Wednesday, October 20, 2010

October 20: Bella's Minnesota Memorial: Part Two

Heaveno!

Well, what a glorious day.

Man, did we honor Bella today, or what? And when I mean 'we,' I mean not just those of us that participated in the ceremony, but you all as well. There were as many as 680 of you watching the memorial live over the web today! Together, WE honored Bella today. It was wonderful. Thank you for begin a part of it. It means so much to us that our daughter is interrupting the unending noise and clamor for attention that permeates our world and replacing it with hope, strength, inspiration, and FAITH. Now, needless to say, I'm pretty wiped. Tonight, here's a photo essay of the day through the hands and eyes of Erin Spector. Enjoy. I'll give you more words tomorrow, but for tonight, pictures say it all:

Okay, so that hasn't worked. The blog is having issues. I will post more tomorrow.

P.S. We'll put the youtube video up soon, but you can go to the ustream.tv site and watch the memorial there if you missed it! http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bella-s-memorial.

One day, Bella DID say, "Yeah I was born with this rare skin disease, but when they brought me home from the hospital, it went away."

God night.

18 comments:

  1. You should've taken the night off :)
    I loved being there (late)...beautifully done.
    I loved hearing from Ang. Wanted to jump into my computer and hug her, mom to mom. What an inspirational day. I wore my socks and truly entertained the idea of finding a flight to MN. Really.
    Love from home....

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  2. Hi Tim,

    I am in South Africa and am battling to connect to the URL I am trying to connect from my BB. Do you think that it will still be available at around 19:00 South African time it is now 13:44 South african time? Please know I am thinking of you all, all the time Bella has touched my heart so much and I cant be more thankful for it.

    Love you all greetings and blessings from the South African Sun :)

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  3. Oh so sorry for asking that question over the blog please excuse me having a moment of stupidness here.

    South Africa

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  4. heaveno!

    man, you did honor bella! what a heart-felt, beautiful, passionate tribute to sweet bella. thank you for allowing us the opportunity to participate via the web :)

    continuing to lift your entire family in prayer.

    god bless y'all!
    susan
    w-s, nc

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  5. Não tenho palavras que espresse a minha solariedade com voçês uma abraço enorme muita força para continuar com as vossas vidas a Bella era e é um verdadeiro anjo.um beijos para todos vós .liliana portugal

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  6. What a beautiful service! Thank you so much for allowing us to share in the beauty of this day to celebrate Bella! Blessings to you all, today...and always!

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  7. Tim,
    It was a ceremony so so beautiful ...

    I can not choose the best time, they were all magnificent.

    When Ang said it was like to be Bella's mother my mother's heart froze. What a great woman!

    Yes Ang Bella was perfect.

    I thought many times, this family is incredible ... yesterday I saw on internet that you guys are a very blessed family.

    I believe it was Bella who has chosen you to be his parents and little sister Ali to her.

    Yes Tim, Bella was very honored.

    I liked you to have near me, so i could get a hand in some of your wisdom, strength and faith.

    You guys are an inspiration.

    Bella is proud, your journey is not over ...

    Sweet kisses with all of you in my heart
    Sandra from Portugal


    PS: I love the music of Bella, how can I get it? It's beautiful.

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  8. Tim, Ang, and Ali...

    Wow! What a celebration of Bella's life we all witnessed yesterday. I am so grateful for having the opportunity to feel like I was "there," even if it was just virtually. It was truly a blessing, a Bella Blessing! I always knew that you all were deeply in love with each other, and yesterday, I was able to see that with my very own eyes. You all are very lucky to have each other. Bella was lucky to have you and Ang as parents and Ali as her big sister. She would be so proud of you all! As I'm sure many others have said, I am grieving the loss of Bella and I was unable to watch the Memorial Service without a dry eye, but it gave me much peace, and I am praying that it gave you all peace as well.

    Angelique, your words about your daughter were magnificant! The strength you displayed yesterday was so inspiring. I pray that one day I can be half the mother that you are to Ali and Bella. Yes, Bella was and always will be perfect in my eyes as well. What a sweet angel you have in Bella!

