Not many of us who are PPD sufferers/survivors walk around bragging about it. Usually mental illness makes people uncomfortable, really uncomfortable, so we kinda hide it.
But every now and then, there’s a legitimate reason to stand up and brag about ourselves.
Diane, you’re probably blushing horribly, but today is your day. Diane wrote a post called “Getting over My Job” a few days ago. Her article was linked to this article from the Wall Street Journal online today! You should be SO STINKIN’ PROUD OF YOURSELF! I know I sure am proud of you.
My husband was so impressed, he was impassioned to write this post on his blog today. I quote him here for my own selfish pride your enjoyment.
OK. So as many of you know, my wife began a journey this past fall of starting a Life.After.Baby support group that meets at our church. It’s for mothers and their families who are in the throes of life with a new child in their world. Many topics deal with postpartum depression, from which Jenna is a three time survivor. Along with the group that meets at church, she decided to begin the L.A.B.log as a support and resource to the girls that attended on Monday nights.
Little did she know that through this blog, she would get to know moms from all over the country who have experienced postpartum depression, network with national PPD spokeswomen, have opportunities for speaking engagements, and have the blog linked from the WALL STREET JOURNAL!
Jenna invites many of her friends, including her LAB co-founder, Diane, to write on LABlog. An article of Diane’s was linked from the WSJ online today. If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you’ll find a link to Diane’s article.
I write all of this for two reasons. The first is obvious, I’m bragging on Jenna and Diane for pushing forward with making L.A.B. a reality. LAB has only been a reality for the past two months. In this short amount of time, they can already tell story after story of women finding hope in the midst of PPD and parenting stress.
But I also want to share this because this is what our big God can do. For the past four years, PPD has wreacked havoc on our family. When Jenna and I first talked about LAB and how we’d make it happen, we talked about redeeming the time we’d lost to PPD. I don’t think something like this ever entered our minds. We just knew that we needed to step out in faith and help make LAB a reality. Through that we’re finding healing and community to surround us with love. That’s my God. That’s how awesome he is. He takes the pain and brings healing and peace that is indescribable.
Awesome! This is exciting. I couldn’t get the link to work, but, Diane, I’m so proud of you. Jenna, I’m glad to see your hard with (with Diane) paying off and getting some recognition. This blog is a blessing for me and I don’t even have any children – I love being able to send people here for a resource.
Heather–I checked and fixed all the links–now they should be working. Thanks for letting me know about that. I’m so glad you are sending people our direction–when you are able to help, it’s nice to have people to actually help!
Diane–you are always wishing you could do more for LAB–well, please know, what you do is HUGE! Even what might seem like a “little thing” is a great big accomplishment and LAB wouldn’t be what it is without you.
When we first met and starting talking, I said “if it weren’t for our PPD, we wouldn’t have ever met and become friends”. I wouldn’t trade you in for a PPD-less life–you are worth it, my friend.
Heather, Jenna, Dan, thank you so much for your encouragement. God is using your words to lift me up when I really need it. I am humbled and very thankful. God really does lift me up and give me what I need.