Do you have iTunes or a similar program where you can design your own playlist of favorite songs?

Something that I did while I was sick was to put together a playlist of songs that encouraged me.  On days when I thought I was not sure I make it through, I’d play this list or CD that I made from it, and be encouraged that I was not the only one and that God knew. 

As a musician, music speaks to my heart and soul very easily.  It can calm me and motivate me very easily.  Even if you are not a musician, I think music speaks to everyone.  God, as the Creator of everything, created music!

Here are a list of songs I find very encouraging:

• Praise You in the Storm by Casting Crowns
• Cry Out to Jesus by Third Day
• If You Want Me To by Ginny Owens
• It Is Well – (I love the version sung by Shane and Shane
• Be Near by Shane and Shane
• Strong Tower by Kutless
• Never Alone by Barlow Girl
• Breathe on Me by Todd Fields, and Christy & Nathan Nockels

There is another by Bethany Dillon but I cannot think of the title.  What are some of your favorite songs that encourage you when you are down?  What music do you play?

Encouragement, Self-care & Healing, Videos & Music

Need a new idea?  Something different to do?

When in this pit of depression, it is so hard to get motivated to do anything – to get out, to do something special with our children, much less take a shower!  Trust me, I know.

But why don’t you promise yourself to do one thing special with child(ren) today?  Just one thing, small steps.  If you have an older child(ren), let them help you make cookies, or take them outside.  If you have a baby, snuggle with them for a few minutes longer than usual and read him or her a book. 

It will get easier each day.  It takes a step at a time to get out of the valley.

Self-care & Healing

So the forums don’t work.  Blank page.  Fun stuff.  *sigh* 

We’re working on it, but it takes time, particularly when you have a couple of kiddos wrapped around your ankles.  So sorry! 

Isn’t it so frustrating when you want something to work, oh, right about NOW and it just doesn’t go your way?  I know I tend to get so incredibly irritated at things like that and then there goes my anger level through the roof.

So how do we head that off?  How do we decompress?  Any ideas?

Here are things that have worked for me, and sometimes its ALL of them at once:

• Walk. Away. Now.
• Take a deep breath, maybe two, three.
• Say a favorite Scripture passage.
• Turn on some of my favorite music.
• Hugging my children instead of venting my frustrations on them.  It’s not fair to vent on them.
• If you need some time by yourself, put your child(ren) in his or her crib/room.  They will be fine for about a few minutes so you can get yourself together and calm down.
• I like to make myself some hot tea and read my Bible or a good book.  Its a relaxation routine I have.  Use what works for you.
• Call a friend.
• Count my blessings.  Really.  Write them out, praise God for the blessings you do have.  I know how hard it is when going through PPD, I really do.  But it is something that helps.  Praise Him in the storm.
• If it happens too often and you feel it is intervening with everyday life or you may become a danger to yourself or your children, seek medical help immediately. 

Self-care & Healing

Proverbs 27:9
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.

On the worst of my days of PPD, I wanted to crawl in hole, bury my head, and not come out for awhile.  I would not answer the phone, answer emails, or carry on long conversations.  I wanted to retreat from the world.  It is easy to do, believe me, I know! 

But in order to get better, it is necessary to take baby steps to get out there and those baby steps of mine were helped along by my girlfriends.  Oh, what a blessing they were to me! 

• Caring for me and my baby when I was not sure what to do next, when I had no confidence in my mothering abilities, and when I had questions. 
• Taking me out for dinner, dessert, coffee, movies, walks, and encouragement to go back to church.
• Encouraging me that I was doing a great job as a mom and that they could clearly see the improvements in my mental health even when I could not.
• Just listening.
• Laughing with me.
• Letting me learn what is normal in parenting.
• Praying for me and with me.
• Never telling me I was doing anything wrong or never had enough faith.  I love them for that!

The list could go on and on!  Our girlfriends are precious and I think its absolutely necessary to reach out to them and let them know they are needed and to let them help you.  If you are a girlfriend, the suggestions above are great ways to help out.   Reach out, be persistent.  We are not meant to walk this life alone, and this includes PPD.

Self-care & Healing

I don’t know about you, but I love this fall weather.  The sunshine, the cooler temperature, the fresh breezes…it has been so refreshing for me to take my children outside for a walk around the neighborhood.   The benefits to a hurting soul and body and heart are tremendous!  

The sunshine raises our spirits, the exercise helps our bodies and helps to feel physically better, and ultimately emotionally better.  The fresh breeze is a wonderful reminder that the Holy Spirit is always there – never seen but always felt.  I love that.  The sunshine on my face is a reminder of my God, His glory outshines the sun and that storms always pass. 

So, today, I challenge you to get out there – go for a walk.  Even if its just for a short one down your driveway and around your yard.  Sometimes the smallest steps are the hardest.  But I promise you that He is walking with you.

Self-care & Healing

I think I am going to expand a bit upon last week’s tip of the week about journaling.  When PPD first hit me, I found it difficult to even look at my son.  My illogical brain couldn’t get past the fact that somehow he did this to me, made me feel this way, even though my logical brain knew that was not the case.  I remember one counseling session where the therapist suggested I think about what makes me smile, those things about my son that make me happy.  What does he smell like?  What does his hair feel like?  How does it feel when he smiles at you? 

So my challenge to you this week is this:  whether in a comment, on a personal blog, or in your own personal journal, just write about your baby?  What do you love about him/her?  What is your favorite feature?  What do they do that makes you laugh?  What are your sweetest moments?

Self-care & Healing

Galatians 6:2 (New International Version)

Self-care & Healing

Hi, ladies!  A friend of mine reminded me of this great exercise in a recent online message board conversation we were having and it was also discussed in this post at life.after.baby blog.  I have recently started journaling again as part of the assignment for a Bible study I am in the midst and I have found that I am really enjoying it.  Sometimes it is random thoughts, venting, rambling…sometimes it is more of a prayer or plea for help…sometimes its a safe place to put into words what I have a hard time describing otherwise. 

Go pick up a cheap notebook, journal your heart out – and if it makes you feel better, shred the pages when you are done!  I think you will be so blessed by doing this, I know I have been.

Self-care & Healing