A Pay It Forward, Like No Other..

I needed to share this touching story with you all, if you don't think God speaks to us, you really need to think again.

Written by, Melissa Sahlmann

Back a few months ago I told Stephanie and Teresa that If Vance lived to his 6month birthday I would give away the My Very Own Angel tee shirt Theresa bought me. I felt like if he lived to be 6 months old, I could let go of it and start to focus on him living. Not stressed that each day could be the last. We agreed and I told the the date, MAY 23. This was touching for Stephanie as it's Vayden's birthday as well. So I've been going along not thinking too much about it. I sent Stephanie a comment of the 23th of April reminding her that the 6 month mark was only 1 month away, but didn't think anymore about it. A good friend and I spend most of last night and morning talking about how God has worked in us and what we want to try to give back. After she left, I sat reading my bible and came to a page that was marked by a business card. I looked over the page to see why it had been marked, but none of the verses stood out to me so I pulled out the card. Later I flipped it over to read the front and it was a MVOA card from Stephanie..."I'm sorry for your loss..." but I have no loss I thought, so I left the card next to my scriptures and went about preparing dinner. I was in the middle of frying two things at once and not doing a very god job at it (when smoke is billowing from your oil that's not a good sign), plus Vance had started to cry for his next feeding, so I was a bit frazzled when a knock at the door came. "Gosh who is it now??" I thought to myself. Zoe (Teresa's step-granddaughter) from next door (and yes her family coincidentally lives next door to me) looking for Gillian most likely. When I opened it however, it was a young man, mid twenties maybe. I'm standing there holding the baby while he is waling his head off and the guy starts a sales pitch. "I'm with this company in Thomasville NC...BLAH BLAH BLAH..selling furniture...BLAH BLAH BLAH." I was about to blow him off because the smoke was getting thicker, then he asked about Vance. How old? I'm trying to ditch out of the conversation but he pulls me back in. I have a six month old. Six month twins, but one died at 15 days and my son who is living is 6 months. AWW but before I have a chance to say anymore he's leaving to go on to the next house. After Vance is calmed, I pull the pots off the stove and glance over at the business card still sitting next to the scriptures on the couch, so I decide to give it to him, but no not just the card. I know it's earlier than we talked about but this mom had a boy and my tee shirt is blue. Couldn't be a fluke that he came to the door telling a complete stranger about his son just after I found the card, God was leading me. I run upstairs to get it and amazingly the shirt was sitting out from some organizational projects I'm working on around the house. I grab the shirt, the baby and the card. He's down the road four houses down and still working in the opposite direction, but when he sees me walking his way with the baby he stops and waits for me. He thinks I want to look at the furniture, but instead I hand him the shirt and the card that I had written my name on the back of and tell him it's for his wife/girlfriend. I tell him I know a wonderful group of women that have been through the same thing and that he can tell her to find us on face book. A co-worker comes up and asks what he has so he tells him while he holds up the tee shirt...."Amanda will really like that" he says.

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Vance was given a fatal diagnosis in the womb, I met Melissa through Teresa who became very involved with her story, not long after meeting her Melissa became like family to me. When Teresa ordered a blue MVOA t-shirt for Melissa I sent it along with a carrying to term comfort pack. Days after the mail was sent I had a gut feeling that Melissa would not need the shirt or the comfort pack, we had a few months until Vance's due date but I just felt like he wasn't meant to be an angel. I emailed Teresa and told her to hold off on giving her the pack and the shirt, I felt in my heart that Vance was going to make it,Teresa felt the same. Vance was born exactly 6 months to the date I lost Vayden, and his prognosis was bleak I remember talking with Teresa every other day where she would say "I have the cap and shirt in hand" as she would visit with Vance and Melissa often to capture precious moments. The days turned to weeks and the weeks to months, and here we are almost 6 months and although Vance faces obstacles he is proving the Dr.'s wrong with every passing week.

God is good, so good.

23 Days of Giveaways

Welcome to My Very Own Angel’s 23 days of giveaways. My sweet angel baby Vayden is celebrating his 1st yr in Heaven on May 23rd, in just one year his loss has blessed me with a wonderful network of families, friends and brought me closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and our father God. In just one year this foundation has donated 345 teddy bears to local Oklahoma City hospitals ensuring that no woman leave L&D empty handed. Vayden’s story in one year has touched the hearts and lives of many and I choose to celebrate his life, his story and my mission with my loyal supporters. Thank you for one amazing year I have learned so much from the stories of your angels and I am so happy that so many of you are PROUD to say “I Have My Very Own Angel”.

