Thursday, February 12, 2009

A Custom Give Away and Letter To Me Before I Became A Mom


Read this post all the way through to find out how you can win a bookmark like the one pictured above.

Dear Thirty-Year-Old Me,


In two weeks, you will finally meet that precious baby girl nestled inside you. Yes, your instinct is correct, she will arrive a week early even though the consensus from your family and friends is that all baby girls come late. I know that the barrage unsolicited advice weighs heavy on your heart elevating seemingly inextinguishable levels of fear. People mean well. And the reason why there is so much differing advice from so many is simply because one way does not work for everyone.


You are familiar with the term Postpartum Depression (PPD), but you don't quite understand what it means. Not many people do and the name alone perpetuates confusion. In reality, PPD is just one type of a Perinatal Mood Disorder, and pregnant women can be effected as well. You are one of those pregnant women, and you aren't feeling depressed, but you are experiencing extreme anxiety and at the same time are being held captive by thoughts that do not seem to be a part of you.


Let me make a few things perfectly clear. You are not crazy. You are not a monster. And you are not alone. You. Are. Not. Alone. Please talk to your midwife about your symptoms. She won't try to take your baby, she won't doubt your love for your baby, and she won't label you an unfit mother. She will want to help you. She will understand. And as much as it pains me to write this, there won't be many who will understand you...not in 2004. But there is support available for you. And one day, you will lend your voice to offer comfort to those who will walk in your shoes.


So when your pink and sweet little girl comes into the world, be gentle with yourself. Do not let shame keep you from taking the medication you need to get well. Love that little baby with the best of your ability, but quickly accept the truth that you cannot be everything to her. It's not your job to be...that job belongs to her Creator, the Almighty God. And He, dear one, chose you to be her mother. Please read that line again and again until it sinks deep into your marrow. You were chosen. And since He does not make mistakes, trust that He will be with you as you mother. Unclasp the fists that clench guilt and fear, and cling to the hem of Christ's garment. He will give you His strength, His love, His patience, and His resolve. And because of Him, you will make it.


With love,


The mother of a five-year-old spunky girl and an almost two-year-old mellow fellow

(AKA – You at age 35)

Ephesians 1:16-20 (New Living Translation)

I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty

power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

HOW TO WIN ONE OF THESE:


Thank you for reading my series of letters. As you know, in each letter I encouraged my younger self to spend more time in God's word. That is why today, Amy Humphrey from U*R* Unique is giving a way a free custom made bookmark to one of you. Here is how you can win.


For 1 entry – leave a comment on this post


Would you like more than one chance? I thought so.... Now, this is going to require you to comment more than once....not because I'm in desperate need for big comment numbers, but because it's the easiest way my math deficient brain knows how to do this. I will have a number randomly drawn when the contest is over. So if the number is 47, the person who left comment 47 will be the winner.

To make commenting easy for you, I am allowing anonymous comments and taking away the word verification system....JUST FOR THIS CONTEST. If you do leave an annon. comment, be sure to leave your blog link or an e-mail address or else I cannot let you know if you win.

For more chances to win, leave me comment for each of the things you do or have done. If 100 or more comments are entered, I will purchase an additional bookmark from Amy and there will be 2 winners instead of one.


  • Commented on the advice letter to 15yr old me

  • Commented on the advice letter to 20yr old me

  • Commented on the advice letter to 25 yr old me

  • Visit Amy's site and tell me the name of your favorite item

  • Purchase something from Amy's site and leave me 5 additional comments

  • Participate in Kristen's SWAK carnival

  • Twitter this post

  • Link to this post on your Facebook or Myspace page (I make it very easy for you to do this)

  • Write your own advice letters to yourself

  • Post your picture on my non traditional blogroll

  • Subscribe to this blog, and of course, let me know that you have done so in the comment section

  • Add the Becoming Me button to your site

  • Finally, write a post about this contest linking to this post


Phew..that's a lot of chances. This contest is open until 8 p.m. On Sunday, Feb. 15th. Winner(s) will be announced on Monday, February 16th. You do not need to have a blog to be eligible to win.





60 comments:

Mel said...

Wow i am first can't even believe that...let me tell you that your letters to yourself well they have touched me deeply and profoundly.

You are a gift.

Mel said...

By the way your button is on my site

and my Monday post was a letter to myself. :)

Elizabeth said...

I loved reading this letter. I really must write one to myself. To the 18-year-old me pacing back and forth with butterflies fluttering just minutes before "I do."

Once again, you made me cry :)

Gretchen said...

This is so precious to me because I had ppd following my daughter's birth. And several months later, was situationally depressed because my mom died. It's such a lonely place. Thanks for letting your younger self know that peace will come.

Sarah@Life in the Parsonage said...

Now I think you should write a letter to yourself today and see what that says...maybe there's wisdom for all of us in the here and now. Great writing my friend!

MaryBeth said...

I have really loved reading all the letters in this series... you are an amazingly insightful person and wonderful writer!

Anonymous said...

Another great letter! I know someone personally that suffered from PPD after her son was born. She recognized it quickly and received help. She is doing great now!

Great giveaway!

Larie Carlice Proverbs 27:19 said...

Angela, once again you have encouraged me and I am sure many others. Thank you for being so open. I really hope that your daughter is blessed by these letters and that she puts all she learns from them into practice.

smooches,
Larie

Larie Carlice Proverbs 27:19 said...

Oh yeah, your button is on my blog!

smooches,
Larie

Tara said...

Wow. This has left me in tears. It is beautiful. When I first suffered from PPD, I wish I had had a letter like this to read. Fortunately, I was surrounded by amazing friends and a husband who took care of me so well.

Denise said...

