The Journey of the Heart Conference is for Mothers who have experienced the loss of a child.

The event was held in Costa Mesa, California sponsored by Umbrella Ministries. www.umbrellaministries.com

Thank you “Wings of Hope” for giving “HOPE” to 118 moms who have lost a child. A VERY SPECIAL thank you to Linda Rogers of the “Butterfly Boutique” and Jodi Hopper of “Wish upon a Butterfly” for donating the beautiful butterflies. What an incredible blessing for each mom to have a butterfly to release celebrating her child’s life. There were even enough butterflies for the moms who lost more then one child to release an additional butterfly for each her children. There were tears, laughter, joy, and blessings, as the precious butterflies touched each mom’s heart. Some flew right off which made moms smile as they thought of their children’s little independent personalities. One mom had happy tears as she saw her little butterfly take flight with thoughts of her son being freed from his wheelchair and pain. Some butterflies lingered a while and let the moms treasure their beauty, and some landed on the moms and stayed there for the longest time, filling their hearts with love, hope, and peace.

It is wonderful that there are caring, dedicated, loving, people like “Wings of Hope” and the Butterfly Farmers that offer grieving hearts joy and happiness through their generous giving. The memory of this day will live in our hearts and memories forever.

Here is the little poem the moms read together before they released their beautiful butterflies:

Messenger of God, Oh, Little Butterfly, Messenger of God,
When I see you in the sky I cannot help but nod.
You bring me respite from grief and despair
Every time I see you sailing through the air.
You renew my faith in all God's wondrous plan,
And I know it*s all in FAITH, not in what I understand.

by Jill Haley

“Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!”
Psalm 55