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Bonus Episode - Wave of Light 2022


This is a special bonus episode highlighting the program from the Wave of Light event that Bridget's Cradles hosted in Wichita, Kansas on October 15, 2022, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. In this episode, we shared:

  • The program and announcements from our Wave of Light 2022 event

  • Scott Evans' remarks and Ashley Opliger's speech and prayer from event

  • A thank you to our generous corporate and memorial sponsors

  • The Shine Their Light Award Winners' speech (Jon and Kelcey Crone, parents to David Bruce Crone in Heaven)

  • Reading of Names of Babies in Heaven (for families that registered/attended or sponsored the event)

You can download a digital copy of our event program below:

 

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MEET OUR HOST


Ashley Opliger is the Executive Director of Bridget's Cradles, a nonprofit organization based in Wichita, Kansas that donates cradles to over 1,300 hospitals in all 50 states and comforts over 26,000 bereaved families a year.


Ashley is married to Matt and they have three children: Bridget (in Heaven), and two sons. She is a follower of Christ who desires to share the hope of Heaven with families grieving the loss of a baby.


Connect with Ashley:

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Instagram @ashleyopliger

Pinterest /ashleyopliger


Follow Bridget’s Cradles:

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Instagram @bridgetscradles

Pinterest /bridgetscradles


Follow Cradled in Hope Podcast:

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Bonus Episode - Wave of Light 2022


Ashley Opliger: [00:00:00] You’re listening to the Cradled in Hope Podcast on the Edifi Podcast Network. I’m your host, Ashley Opliger. I’m a wife, mom, and follower of Christ who founded Bridget’s Cradles, a nonprofit ministry in memory of my daughter, Bridget, who was stillborn at 24 weeks.


Cradled in Hope is a Gospel-focused podcast for grieving moms to find comfort, hope, and healing after the loss of a baby. We want this to be a safe place for your broken heart to land.


Here, we are going to trust God’s promise to heal our hearts, restore our joy, and use our grief for good. With faith in Jesus and eyes fixed on Heaven, we do not have to grieve without hope. We believe that Jesus cradles us in hope while He cradles our babies in Heaven.


Welcome to the Cradled in Hope Podcast.


Ashley Opliger: [00:00:52] Hello and welcome to the special Bonus Episode for Wave of Light 2022. On October 15th, Pregnancy And Infant Loss Remembrance Day, Bridget's Cradles hosted a community candlelight vigil in Wichita, Kansas at Beech Lake in memory of our babies in Heaven. We were so blessed to meet so many of you and give you a big hug at the event, and it was an honor to walk through the rows of twinkling lights together in remembrance of our babies in Heaven.


I know many of you also live out of state and participated in the Wave of Light from your own homes all across the country. So whether you joined us in person in Wichita, or from afar with your candle burning bright for your baby, we hope you know that we were saying prayers for you and remembering your babies in Heaven with you.


The Wave of Light event in Wichita was a sacred time of remembering our babies and celebrating the hope that we have to see them again in Heaven through faith in Jesus. For this episode, we are going to share the program from the event as well as a Reading of Names of all the babies in Heaven whose parents either registered, attended, or sponsored the event.


Let's listen now to the audio recording from the event starting with our emcee Scott Evans’ opening remarks.


Scott Evans: [00:02:04] Beautiful night, isn't it? I don't know if it could be more perfect; for me this is perfect weather, and so thank you all for coming this evening. I know each of you has a story that's near and dear to your heart, so thank you for coming.


If you look around, there are people who are in similar shoes, who can empathize with what you're going through and what you've gone through, so thank you very much. My name is Scott Evans. I currently work for Wesley Healthcare, but I first came across Ashley and her family and Bridget's Cradles, I can't tell you how many years ago.


It's been several years ago, back when I worked at [KWCH] Channel 12, became aware of the work that she was doing and her story. And through some opportunities and the DeVaughn James Helping Hand, we were able to give her some money because of the work that she and her team are doing to help families, not just in the Wichita area, but across the country.


And I'll share some of those stats with you here in a bit and Ashley likely will as well. But when I met with Ashley, I told her about my sister, who died at 24 days old. She'd be 21 years old this year if she lived, and Ashley was kind enough, I think her light cluster is just right over there. Sarah Jane Evans is my sister, who lived 24 days and that in and of itself was a miracle.


So it's an honor for me to be here this evening and to have Ashley ask me to emcee it. Without further ado, I want to turn this over to Bridget's mother. Ashley Opliger.


Ashley Opliger: [00:03:36] Thank you so much, Scott.


Welcome to Wichita Wave of Light 2022, and we say that this is the event that we wish no one had to come to. We wish we didn't have to plan this event and have you all gathered here today. But we believe that grieving together is so much better than grieving alone, because the pain of losing a baby can be incredibly isolating and lonely.


And so just look around you, knowing that there are other families and parents who understand the pain. You don't have to grieve alone and you don't have to grieve without hope.


So why do we do this event every year? Because we want to honor the lives of our babies in Heaven and give everyone a night to remember them and reflect on their lives, to celebrate our babies who are made in the image of God.


