificent, professional images, free of charge.  The families have these photos for a lifetime, forever captured - a tiny hand or foot, the shape of their baby's eyes, things that time can erase from memory, even though the pain never fades.

Here's a video about NILMDTS (please have your tissues ready):

How you can help:

Donate Your Time/Services
If you are a professional photographer, you can volunteer your time.  There is a screening and application process to ensure that families receive the highest-quality images from experienced photographers.  There are a number of upcoming training sessions for photographers.

If you are a musician and you own the rights to a song that might fit a slide show, you can provide the rights to that song.

People with services or products that support photography (including those who may be able to edit images) may also donate their time to NILMDTS.

Spread the word
If you work as a doula, midwife, nurse, prenatal teacher, LC, or some other health-related field, just make sure that you spread the word.  Make sure that local hospitals know about NILMDTS.

If you know someone who is experiencing the loss of a child, tell them about NILMDTS.  This is something you can do - it's so hard to know what to do, what to say.  Offer to contact this organization for them.

To make a donation to Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, click here.

Thank you.