Faith Melody Memories - My "Ah Hah" Moment - Why I Do What I Do

So, I've decided I don't feel like getting the work I need to do done tonight. Just one of those nights. I've been taking some pics of my jewelry to update my Etsy shop with and was thinking about why I make jewelry.

As I was taking some pictures, I tried on a couple pairs of earrings (one was a pair of freshwater pearls like you have Jen Anderson). 

When I tried them on I went over to the mirror to see what they looked like on me.As I tried these earrings on, I said jewelry makes me feel pretty. That, in a nutshell, sums up why I make jewelry in honor of Faith. She makes me feel so much love and she makes me feel pretty. I want to share that wonderful feeling with others in Faith's memory.

This was one of those "ah hah" moments for me. While I have always done this in Faith's honor, I never really verbalized it to myself and made this much of a special connection. By helping others feel pretty, I am sharing a piece of how Faith makes me feel.

Capture Your Grief - Day 16 - Creative Grief

 Creative Grief is today's Capture Your Grief topic.  This topic really hits home for me.  After we lost Faith I started making jewelry as a hobby.  I have always enjoyed crafty things, but for some reason, just happened to really throw myself into making jewelry at that time.  I decided to start my jewelry business, Faith Melody Memories, not too long after that.  It is something that has given me such a great creative outlet since Faith went to Heaven.  It also gives me the great opportunity to share my creations with others and also to share her story.  I create all of my jewelry in her honor.  Very soon, I am going to be launching a new jewelry line in my store called Faith & Joy.  I am also working on some new infinity pieces that will be available soon.

I am very excited about my new line, Faith & Joy.  I believe I will be able to offer quite a number of pieces that will focus on Faith & Joy.  As I am writing, I am just now brainstorming and thinking I will add a special write up about both Faith & Joy to include with each piece of jewelry in this new line.  I believe this will be a great tribute to Faith and a special way to share Joy.

I am so glad Creative Grief is today's topic, as it has been an inspiration for me to come up with adding a special write up to include in my new line!  Perhaps I need to come up with special packaging of some sort for this line as well...hmmm...

You can see my offerings in my Etsy store here.

The pictures I have included in this post are bracelets that I made in memory of Faith.  The black and white one has her footprints, name, birth date, time, weight, and length.  The pink one has her heartbeat.  I am so very happy with how these turned out and thrilled that I have them.  It is always an honor to create such lovely memories like these for others who've lost a precious child.

Capture Your Grief 2015 - Day 2 - Intention

I do my best to have good intentions.  However, I recently have started focusing on my actions that are following through with those intentions.  I think having good intentions are a great start to getting something good done, but I must follow-through.  Life on this earth is so short.  Before you know it, seconds turn into minutes, minutes to hours, hours to days, days to years and you still haven't DONE anything besides have good intentions.  I don't want to look back on my life and wish I would have done more.

After the initial shock of Faith's death wore off, I decided that I was going to live life to the fullest in honor or her.  Now that we have her little sister, Joy, with us, I will continue to do so with them both honored.

I intend to live as if today is my last chance to tell people I love them.  I intend to begin doing the things I dream of, not just the things I need to do to get by.  I intend to make a positive difference in the lives of as many people as possible...these things I intend to do in honor of my precious child, Faith, and also to be a good example to her sister, Joy.  

It is my intention to actually begin ACTING on my intentions and loving life in honor of Faith and to be the best example to Joy that I can be.

Capture Your Grief 2015 - Day 1 - Sunrise

 As I begin my Capture Your Grief journey for this year, I am reflecting on life.  But not just any life, the life of our daughter, Faith.  While her life was brief, it has had one of the most profound impacts on my life.

So many people have had a great impact on me and have contributed to the person I am today.  Faith is one of those people, perhaps one of the most important...

I did not see the sun coming up this morning, but could see the effects at approx. 7:17 AM in FL/USA.  I took these pictures in our backyard as the sun was coming up.  

The hibiscus flower that we planted in Faith's honor has grown so much over the past year.  It is a beautiful reminder to me of her beautiful life.  I look at it so much and love watching it grow.  

As I was enjoying the early morning sky I caught this little frog close to our back door.  As I watched him I thought of life and how amazing it is.  God has given us so much to be thankful for.  As I reflect on the "sunrise" or beginning of Faith's life, I remember being so in love with her and thrilled that I was pregnant.  She is a constant reminder to me of how brief life on this earth is and that we truly need to walk in the fruit of the Spirit each day that we are blessed with while we are here.  Love one another.  Life is too short to do anything else. 

As the sun "rises" on this project, I reflect back to the beginning and am thankful that God gave me the opportunity to carry Faith.  She made me a mother.  She will always be my baby girl and though I cannot yet hold her in my arms, I will always hold her in my heart.

Remembering & Celebrating - 1 Year of Blogging

One year ago today I started this blog to honor Faith Melody Bryant.  I cannot believe it has been a year already.  In the past year, I have felt emotions I never knew I could feel.  My love and relationship have both grown for Faith in ways I never could have expected possible.  I love and miss her so very much, but I take some comfort in knowing that I will be with her again...

In the meantime, I do my best to honor her in any way that I can...

...A few nights ago, I made myself a beautiful bracelet that has the names of both of my baby girls: Faith and Joy.  It turned out just beautifully and I am so thrilled with it.

This morning was a difficult morning for me.  I thought a lot about Faith and missed her very much, and cried quite a bit.  Sometimes I just need to spend time with her and that is the only way that I am able to do so.

