1104 results for author: Ashlee Schmidt

Psalm 16 Reflections {Chosen Portion}

 If you’re new here or haven’t participated before, we’re so glad you joined us! Here’s how it works: To participate in our Psalm 16 Reflections link-up, all you have to do is write on the word or phrase of the week, post your words on your own blog, and link up the post here (via the InLinkz button at the bottom of the post). Be sure to add the actual permalink to your specific post, and not your blog’s homepage (e.g. https://hopemommies.org/psalm-16-reflections and not just hopemommies.org). If you don’t have a blog, you’re welcome to post your reflection in the comments here each week! This is meant ...

Psalm 16 Reflections {Refuge}

Welcome to our Psalm 16 Reflections Link-Up. We’re so glad you joined us! Here’s how it works: To participate in this link-up, all you have to do is write on the word or phrase of the week, post your words on your own blog, and link up the post here (via the InLinkz button at the bottom of the post). Be sure to add the actual permalink to your specific post, and not your blog’s homepage (e.g. https://hopemommies.org/psalm-16-reflections and not just hopemommies.org). If you don’t have a blog, you’re welcome to post your reflection in the comments here each week! This is meant to be a space for you to write what’s on ...

Why I Don’t Like the Term “Rainbow Baby”

I first heard the term “rainbow baby” following the loss of my first child due to miscarriage in January 2016. At the time it seemed like a fitting, if not a little too cheesy, name for what I hoped would follow our devastating loss. But now, several months out from the birth and subsequent death of my “rainbow” son, Max, I’m not a fan of the phrase. Rainbows connote hope after the storm; a beautiful, heavenly light appearing out of the darkness. More importantly, rainbows carry the weight of God’s promise; they are God’s sign that He would never again flood the earth. Rainbows are a reminder to us that God is ever-faithful and ...

I See You

To the mama whose arms are empty this Mother’s Day– I see you. I see your pain. I see your emptiness. I see your grief. I see your longing. But mostly, I see your love. I know this is a hard day. A day that reminds us of what should have been and isn't. Or what once was but no longer is. This day acutely reminds us of how very broken this world is. I don’t know your story or your specific loss, but I do know your hurt. I don’t know if you’ve lost a child to miscarriage, still birth, infant death, or sickness. Or maybe your child is still living but for whatever reason they’re no longer a part of your world. Whatever the reason ...

Death is Swallowed Up in Victory

Death has shaken your soul to its core. Mine too. When I first heard the words, “I’m sorry, there’s no heartbeat,” it seemed like my life was being siphoned out of me. I strained to take in each new breath of air, and as I looked up at the monitor, staring at the stillness of my baby, I felt as though I was watching someone else’s nightmare unfold before my eyes.  In that moment, death seemed to consume me. The death of your child is an excruciating heartache that alters the course of your life.  There may be times when it seems as though you are being crushed and overcome by the weight of death. Perhaps you feel as if you will never ...

Hope for the Holidays {All Things New}

As Christmas celebrations begin to come to a close, we find ourselves in anticipation of a brand new year.  In many ways, the new year feels like an opportunity for a fresh start.  We resolve to read more, work out more, be more organized, more patient, more loving…   But inside many of us long for the new year to bring something more meaningful than better eating habits and more trips to the gym.      We long for the shattered pieces of our hearts to be brought back together.  We long for the undoing of all the pain and sorrow of this world. We long for the the day when HE will come and wipe every tear from our eyes and make all things ...

Hope for the Holidays {Hope Came Down}

How can I feel joy when I'm just so sad?  How can I enjoy Christmas when my baby was suppose to be here?  How do I go on when my heart is broken?  I hear you, sweet mommas, and I understand. On December 21st, my daughter will turn 6. There will be no trip to the American Doll store. We won't go get her first pedicure. She won't unwrap any presents. We've never done any of those things because Kinley has celebrated every birthday in heaven. So, I will do what I do every year--I will make pink cupcakes. I will sing happy birthday. And I will miss my sweet girl. Then 4 days later, we will celebrate Christmas, and her stocking will hang empty, ...

#ILoveHopeMommies and a Giveaway!

Thank you for considering making a donation to the ministry of Hope Mommies through our #ILoveHopeMommies Fundraising Campaign.  It is estimated that, in the United States alone, 1 in 4 women will experience miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss.  This is a staggering number, and one, quite honestly, I never knew existed until it happened to me.  We greatly appreciate donors like you who are the hands and feet of Jesus in this broken world. The women we support carry a story within and throughout themselves that no mother should ever have to.  Yet, these women are among the loveliest and bravest I have ever met.&n...

Hope for the Holidays {Hope in the Silence}

I pulled out Clara's baby book last week to add her recent school picture. As I was doing so, Camille walked over and wanted to join in and "help." Camille: Oh, Mama it's baby Camille! Me: No, sweetie, this is baby Clara. Camille: Oh, OKAY. She so cute! Show me more pictures? Me: Sure, we can look at more pictures, let's start from the beginning. Camille crawled in my lap and we looked through Clara's book, page by page. She pointed out every detail and made sure I looked at every single element of every single photo.  When we got to page 34, Camille looks up with concern , "Mama, you didn't finish . . . write more!" Tears welled up in my eyes ...

Hope for the Holidays {Give Hope}

As the holidays approach and we begin to unpack and display all the subtle reminders of our sweet precious babies that aren’t with us, we can easily sink into sadness. This time of year is full of reminders and moments that make us stop and wonder what life would look like with our precious little ones. But, amidst all the heartache, we can have hope; a hope in a future because of our salvation through Jesus Christ. Our hope does not rest in things of this world, but in our eternal inheritance in heaven. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope ...