Posted:
August 18, 2009
Comments:
16

Great new blog…

Hi, everyone.

I love to share new things with you all, and this one is a great.

GoodGriefBanner-withline

Amanda Probst started a new challenge blog called Good Grief Blog.  It focuses on loss and healing.  Very powerful.  I highly recommend checking it out. 

As many of you know, I am a big believer in scrapbooking the tough times of life, too.  It can be so therapeutic and healing.  A few people have asked why I scrapbook thoughts about my struggle with PPD.  Why I would want my kids to see that.  To be honest, I tuck those pages aside and will save them until they are old enough to understand.  Who knows – maybe they will go through the same struggles or know someone who does.  If it could help them in the slightest bit, it is worth it.  I also feel this way about losing someone close to you.  When I lost my dear friend, Jeff, years ago to cancer, scrapbooking helped me sort through the feelings.  And when I look back on those pages, I know I can conquer any sadness.

OK, enough of that. :)   But be sure to check out their new blog.  In fact, they posted an amazing page today.

More soon…

16 Comments • Cool links

  1. Stephanie
    August 18, 2009 at 9:40 am · Reply

    Thank you so much for your post, it really hit home with me. I have 2 chronic autoimmune diseases and am raising two wonderful boys, one with autism, with the help of my amazing hubby. Creating brings me such joy and is such therapy for whatever ails you. It, along with my faith, keeps me grounded in what truly matters in life.

  2. MarieP
    August 18, 2009 at 10:50 am · Reply

    My gosh, of course we should scrap about the bad or trying times as well as the good. Who knows when something we’ve shared on a page could encourage someone going through a similar situation? I’ve scrapped many a page about my struggles with infertility. I’m still hoping to someday scrap the page about the birth of my first child but, until that day comes, I’ll keep scrapping about my life now, which includes infertility. And if we decide to share those tough pages, great! And if not, that’s ok, too. Because this is our hobby, our release, and it can be our therapy. And, Jennifer, I have found the PPD pages you’ve shared to be inspiring and, oddly, comforting. Thanks for sharing!

  3. Tobi
    August 18, 2009 at 1:22 pm · Reply

    Jennifer,
    I also suffered from PPD, with both my girls. I want you to know that your honesty, and straight forward attitude about it has helped me not be ashamed tremendously. I am not the kind of person that hides from anything, and is very out there and honest. However, I was ashamed sometimes…and you have helped that. I know I have helped both my sisters with their own PPD (because I was brave) so they did not feel so alone. I also know that I can help my girls if they need it now. So thank you, for making me not feel so alone, or ashamed. God Bless you.

  4. Sandi N.
    August 18, 2009 at 1:44 pm · Reply

    Jennifer

    I admire you in so many ways. Thank you for this post, it is well done.

    One day I will take that step back to 1995 and scrap those details of my life.
    I know it would help my other children to explain a very personal loss.

    You are a blessing in so many ways to other. I wish I could have helped you then.

    Many Thanks
    Sandi N.

  5. Margaret C
    August 18, 2009 at 2:20 pm · Reply

    I agree with the strong women above – we MUST scrap the not-so-pretty stuff. I really believe my DD will benefit from knowing that our family has dealt with some harsh stuff over the years …and survived (albeit a tad battered!) I think your children will love you for the truth you have told them and it will make them more resiliant. My DD has a page in her scrapbook documenting one of her visits to “granny’s tree” – my MIL died a month before DD was born. The page expresses how much she would have loved her grand-daughter. As a grand-parentless child, I would have loved to have had that connection. Keep scrappin sad, Jennifer, and keep encouraging us to do the same ! XX

  6. Wendy in MD
    August 18, 2009 at 4:34 pm · Reply

    It makes perfect sense to me that you scrapbook your PPD. It’s like writing your feelings in a journal. It’s therapeutic! {{Hugs}} to you!

  7. Jessica Purvis
    August 18, 2009 at 8:40 pm · Reply

    Thank you so much for being “real” with your blog readers! It is always encouraging to see women share how they’ve endured, survived, and overcome hard times.

    And thank you for sharing this new blog. I sent the link to a friend who recently lost her father. I think it’s a wonderful idea and will truly encourage women everywhere.