And we believe that their lives matter, and so we also want to point you to hope, to the hope of Heaven, that although our babies have died on earth, that they are alive in Heaven and that we will get to see them again through faith in Jesus.


And so you'll see the word HOPE at the entrance and over here by the water, and everything we do hinges on that word HOPE, because we believe that we have the opportunity to see our babies again, and we want to remember that.


And so later on as we go through the lights, there'll be a song that we play and it's called the Hymn of Heaven. And that's our theme for tonight, is focusing on Heaven, that we can grieve with hope. And so I'm going to start us in prayer and then share some announcements.


Lord Jesus, we come to You in prayer on this beautiful night in memory of our babies in Heaven. We know You are cradling them in Your arms as You cradle us in hope on earth.


Lord, we lift up our prayers and tears to You. We miss our babies and grieve for the memories we had hoped to make with them on earth. We wanted nothing more than to raise them, know them, kiss them, and love them. Our hearts ache at the separation that their death has caused. We long for the day we will be together again.


Thank you, Jesus, that You have made a way for us to see our babies again. Through faith in You, we can see and hold our babies again. We will not be separated forever. We rejoice in the hope of Heaven and long for the eternity that is coming. We will get to spend thousands and thousands of years with You and our babies in a good and perfect Paradise.


You are coming back for us. You are coming to earth again. We eagerly await Your return.

Jesus, we ask for You to give us peace and comfort in our time of pain and grief. Wipe away our tears and hold us in our sorrow. Remind us that we are not alone and that You have promised to never leave or forsake us. You will walk this journey with us and we have a community of support to surround us too.


Keep our eyes fixed on You. Fill our hearts with the hope of Heaven. Let us remember that we are citizens of Heaven and that You are preparing an eternal home for us. Our babies are alive and well, living in Y0ur presence in a place without sin and brokenness. You are taking good care of them. Send them all our love as we shine their lights tonight.


Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins and giving us the best gift of salvation. We love You, Lord, and thank You for who You are. Let us honor You and our babies in Heaven with our lives. In Your holy Name, amen.


Ashley Opliger [00:07:00] During this time, we listened to the song I Will Carry You by Selah and the Hymn of Heaven by Phil Wickham, and walked through the rows of 50,000 pink, blue, and white lights with our candles on and shining toward Heaven.


Afterwards, we headed down to the lake to release our lanterns while listening to our baby's names read one by one. We'd like to now share the reading of the names from the event.


Scott Evans: [00:07:30]

  • 4 Etheridge Babies

  • 5 Hymon Angel Babies

  • Abigail Edgerton

  • "Abundynce Faith Thomas

  • Joyana Reign Thomas"

