The Storms May Rage, But Hope Is Seen
It has been a crazy month. It has been full of promises, storms, new starts, patience, and a renewed hope. Starting a new school year is always stressful, but add into the mix our adoption process, and it brings it to a whole new level. I liken it to working another full-time job. I usually love that I am involved in many things and love helping others, but I am seeing this new season of life requires me to pull back and reevaluate what I should be a part of and take on. This adoption process is like going through a pregnancy/labor, which also makes embryo adoption just as unique because I will also go through actual pregnancy/labor. I am trying to get better at saying no, and being OK with saying no. My family and my mental sanity needs to come first. Our future children need to be our first priority and for this process that means take care of us.
Over this summer we found a beautiful and unexpected match with a family we met through Facebook. We are very excited to come close to finishing our mediation/open contract with them. They are a truly lovely family full of love and we feel blessed and humbled that they chose us to adopt their embryos/embabies.
We also had an unexpected bump in the road with the other family we were to be matched with through our organization NEDC. Originally I told you that they accepted us to adopt their embryos, but through mediation, much prayer, and tears we found it would not be a match that would work. It was very hard to face this because we felt drawn to them and felt that out of 200 names, they would be the other family we would work with. It took a week or so to feel ready to choose another family. All the while, in the back of our minds, wondering if it would work out as well. But this process requires faith and trusting in the unknowns. We have since asked to adopt from another family and they accepted to go into mediation with us. Please continue to pray for us and the donor family and that we will know that this will be a good match for both of us.
I also did something last week that I have felt God calling me back to and I have not done in almost 10 years, speak/preach. Last week I spoke in front of our woman's group at church on the aptly named topic "There Will Be Storms". I was very nervous, but knew this was the right time to speak about Jon and I's journey while encouraging other women through their storms in life. I have since had so many women from my church come up to me, congratulate me, tell me they are praying for Jon and I, and tell me how it impacted them. I am encouraged that God can use us to reach others and pray that I will continue to do this everyday.
With all that being said, Jon and I will be taking a leap of faith and trying for our first transfer of embryos in November! I also received all the medications in the mail today, so thus begins our journey and hoping that a pregnancy will result. PLEASE keep us in your prayers as we venture into something so unknown. Pray that I will do well on the meds and also pray for Jon as my hormones may get wacky ha ha. The one thing we know, God is with us through this!
My medications.
Thank-you for your continued love and support! Your words and prayers have meant the world to us. We still have funds to raise, and if you feel led, take a look at our GoFundme site below. Much blessings to you and yours!
