We've Conquered

standupgirlGrowing up my mother was my rock. i had an alcoholic dad, but my mom, i hadn't ever seen drunk in my life. She was the strongest christian i had ever met and she put her family before all else. My dad was a very bad alcoholic and through all the scary things he did and put us through, she somehow managed to stay by him and try to help him through it.
When i was fourteen, my mom passed away. she died in a lawn mowing accident in our back yard. we live on a river, and as she was mowing the edge, the blade got stuck on cattails, tipped the mower and she was trapped.

 

My dad then sent me to a christian boarding school just two months after my mom died. It was really hard for me. i wanted nothing more that to be around family and friends close to me during that time, but instead i was moving into a dorm, where i hardly knew anybody. that year, my freshman year, my grades dropped, i gained weight and i just wasn't myself. i missed my friends at home. I had so many friends at home and they all knew what i was dealing with and i wanted to be close to them. earlier that year, shortly after my mom died, i started dating my now husband, which was another reason i just wanted to be home. i got to go home quite frequently but it still wasn't enough.

That summer, i finally convinced my dad to let me come home. my siblings told me that if his alcoholism got out of hand i might have to return to the boarding school, so because of this, i ignored it. My dad wouldn't drink, i would pretend like it wasn't happening. I would just go on with my regular life and try not to let it bother me. on Halloween my sophomore year my dad got so drunk our neighbor had to come help him. our neighbor got ahold of my brother and grandfather, and after that my dad was sent to treatment and i had to live with my brother.

my dad returned around Christmas time and we tried so hard to get things back to normal, but they weren't. he was so on edge and angry.

In march i got pregnant. my boyfriend and i were using protection, but it broke and i got pregnant. i knew that night i was pregnant and so did my boyfriend, but i tried to ignore it. two months went by and i still hadn't gotten my period. i was so scared. my boyfriend was right by my side. he was urging me to take a test and get to the doctor, so finally i got ahold of a close family friend for help. she bought me a pregnancy test and it was positive. at this point, i saw my deathbed before me i thought. i told my boyfriend and all he wanted to do was hug and love me, but i was just so unbelievably distant. i couldn't talk or do anything. I then got to the doctor, found  out my due date and heard the heartbeat. we weren't ready to tell anybody so we payed for the appointment so they wouldn't send a bill out.

i knew my dad was going to shun me, and i was afraid he was going to send me away. a few weeks later we went to the doctor and fout out we were having a little girl. we knew we HAD to tell our parents, that this really wasn't going away. we told his parents first. they were mad but they supported and loved us. We then told my family. my sister threw a lot of things in my face about how big of a liar i am for keeping this in, and threw stuff in my face about how near impossible it was going to be for me to raise my daughter. she made me feel so bad. when we told my dad , he wouldn't speak to me.

we went on and went to counseling and met with an adoption agency, but soon realized we couldn't give our little girl up, she was ours. my dad gave us two options, to give the baby up or to get married, cause he was having no part in any of the financial or emotional burdens. we talked it through and knew how much we loved each other and were best friends. we decided to get married.

with nobody on our side, we pushed through with wedding, housing, and financial planning. he had a good job as a farmer, and i had good grades, so i could finish school early and start in college right away in the fall. thats what we did. we then bought a house and started preparing.

just one month before our daughter was born we got married and moved in. now, seven months later, we've beaten the odds. my siblings have come around but my dad is still on edge. we seldomly speak, and he has only seen his granddaughter a handful of times. my husbands family is awesome, they are there for us through thick and thin.

we've been through and conquered a lot. and we couldn't have done it without prayer, love for each other, love for our daughter, and love for our god.