  8. kellie scully
    August 18, 2009 at 10:14 pm · Reply

    That is one AMAZING blog !! Thanks for the link!! you rule :)

  9. Rhonda Helfrich
    August 18, 2009 at 11:43 pm · Reply

    I saw this site a few days ago and think it is awesome. To be able to scrap your feelings like that I feel ia a very brave and hard thing to do. I recently have been struggling with issues of my own and trying to figure out some therapeutic ways to scrap them. This sit has been very helpful, if only to tell people that it is ok to scrap like that and it doesn’t always have to sunshine and rainbows. Thanks Jennifer for posting this site. I hope it inspires other as it has me.

  10. Charlotta
    August 19, 2009 at 3:12 am · Reply

    I agree with all the writing above ! I really want to thank you for scrapbooking and publish your LO about PPD. I suffered from it myself and you helped a lot! Your courage and gentleness is a great inspiration!
    Oh, and your scrapbook pages are great atistic inspiration too ;) !

  11. lois skiathitis
    August 19, 2009 at 5:44 am · Reply

    Thank you so much Jennifer for the link. I thought that you were talking just to me. It’s still so painful to even look at a photo of my son who passed 14 months ago. I’d like to get some albums done and it’s nice to go to that web-site for some inspiration. My family is growing my first grand child is coming in October and she needs to know about her uncle.I think I will know when to start preserving the memories for the future but I’m not there quite yet.

  12. Michelle
    August 19, 2009 at 10:59 am · Reply

    It amazes me that people would ask why you would scrapbook those thoughts and stories. Why wouldn’t you? Life isn’t all roses although it would be nice. The tough times are what make us stronger, build character and make us who we are. I don’t want people, especially my children, thinking that my life is perfect and easy all the time when they read my scrapbooks. I want them to know the real me….flaws and all. I too find that documenting the tough parts of my life is very theraputic! I also hope that my journeys through difficult times will someday help my children and give them a better understanding of me.

    I can also say that after reading some of Jen’s pages I was given the strength to talk to her when I fell into my own depression. I have battled it for a long time and it got so bad last summer that I was very afraid to be alone because of the horrible thoughts going through my head. I emailed Jen and since then she has be an incredible source of strength for me. Her blog and her emails made it worth getting out of bed daily for me when nothing else did. So from a very personal point of view I thank you Jen. You were a driving force to help me out of the dark, for that ( and many other reasons) you will forever hold a special place in my heart!!! Thank you for sharing such a difficult and personal struggle!!! <3 me =)

  13. Regina Ellison
    August 19, 2009 at 11:38 am · Reply

    Thanks so much for the link to Good Grief. I checked it out and it is very powerful and helpful too! Thanks for passing it along.

  14. Jacqui
    August 19, 2009 at 12:13 pm · Reply

    Thank you for posting this website. I’ve been following your blog for a long time and absolutely LOVE your creations. We (my 6 y.o. daughter and I) really enjoyed your inking classes and are looking forward to trying perfect pearls!
    It’s funny how God works, who would’ve thought there could be a website like Good Grief I just lost my dear mother to cancer (battling for 23 years!) about 1 month ago, and I also had my 5th baby one month ago. My son was born 1 week before her passing and she was able to meet him, thank God! Anyway, I’m not much of a scrapbooker but making a page about mom I think is going to be very healing.
    Thanks again for your beautiful artwork, inspiration and also for posting this site. Have a blessed day!
    —Jacqui

  15. Lisa Russell
    August 20, 2009 at 7:35 am · Reply

    I have 3 children, 4 pregnancies over 27 weeks. After my son was born, they would tell me that I just had “baby blues” and the sad feelings would pass in a couple of weeks. I would literally bawl my eyes out on the couch, working up enough strength to make a phone call, just to tell my husband “hello”. Sometimes I couldn’t even walk into my son’s room. PPD was very real, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. That said, I was prepared with the following pregnancies, and the PPD was not as bad as it was with my 2nd pregnancy, which I had read it would get worse with each one. My doctor did prescribe something for me, but it just made me sleepy – I only took medication once or twice. That said, I just want to encourage you, if you get pregnant again, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the PPD will get worse. I did have it some, but not so bad. I do believe it is healing to write about those things, just as you said. To heal and to share with others who may need it. God Bless! Lisa

  16. Jennifer McGuire
    August 20, 2009 at 9:25 am · Reply

    thank you for sharing your story. big hugs to you!

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