Monday, July 27, 2015

6 Essential Ways to Support a Friend after Pregnancy Loss

6 Essential Ways to Support a Friend after Pregnancy Loss
Have you, a friend, or loved one suffered from pregnancy loss?  After serving for two years on a hospital high risk pregnancy floor, this article is a reflection upon my experience and the wisdom I garnered walking with women through it.  You'll find an excerpt below and a link to find the full article.  If you feel a pull in your heart to share it, please send it on. We're stronger together, especially walking hand in hand.  My love to you moms...

When I worked as a hospital chaplain, I was called into a variety of rooms and circumstances. Some of the most heartbreaking were the phone calls that I received from the Labor and Delivery ward in the event of pregnancy loss. I saw the broken heart and dreams in the parent's eyes, I sometimes saw the baby laying motionless, and I wept tears I believe Jesus would weep in those bitter moments.
I still remember one afternoon that I got a call from the Labor and Delivery nursing staff. They requested a chaplain because a mother was clutching her stillborn child and refusing to let it go. It had been some time, and the staff was getting concerned. I walked into the room to find the mother nestling her child in a swaddling blanket. The father was bent over the bed.
As I approached the bed, the infant under the blanket came into view. It was neither fully grown nor fully formed. There were hallowed sockets where eyes should have been. While the child did not have skin nor a defined skeleton, the mother clung to its weight. She pulsed with an unconditional, fierce, yet tender love for her child. It was a moment of insurmountable love and utter brokenness.
While God is a God of life and wholeness, our world knows death and brokenness too. We have a call as people of faith to come alongside those who are hurting, to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and to plant seeds of hope and light in the blackness of night. When the pain is all too real, there's a salve that's all too needed. Brokenness can be mended by intentional community, and community done in Jesus' name is that much stronger...

While stillbirths occur about one in every one hundred and sixty pregnancies in the United States, the rate of miscarriage is roughly one in every four known pregnancies. That means miscarriage will statistically touch our lives either personally or through someone we know.
Its prevalence demands that we know how to sensitively and effectively handle it. Yet what tends to happen is that it is not mentioned or addressed at all. People who are grieving are wary to share in their vulnerable state. Others are uncomfortable dealing with loss in general.
What’s needed are some simple guidelines for creating a safe place to share and usher in healing. For those of you who are looking to be that safe place, here are six ways that you can support a friend who is grieving pregnancy loss:
Click here for those ways on iBelieve.com.
XOXO

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Exciting News - The TODAY Show!

So last weekend I went to the #BlogHer15 conference and...it was AMAZING!

Highlights include meeting Author Heidi Murkoff of What to Expect When You're Expecting. She's exactly like you would expect (no pun intended) - the warm and informed girlfriend in real life like she comes across on your bookshelf every time you reference her book.


In addition to meeting some great people and learning a lot of cool stuff, like more about how to market the book that is brewing in my heart for you, I also got a chance to have some fun (which of course included embarrassing myself)...


And I'm excited to report that the fun continued after the conference when the Today Show asked me and my boys to participate in a live shoot in CT for air TOMORROW MORNING!  The segment is scheduled to air between 8:20-8:40 am tomorrow on NBC!  You won't see me, but you will see children doing an activity from my summer Today Show post - the seed spitting contest!



During the shoot, I got to meet Jenna Bush Hager, who is not only talented and great with children, but was completely graceful being nine months pregnant while filming in the 100 degree heat! That's one amazing mama!

She's in the black dress with daughter #2 on the way!

So stay tuned on all counts!  Thanks for your support :-)

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

The One Journey I Can't Do Without

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Have you ever felt "naked" traveling without your children?  I remember the first time I did it.  I was grateful do be without all of the fanfare, but I desperately missed a little hand in mine.

What does it mean to be a mom?  Sometimes the line between who we are and what we give to our children can get blurred...

If you have been missing your "pre-mom" self, if you need to relax and read a story with some humor only a mom can appreciate, or if you want some inspiration to treasure every little hand hold today, READ THIS.

That link will take you to my new article, "The One Journey I Can't Do Without."  You'll learn a bit about me too.  Thank you, Laundry Moms, for the opportunity to share with you this week!  

Please give me some LAUNDRY MOMS LOVE!

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

TODAY.com: 12 ways to give kids a throwback summer

Hi Mamas!

I hope you are enjoying your summer!  In honor of having our best summer yet (which I hope this is for everyone), I am reposting this link.  It's a compilation of 12 posts from TODAY.com - and I'm lovin' #10 on the list!

http://www.today.com/parents/12-ways-recreate-summers-your-childhood-t28501

If you're hungry for inspiration, understanding, or a little giggle, this list won't disappoint! Stay tuned next week for my new article, which will be appearing on The Laundry Moms.

Cheers,
Noelle

TODAY Video Clip