 


 

Dear Anna,

I am in tears. Your story is so sad and yet so beautiful. You have had really difficult times in your life. Losing your mom, your rock and protector must have been so incredibly devastating. Then to lose your friends and family all in one fell swoop by being sent to a boarding school...wow. Maybe your dad did that to protect you from himself, but still it would have been so hard. Your courage and strength are just amazing. God truly sustained you through all of it. Your mom's faith continues on through you, and now you can pass that on to your little girl! You have so much going for you...keep on keeping on! People told my boyfriend (now husband) that we wouldn't be able to do it. We were too young...not financially stable, etc. But you know what? We ARE doing it! And so are you guys! It IS possible. Keep praying...keep loving...and you will have a life that is richly blessed. You will have your ups and downs...but everyone does...even those who get married and have a baby when all their "ducks are in a row". Our lives will never be without suffering, but that suffering can cause us to grow become stronger! I am so inspired by you! Thank you for sharing your story.

Luv,

Becky

Becky@standupgirl.com



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Comments (13)add
cuppycake
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written by cuppycake , November 04, 2010
so sad =(
nerizze
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written by nerizze , October 14, 2010
you are indeed a brave one despite of those situations that you had.. you inspired me too!!
Jazzi
wow
written by Jazzi , October 02, 2010
you are so inspirational. if you can do it, despite your hardships and unsupportive family, then so can i!
heather.xx
...
written by heather.xx , September 08, 2010
wow that is so sad! im very pleased you kept your daughter you would be a great mum!! congrads and dont worry your dad should come around soon ay xxx
teenmummy2008
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written by teenmummy2008 , July 11, 2010
I admire you for going through with it even though you didn't have the support of your family. I felt so sad with your story, my boyfriend's dad is an alcoholic and in the 3 years i've been with my boyfriend i've seen that he's getting better and hope your dad does too he still drinks but not as much he can go weeks with out a drink.

I hope your dad does come round for you and hope you and your family have an amazing life and don't let anything stand in your or your daughters way. smilies/smiley.gif
mumfordandsons
...
written by mumfordandsons , July 09, 2010
You are truly inspiring and amazing. You have been through so much crap and yet you are a better person than me. Your faith in God and his love for you makes me know that one day i can have that relationship too, if i let myself. less than a year ago i would have had an abortion, no doubt. Now, after finding a little faith and reading your story I know i would never do that now. i shouldn't let go of that life just because i'm scared or don't want to make sacrifices. Your whole life has been made up of sacrifices, most thrust upon you through no fault of your own. But you have accepted them and grown from them. I admire that. I hope you have a wonderful life and that your family will be happy. whatever may happen to you, you will know that god will always be there for you. Btw, you and your husband are very good looking- your daughter is going to be beautiful! smilies/smiley.gif Have a wonderful life. x
baby_travis

written by baby_travis , June 23, 2010
it's great to read that there is a happy ending..good for you to have such a trustworthy husband..unlike me..
Jelou
hai
written by Jelou , June 17, 2010
I Like your story. It's very inspiring..Your husband and you never give up..and continue the life...U r such a luky girl and a brave one!!!
..., Low-rated comment [Show]
my babys my world
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written by my babys my world , June 15, 2010
Wow Anne it is a real sad but beautiful storie, my babies father didn't want my baby but I left him and kept my baby, I am now 7 months pregnant and can't wait for my baby, I am having a boy. Your are a real Campion!

Love Nel-marie
smilies/wink.gif
lebogang
women are conquers
written by lebogang , June 02, 2010
i am truly inspired by your letter, you have been a lot but u made it..i am doing my 2nd year at varsity and just confirmed my pregnancy on m0nday.i did the test and they came positive.i am so scared and a lil excited.my parents will be so dissapointed. my boyfriend is very supportive and happy about it.i dont have a way foward but ur story gives me hope..after all GOD works for the good of those who love him and despite what happens he will neva leave nor forsake us.
candigirl2
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written by candigirl2 , May 26, 2010
Wow, congratulations on your decision to keep your baby. May God bless you for choosing life. I admire your courage!

Candi
candigirl2
Wow
written by candigirl2 , May 26, 2010
Anna,

You are a champion! I admire your great courage to realize that you could not give up your baby girl. I imagine it was a very hard choice to make, but like you said, your love helped you persevere.

May God bless your family and you and your husband's decision to stand for life!

Candi
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