    Tim, I absolutely LOVED your Bella song and the Ripples in the Pond song! They both touched my heart. Your words of encouragement to all of your blog readers who are grieving the loss of YOUR daughter are perfect. You have shown strength that not many people can display. Thanks for sharing your inmost feelings with the world during this "ripple of the pond!"

    Again, thank you for allowing strangers into your life during a very intimate time. I am forever grateful for this opportunity!

    P.S. I loved the music that was sung by Ali and the end of the celebration of Bella's life. The Viking song and the Belly Button song were so cute and so fitting for the moment! Ali is by far the strongest 4 year old I have ever met! She rocks! Also, is there any way we can purchase Bella's song and the Ripples in the Pond song? I'd love to be able to purchase them!

    Thanks for giving me the chance to be apart of the Ringgold family! We are a COMMUNITY!!!

    God Bless,
    Megan from West Virginia

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  9. I just watched and it was beautiful. I was drawn into what Ang said having never heard her speak or write before. And I really felt as though I got to learn more about Bella as a baby...and not a baby with EB. She is greatly missed.

    Love from Dallas

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  10. Dear Ringgold family,,you are so right,it was a beautiful memorial,so befitting of sweet baby Bella.You are one STRONG family,,dont think I could have handled it so welland eloquently.And Angie,as a mom & grandma,,I certainly feel your pain.Your euolgy was amazingly strong,,stay strong as a family and love each other unconditionally,,ALWAYS.

    Love & hugz from Fla.
    Margieann

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  11. Shirlyn from LouisianaOctober 21, 2010 at 12:53 PM

    What a beautiful celebration of Bella! I had a chance to watch it last night. Your wife has an amazing way with words, as do you. Thanks for sharing these special moments with the world.

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  12. I sat down at my computer with a box of tissues handy to attend the service yesterday. I'm glad to say that I only needed one tissue, and that was just to dab my eyes a little. The service was a true celebration of Bella. More smiling than tears. The music was wonderful, and Angelique's words helped us all get to know your little girl as more than a child struggling with EB. Thank you for giving us the ability to share this part of Bella's journey with you.

    Angela Ulrich
    Dublin, Ohio

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  13. God afternoon! I'm a wimp, I know, but am having to watch Bella's memorial in pieces. Not because I'm sad for her, but as a parent, I know how your hearts are breaking. So I'll get through it. Angelique is an AMAZING woman and the perfect mother for both Bella and Ali. God always has a plan, and He planned from the beginning to put Ang with those sweet girls.

    Thank you SO much for sharing your lives with us - and for allowing us to be a part of something that you could easily have wanted to be a private thing. (We all would have understood that, by the way, but are SO glad you wanted us to "be there!")

    I babble. I'm sorry. I'm still praying. And love you all from TX!

    Laura

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  14. What a beautiful service for Bella. Im a long time reader who has followed Bellas story from the beginning and will continue to follow Bellas story.

    Thank you for sharing this special day with all of us.

    Praying as always!
    Jessica
    CA

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  15. Lynne, Bob, Jack and BenOctober 21, 2010 at 3:47 PM

    Such a loving tribute for Bella. Angelique, you are amazing. As so many have said, you make us all want to be better and more loving moms.

    You know how video sometimes makes background elements stand out? The most clear and prominent image throughout the service was a lone sunflower, bright and full of joy, just like our Bella.

    Thanks for sharing it with all of us.

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  16. Bellas memorial...it was simply beautiful. We made it home safely and the first thing I needed to do was check in. I am so glad that we could be part of the day and I had the opportunity to meet you, Ang, Ali and Ang's mom (let her know she does rock and what a pleasure it was to meet her and speak with her).

    Sending you all my love and sweet kisses for Ali.

    Denise, WI

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  17. Finally had a chance to sit down and watch. It's been a really rough week for me at work, and being able to watch Bella's Memorial was just what I needed to get myself back on track. Once again, reminding me to live each day for the fullest.

    All of the music was beautiful, I don't know how you all got through it. I have a feeling that I'll be singing Bella's song in my sleep tonight.

    I wonder if there's a way to get Bella's song up on iTunes - and have profits go towards PUCK (or some other charity...) Just a thought.

    Jess
    Chicago, IL

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  18. It was such a beautiful service. I could feel Bella smiling down on all of us.

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