Many of you probably don’t know me. I am one of the many faces behind the scenes that gets to work for this amazing company! I have worked at jb and me for 4 ½ years now and it has been such an amazing job. One of those jobs that you actually like going to work in the morning. I get to work for two of the best bosses and with an amazing group of women.
About 2 years ago, this group of women walked with me and my family through some of the hardest days of our journey. November of 2016 we welcomed our first born, a little baby girl! Earlier in my pregnancy we had learned that she had a genetic condition and to expect that she would not make it.
God gave us a miracle the night she was born and He blessed us with 45 minutes together as a family. But that same day, after those amazing 45 minutes, we also had to say goodbye to her. Our beautiful, sweet little girl, Faith, went to be with her maker far too soon.

After some time had passed and the fog of our grief began to lift, we began thinking of ways we could help other families going through what we went through. 1 in 4 women will experience pregnancy or infant loss. We wanted to be there for these families and bring God’s comfort to them during a time that can feel so impossible to navigate. We had such an amazing support system during this time but we
know some people don’t. And we wanted to help in any way we could.
So, we began thinking and dreaming of an organization and what that would look like. We decided to start a foundation called Faith45, to honor our little girl, Faith, and the 45 minutes we were able to spend with her. Faith45 exists to raise awareness and provide support for families who have experience
miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss.

There are two different ways Faith45 can help – Faith Boxes and One on One Mentoring.
Faith Boxes developed from a dream to provide resources to families. We pack and send Faith Boxes to families who are going through these hard times. Inside each Faith Box are resources that we found most helpful during our loss. This includes books, a children’s book, bracelets, a candle, a journal, Forget me Not flower seeds, and each box comes with The Children’s Storybook Bible. There are 3 boxes
available – one for miscarriage, one for stillbirth and one for infant loss.

The mentoring program was started to give women and families someone to talk to. Sometimes having someone to talk to who gets it, can be so helpful. Our mentors each have a story of their own and are passionate about walking with women and helping in any way they can. Instead of doing a grief support group, we decided to do a one on one relationship. Our mentors reach out 2-3 times a week via text, call
or email. Faith45 had been blossoming and growing right before our eyes and is such a God thing. It is a need we wish was not there and that families did not ever have to experience this loss. But with such a high statistic, we pray that God can use us to help his people who are hurting.
“When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn’t a word to describe them” President Reagan said this when he declared October as pregnancy and infant loss awareness month. At Faith45 we want to raise awareness and spread the word about our ministry and how it can help
families.
We are hosting a benefit concert on October 15 – Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. This will be a night to remember our children lost too soon and to gather as a community. It is not just for those that have lost, but for any one who has walked with someone, prayed for someone, knows someone who
has lost or just wants to support this community. It is a free event downtown Holland at Warehouse 6 (6 th and Columbia) and will be from 6:30 – 8:00pm on Monday night October 15. We would love to have you all join us!

Throughout the month of October, jb and me will have materials and resources available about Faith45 and our ministry. Stop in to see our Faith Boxes and resources we have available. We will also have Faith45 t-shirts available for sale.

On October 15th, the day of the Benefit Concert, jb and me will donate all proceeds of their swan creek candle sales to Faith 45!