The 23 days of giveaways will be held on FB only. Each giveaway will be posted by 10:30am and will close between 10:30 – 11:00 pm CTS of that same day. The winner will be announced and will respond to me via email ONLY at myveryownangel@gmail.com with their address and giveaway date number. All winners will be randomly selected. You may enter in however many giveaways suit you and your personal needs. Please take some time to visit the sites of the donated products I use in these giveaways. A very special thank you to everyone who donated items.

The 23 days of Giveaways will focus on healing and total family, not every item will be directed towards infant loss, just as not every item will be for a boy and a girl. Please only enter giveaways for items you could actually use or really want.
You may not enter the same giveaway twice. You may not exchange prizes for a future giveaway item. All items to the winners will be shipped between May 27th and June 1st . The last day to submit your address is May 26th.


· Vayden’s 1st angel versary is on May 23,2010 I ask that you all be so kind to visit my website at http://www.myveryownangel.org/ and donate just $1.00 for Vayden’s 1st yr. You have no idea how far $1.00 can go from so many loving hearts. Just $1.00 will help see that hospitals keep getting teddy bears from The 345 Teddy Bear Project. Thank you for your donation. If you are having trouble finding the donate button the website please visit this link for my chip in button on our blog.






May 1st we will begin the 23 days of giveaways, good luck and god bless you all.

When Life Happens - Vacation Notification

Vacation Notification

My family and I were originally scheduled for a month long vacation in March. At that time the angel store would be temporary closed for 4 weeks, in the last week my father has become ill and although the details of his illness are somewhat unknown, I’ve made the decision to go to California to be with him and my mother. Due to this unexpected change in events the angel store will be temporarily closed from Feb 1st thru March 31st. Emergency orders may be processed around my husband’s work schedule throughout the month of February. I will be taking a few CTT comfort packs to Ca with me in the event I come across a mother carrying to term.
The angel store will re-open March 31, 2010 in perfect time for any of you who are seeking a shirt for Mothers Day. The website will still be up and running and I will be updating the blog from California.
In May we will celebrate Vayden’s 1st year in Heaven, along with the many accomplishments he’s made in just one year. I will be hosting a 23 day giveaway, where I will be giving items away everyday from May 1st all the way up until Vayden’s 1st angelversary; I am very excited for May.
I apologize greatly for an inconvenience, but my family will always come first. Please keep my father in your prayers as we want a total and complete healing.

Thank you

Stephanie Stewart
-Founder of My Very Own Angel

I'm Going To Go To College

A young girl grows up with 3 sisters and 4 brothers. Both her mother and father never finished high school as well as her older siblings; she is 13 with 6 nieces and nephews with 1 on the way. In grade school when asked what are you plans for the future she replied ‘I’m going to go to college”. Many doubted her ability to finish school based upon her family history, still this young girl insist she’s going to college. The years continues as more and more obstacles came her way, her father is out of work and her mother’s hours were cut, the young girl now has to get a job to help out the family. She goes to school all day and works all night, it becomes harder and more stressful for her to focus and fight through her daily fatigue. Friends and family are unsupportive and encourage her to quit school and work full time, they’re exact words are “it would be easier”; she stands by her word that she is going to go to college. She makes it through high school and gets into college, she is more aware, mature and appreciative of what college is really about and how hard it is to achieve. She did not take going to college for granted and she finished top of her class.

The connection between this story and loss is you have to tell yourself what you want to happen. It’s just like faith in Gods promises, you have to tell yourself that you’re going to walk through the rain, never give up and never lose yourself on the rough roads. Tell yourself that you’re going to get through this and it’s going to make you a better stronger person. Going through this allows you to understand the true blessing behind pregnancy and children, you will never be the same, you will be slightly bruised and broken but you will heal and your overall appreciation for life will grow.

A few months ago someone asked me if I was waiting for my breakdown. After thinking about it, I replied “No”, because although I will have rough days I know that I’m going to get through this and my good days will outweigh my bad days by pounds.

The next time you find yourself really down, remember this young girl who went against all odds when she said, “I’m going to go to college”.