Your letters are so awesome my friend.

He & Me + 3 said...

Loved that letters. What a neat idea they all were. The book marks are beautiful too.

Ronel said...

I enjoyed all the letters.

Upstatemamma said...

That is a beautiful letter. It is always fun to look back on what we didn't know years ago.

A Bite of Country Cupcakes said...

Beautiful and poignant!

Mercy said...

I love your post if only we had a time machine. I would not change everything but boy would I change some things.

The Abbott Family said...

I love how open you are not only to yourself, but also to all of us who read it. You have touched me, and are an encouragement to me. Thanks for allowing the Lord to work in your life and being willing to share it.

Tamara said...

Thankyou for sharing your heart. Sometimes you may never know how much it touches someone. Thank you!

Lora said...

I love the idea of letters to self! I actually did this with my students several years ago--although backwards. My 8th graders wrote to their high school graduating selves. I promised to mail them their senior year...which means I need to dig out some letters. They graduate THIS year!

I may have to join your bandwagon...although I'm not quite at the same point--not married, no children. However, life happens even there :0)

I love your blog--I'm following regardless of giveaways!

Penny said...

What an amazing letter -- and cool prizes, too! =)

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful, so very much the letter I would write as well.

Anonymous said...

OK, I think I'm interpreting this correctly...I commented on your letter to the 15 year old you.

Anonymous said...

...and commented on the letter to the 20 year old you.

Anonymous said...

...and commented on the letter to the 25 year old you.

Anonymous said...

Hmm, so many beautiful things on Amy's site. I love the blue Sodalite necklace. I have way too many blue necklaces though. But it's so PRETTY!

Anonymous said...

And...another comment because I've written my own advice letters to myself.

Anonymous said...

And, finally, a post because I subscribe to you in Google reader. (which has made keeping up with you a LOT easier!)

Shawna Lee said...

Can you write a letter to the 38 year old me?? Love you!!

Ellen G said...

What a great and interesting series of letters. Do you plan on gifting them to your daughter one day? What a great help to her they may be!

Anonymous said...

I love how you share your heart in an effort to prevent someone else from feeling alone, undeserving, incapable. Beautiful.

a Tonggu Momma said...

This is my favorite of all of your letters. I didn't have ppd, but I did struggle with post-adoption blues. And it was rough. What a healing thing - to write to yourself. Thanks.

And no give-away for me (although I'm tempted because it's gorgeous!) - if I win, please pass it on to the person who comments beneath me. :)

Vixbil said...

Ok, I am now crying. Just beautiful
xx

Anonymous said...

I just sent you an email.

Anonymous said...

I commented on the 20 year post.

Anonymous said...

I commented on the 25 year post.

Anonymous said...

I participated in the SWAK carnival.

http://afuturepastorswife.blogspot.com/2009/02/you-me.html

Anonymous said...

I wrote a letter to myself.

http://afuturepastorswife.blogspot.com/2009/02/old-age-wisdom.html

Anonymous said...

I subscribe via Google reader.

There. I think that's everything. :) Thanks for doing this!

Unknown said...

Touching letter, Angela. What a great idea...a way to commemorate your life and remind yourself of God's faithfulness.

Claremont First Ward said...

I think these retrospective letters are wonderful. Wish we had them at the time we were going through obstacles! As always, you amaze me!

Anonymous said...

Those bookmarks are lovely! And so were your letters. ;)

sister sheri said...

Oh how I wish I would've had this letter to read during my pregnancy... which was in that year that Prince kept singing about...

sister sheri said...

Left a message for the teenager...

sister sheri said...

Left a message for the 20's gal...

sister sheri said...

Left a comment to the new bride...

sister sheri said...

I am on your non traditional blog roll...

sister sheri said...

I subscribe to your blog via bloglines... gee I hope all these comments are "legal"!

Anonymous said...

What a beautifully written letter. I'm going back now to scroll down and read the others.

Angie said...

What a wonderful idea of writing to yourself. Profound and surely cathartic. I must do this some day.

Lovely bookmarks.

Wendi@EveryDayMiracles said...

Angela,
I knew this would be a wonderful letter. Having read your posts on ppd before, I knew you this would be powerful. It was.

Wonderful!

Missy said...

Oh, I loved that letter. I had PPD with two of my kids, but even I hadn't heard of the one while you are still pregnant one. I am one of the weird ones who gets normal when pregnant!! Actually I read that makes sense, if you have bad PMS (which I do) then it is because your hormones are low, so for me, pg makes me "normal". I have been so hormonally nutty lately I have been wanting to get pregnant again just so I could feel normal!

Ok, that was a way rambling comment. Anyway, beautiful post!

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

Oh, how I loved your letter on PPD. Thanks for sharing.

Lindsay said...

Keep writing. Keep writing. Keep writing.

God is using you to speak to the hearts and souls of many, many women!!

Thank you for following your heart and writing.

Unknown said...

Loved the openess and honesty of this post. It really touched my heart. Thanks for sharing.

Misty said...

angela, i am not entering your contest by commenting, but i was so inspired by this series of letters to your younger selves that i endeavored to do my own. wow, pretty therapeutic. thanks so much for sharing with us.

Mrs. H said...

Beautiful letters! I enjoy your blog so much. So inspirational! Thank you!

Mrs. H said...

I was already a "follower" does that count :)?

Joy Junktion said...

Guess I missed the contest.
I have been away attempting to Adjust to my new life.
Just wanted to stop by and say Hi!

Lisa Spence said...

I know I'm too late for the giveaway, but I wanted to say these letters are beautifully expressed. Oh, for the wisdom of today in our yesterdays!

Ellen G said...

I signed up for your non-traditional blog-roll! Yeah!

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