Wearing this bracelet is a wonderful way for me to be able to remember Faith and celebrate both Faith and Joy.  Plus, if others notice it and ask about it, it is a great way to strike up a conversation about both of my beautiful daughters.

I know I will continue to make jewelry in honor of Faith as long as I am able.  I have some ideas in the works for creating more pieces that include both of my daughters.  I am thrilled to be able to do so, as it is a hobby I really enjoy, and a way to honor, remember, and celebrate both Faith and Joy!

Faith Melody Memories - Seeking Bloggers

After Faith went to Heaven, I started creating jewelry as a hobby.  I created some pieces that her hand and foot prints in her honor so I can wear them.  I decided I wanted to create these types of items for others.  I recently decided I also want to add my other creations to my shop, as I started making jewelry in Faith's honor.  Truly, each piece I create is special to me and is made with  Faith in my heart and in her honor. 

I am currently seeking a few bloggers that blog about fashion/jewelry that would be willing to do a blog post featuring a piece (supplied for free) made by me.  If you are interested, please send me a message via my contact form.

It is my utmost honor and my heart's desire to share Faith with the world.  I can do this by creating jewelry and sharing it with others.  

Please take a look at my store, Faith Melody Memories, and let me know what you think of my creations.  I also take custom orders if you have something special in mind.

Faith Melody will always be my first child and I will continue to share her love with all that I can.

Capture Your Grief - Day 30 - Intention

I am glad that INTENTION is today's Capture Your Grief prompt.  I have a lot of new intentions in life now that Faith has gone to Heaven.  One is simply living life to the fullest and loving people as much as I can.

But when I get down to the nitty gritty of what my intentions are now in life, I know that the truth is that my intention now is to educate people about stillbirth and infant loss, specifically due to IC, and to change how our medical field works and studies regarding the matter.

Today, for some reason, I thought of some of the lines from Legally Blonde 2, where Elle is talking about the fabric for her wedding dress.  She basically says that if the fabric doesn't work for you, don't work with it; change it.

That is my INTENTION -- to CHANGE the education and the rules by which our medical system works in the area surrounding stillbirth.  I want the world to know that even though this cannot always be prevented, there certainly are ways and times that it can.  There are also many things that can be done preventatively that I believe can save many lives...now...to begin my work in studying the information that is out there and beginning to speak out to the right people about getting started in getting some of these things changed...

I intend to change education and the rules our medical system uses to prevent more stillbirths in honor of our precious daughter, Faith Melody Bryant.

Capture Your Grief - Day 26 - Healing Ritual

Healing Ritual is today's Capture Your Grief prompt. It seems that I have actually started or gotten back into doing quite a few things that are "healing" for me since Faith died.  Of the handful of these things, this evening I'll be focusing on making jewelry and beading.

I have really been enjoying creating new jewelry pieces with beads and wire lately.  It is very relaxing for me and lets me use my creativity for something different.  Also, most things don't take too much time to create, which is a plus!  It gives me a great sense of accomplishment also to start and FINISH something pretty to wear.

In a way, as I create new pieces of jewelry, I am honoring Faith, as I am using the talent that God gave me to create something lovely.  This way, I can wear new creations and/or bless others with something pretty to wear.

It also gives me time to spend some quality time with myself.  I am glad that I have started this new hobby and have really been getting healing from creating new jewelry.  I am sure I will continue to do so...

Capture Your Grief - Day 18 - Give

Give is today's Capture Your Grief prompt.  I think I have always been a giver.  I really enjoy blessing other people and it brings me happiness. I know I feel loved and blessed when people bless me with their love, time, etc.  

Today, I choose to bless my husband with my love and time.  Ok, I try to do this all the time, but today, I am focusing on this topic for my blog, so that is what you get to read.  Ha Ha.  He is my best friend.  

I give my husband my love, time, and companionship today.  In my daughter's honor, I will continue to give to others: time, love, gifts, etc...

Giving is what we are called to do.  One of the most precious things we can give to others is time, as we never know when our time on this earth will be over.

Today, I choose to give...

Capture Your Grief - Day 15 - Community / 6 Month Remembrance

Community is today's Capture Your Grief prompt.  First, let me say how blessed I feel to be a part of this "community".  I know that none of us ever wanted to, nor do we truly want to be a member of this group.  However, we are all now part of this community of parents who have lost a child/children.  We cannot change what has happened, but we can spread this Wave of Light around the world in honor of our child/children.

As I am blogging this evening, I am watching this candle burn that I have put together in honor of Faith.  As I sit here in the silence, all I can hear is the clock ticking and a few vehicles as they pass by.  As I watch the candle burn, peacefully, I am reminded of how much light one little candle can produce.

This community of people I have encountered since we lost Faith, six months ago today, has been helpful in more ways than I can express.  While my husband and family have been and will continue to be very loving and supportive (as they are also grieving this loss and need love
and support), there is something special about reaching out and communicating with other women who have been through the same or similar experience.

I thank God for the community of ladies I have met and will continue to meet on this journey.  I pray that I will be a blessing for them, as they have been and continue to be to me.  Thank you all.

Six months ago today, the most beautiful girl was born into my heart and into The Lord's arms.  On this day, I should have a 6 month old, but I don't.  I miss you with all my heart, Faith.  I celebrate your life and love every day.

In honor of our beautiful daughter, Faith Melody Bryant...this candle is for you, Princess.