ideas for completion of a ritual

[Seawen]

here's the back story: I have this little buddha woman that I use as my focus point in the kitchen window sill. When I was pregnant with my littlest dd I placed a bead in her hands (glued it in actually as I was having trouble staying pregnant. LOL) When I was 39 weeks with my dd I gentle waterbirthed the bead off the buddha (dissolved the glue). Easy gentle healthy birth of dd followed. I then moved the bead into the arms of another little mommy statue.

Flash forward to the current problem. My brother and SIL lost a baby at 32 weeks a few years ago. My brother wanted to try again. My SIL did not so they decided to not decide anything and wound up pregnant with twins.

I asked my SIL if she wanted to borrow the buddha and explained what I had done for my dd to help me focus on good things and she said, "why don't you do it for me". So I did right up to glueing in the 2 little beads and waterbirthing them.

We now (5days ago) have 2 new healthy family members and here's the problem:

What do I do with the 2 beads that represent her girls? String them on a necklace and gift them to her? Putting them in a special box seems little like a coffin...It seems strange to separate them at all from the mommy buddha... but I know my SIL does not want the buddha or another little statue.

I'd like to free the statue up for other intentions.

I want to think of the right thing to do.

So any ideas?

[JTA Mom]

Hmmm, maybe something crafty? Did your SIL have girls/boys/one of each?

For girls, I would get 2 of those pre-made small fabric bows that are put in one's hair(color of your choice) and then sew a bead onto the middle part of each. Then I'd slip/sew the bow on to a small stuffed animal. For a boy, you could do the same or maybe look for a little bow-tie & sew the bead on the middle of that instead? I'd also type up a short story of the history of the beads & put a copy of it in with them. That way the beads will go on to the children.

Another idea: if you are able to, what about getting a seashell & gluing the two beads on it, & stringing it, so momma can wear it? If she's not the earthy type, you can find wire "cages" (something like this) & pop both beads in there, string it on a nice chain or fabric cord. Write a short story to go along with the history of the beads & send it to the mom.

Ami

[SwanValkyrie]

I also like the idea of a shell, maybe you could just set a shell next to the good mother and place the beads inside. Then they are still there with her but you can use the statue for other things.

[MayBaby2007]

Wow, Seawen. The buddha/bead idea is very creative. I love that.

An idea for the beads: Type a nice poem or prayer to the children and print it on pretty paper. Then SIL could frame and hang it. Glue the bead(s) in the center--either do one for both beads or 2 separate ones. I have a poem of dd. It spells out her first and middle name vertically and a sentance is written starting with each letter of her name. Not too creative--but I could see that with the twins and have the bead glued to the top.