  • Ada Grace Schuette and her Sibling in Heaven

  • Adah Dawn Wilmott

  • Addison Charlotte Murphy

  • Alexander James "AJ" Paugh

  • Alexander Toman

  • Allie Stout

  • Anahi Solorzano

  • Anara Jack Acevedo Blacksten

  • Andrew Jaax & Jaax Babies

  • Angel Carter

  • Angel Garay-Arellano

  • Annalise Coda

  • Ashlynn Marie Akin Davis

  • Atlas Wicket Ostby

  • Avery Ryan Gross

  • Babies of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cheney

  • Baby H #1

  • Baby H #2

  • Baby Hazelton

  • Baby Johnson

  • Baby Montidoro

  • Baby Reese

  • Baby Wilson

  • Baby Witham

  • Banks Clifford Corwin

  • Beau Alan Baus

  • Bennett Farney

  • Bezdek Twin A

  • Bezdek Twin B

  • Bridget Faith Opliger

  • Brooklyn Donyelle Chilcott

  • Brylyn Albright

  • Carmelo Noe Garcia

  • Carrion Jones

  • Louis Wade Jones

  • Chandler Adrian Brault

  • Marlee Lynn Brault

  • Natalee Lynn Brault

  • Cooper Dean Anderson and Baby Anderson

  • Crystal Marie Wright

  • Dakota Allen Kelly

  • David Bruce Crone

  • Daxton Titus Boyd

  • Desi Johnson

  • Eliana Rose Beresford

  • Ellowyn Grace Marie Singer

  • Zoey Mae Singer

  • Emersyn Kay Najera

  • Kollyn Scott Reide Cozens

  • Emma Jane Cunningham

  • Ethan Lee Tague

  • Eva Grace Price-Coulter and her three Siblings in Heaven

  • Ezekiel Elijah Hill and Baby Hill

  • Finley Jo

  • Elara Nicole

  • Laina June

  • Gabriel Mason Broderick

  • Gianna Marie Enriquez

  • Grace Lynn Crippen

  • Elijah Joseph Crippen

  • Gideon Ray Crippen

  • Gracie Mae

  • McKayla Dawn

  • Haddie Ann Molhoek

  • Harrison Clark and Clark Baby #5

  • Hattie Ann Jurey

  • Hazel Rae Ramage

  • Hudson Tait Sherwood

  • Imais King Owens

  • Irona Mikelle Cliver aka Baby Mickey

  • Isaac Allyn Kaufman

  • Isidore Pfeifer

  • Jack Edward Clayton Sones

  • Jack Monroe Siegrist

  • Jackson James Schiefelbein

  • Jackson Ronald Dawkins

  • Jaelynn Anell Nedd, Baby Boy Nedd, and Baby Boy Nedd

  • James Parker Kaiser V

  • James Paul and Jeremiah

  • Jennifer Lily Mailloux

  • Joey Wekamp

  • Johnson Babies

  • Jordan William Hall

  • Jude Mark Gudenkauf

  • Jude Samuel Shook

  • Kade David Lauer

  • Keenan Luis Montez

  • Kennedy

  • Kollyn Scott Reide Cozens

  • Emerson Kay

  • Krew Archer Koob

  • Rayce Koob

  • Landyn Hope Adams

  • Lane Tucker Burns

  • Burns Babies

  • Lark May Brazil

  • Lawson Aiden Swenson-Daigle

  • Atlas Wicket Ostby

  • Liam Roy Baker

  • Lili Danielle Hurst

  • Williamina Snowbarger

  • Enoch Snowbarger

  • Lottie Sandusky

  • Micah Sandusky

  • Lucas Arie

  • Judah Nemitz

  • Talitha Nemitz

  • Gideon Nemitz

  • Asrael Hope Nemitz

  • Mackenzly Rose Lohmeyer

  • Madelyn Thomas

  • Marissa Jo Stuhlsatz

  • Charlotte Marie Stuhlsatz

  • Markley Babies

  • Mary-Anne Amelia Rittel

  • Matias and Renata

  • McKenna Rose

  • Mia Collette

  • Micaela Rae Cooper

  • Mitchell Babies

  • Molly Elizabeth

  • Ava Marie

  • Martha Rose

  • John Raphael

  • Morgan Kayla Williams

  • Chase Lawrence Williams

  • Natalie Ann Rader

  • Noelle Margaret Hohman

  • Nolan Bryce Holverson

  • Omari Santiago Garcia

  • Parker

  • Patton Babies

  • Pax Olds

  • Payne Babies

  • Payton Elizabeth Phillips

  • Phoenix Grey Bolyard

  • Quinton Nicholson

  • Ray Duvale Farthing

  • Aaron Ron Farthing

  • Robinson Babies

  • Call Baby

  • Richard and John Kinya Little

  • Angels LillyAnne, Hope, and Serenity

  • Rosa Maria Hernandez Estupinan

  • Ryker Goering

  • Rylee Jordan

  • Sam and Sprout

  • Sarah Evelyn Willis

  • Sarah Jane Evans

  • Shyenne Rose Posch

  • Skye March

  • Sloan Carolina Estes

  • Sloane Eloise Steinhilpert

  • Sophie Christine Hanson

  • Spencer John Chase

  • Spencer Neil Vetter

  • Grady Grant Vetter

  • Tate Lee Fast

  • Taylor Anne Childs

  • Timber Kai Pavlacka

  • Titan and Ivy

  • Titus Solomon Frank and 6 Frank Babies

  • Vince Cruze Garcia

  • William Myron Hilligas and Siblings

  • Willow, Maple, and Aspen Pope

  • Young Babies

Ashley Opliger: [00:17:25]


Dear Jesus, thank You for our precious babies in Heaven; we know You are holding them in Your arms. Thank You for the beautiful night on October 15th that You gave us to remember and celebrate the lives of our children. We look forward with hope for the day when we are reunited with them.


For everyone listening, we pray this special Bonus Episode for Wave of Light 2022 brings you hope and comfort.


I want to thank our sponsors one more time for their generous support in making Wave of Light truly a beautiful night of remembrance. Thank you all for listening to this episode. God bless you and see you next year on October 15th, 2023.


Ashley Opliger: [00:18:04] Thank you for listening to the Cradled in Hope Podcast on the Edifi Podcast Network. We pray that you found hope & healing in today’s episode.


Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes when they release on the 1st and 15th of every month. You can also find this episode’s show notes and a full transcript on our website at bridgetscradles.com/podcast.


There you can also download a free PDF for each episode, called the Hope Guide, which is filled with notes, Scripture, links, discussion questions, and so much more. Be sure to leave your email address so that we can keep you updated on podcast episodes, upcoming support groups, and other hope-filled resources.


If you’re interested in volunteering or donating to Bridget’s Cradles in memory of a baby in Heaven, you can find information on our website on how you can get involved and spread hope to other grieving families.


One way you can help is by leaving a review of this podcast on iTunes [or the Apple Podcasts app]. Consider the minute of your time as a way YOU can personally share the hope that you’ve found here with another mom whose heart is broken and needs healing.


Thank you so much for listening and sharing. Until next time, we will be praying for you. And remember, as Jesus cradles our babies in Heaven, He cradles us in hope. Though we may grieve, we do not grieve without hope.


Cradled in Hope is part of the Edifi Podcast Network, a collection of faith-inspiring podcasts on Edifi, the world’s most powerful Christian podcasting app. To listen to Cradled in Hope and find other podcasts by leading Christian voices, download the Edifi app in the Apple and Google Play stores or online at edifi.app. Thank you so much for listening.




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