Your writing is always a gift! Finally have the Substack app and can properly comment instead of in my head in my inbox as usual. ❤️ I love this bit and such a poignantly human feeling about so many different things. “…that I’m a naïve fool who has fallen behind in some irreparable way”. Your specifics in your writing are always so beautiful and speak to The Human Experience so perfectly even when they’re about the specifics of yours. And my, oh my, to try hard AND remain openhanded—the wildest ride.
Your 2024 sounds deliciously and delightfully successful and I pray for even more beauty in your 2025. ❤️
Thank you, Susannah! I am so grateful to have you as a faithful and always-invested internet pal from the days of old! Isn't it nice to know that many of us feel behind in some way? I wish none of us did...but I also am so glad it's not just me. <3
Rachel- oh how I love your writings! They stir something within me- you often put down into words what I cannot seem to find ways to adequately express. I want to encourage you in the infertility journey. I was EXACTLY here you are. I was 32 and 3 years in to a journey I never signed up for. I was desperate and wanted motherhood almost more than I wanted anything. I felt left out, too old and somehow was so angry with not being able to make my off do what it was suppose to do. Oh my do I get it. And yet here I am looking back on that time and some of it I can hardly remember. We were 35 when we got our miracle call to adopt a family member’s newborn baby and then my miracle pregnancy at 39. You know my kiddos and my story but I just want to encourage you that the Lord has a beautiful story of motherhood for you and it’s so exciting to know you and watch it unfold. It WILL happen. Waiting is the hardest part. But hold on my dear friend. You will have a story one day to encourage another infertile and look back to all you learned along the way!! Heres to 2025 being the most amazing year!! Love you sweet girl!!!
Thank you, Heather! It is always encouraging to hear from somebody who was in a similar place and can now encourage others with her story - I hope to be that person for other women down the road! <3
I was so delighted when this link popped up on my Facebook! I enjoyed reading your posts and writing, but somehow lost you. I came to your family’s home church a few times with my children when my hubby had Army Reserve weekends in the area. (We live in Fredericksburg.)
Thank you for being real in your writing. So many people are fake - online and in person. You are not alone in your struggles. And your victories are certainly worth reflection.
We do something every New Year’s Eve. We read our slips of paper from our ‘Blessings Jar.’ It turns our focus to praising God for all the blessings He has rained down on us. It takes a while, because He is generous!
That’s what it seems that you have done in this post, and I applaud you! I also commend you for sharing your struggles so each reader feels connected to you through those. Now I don’t feel alone for being the plus size woman at the gym. And I want to know more of your thoughts on enjoying food rather than feeling guilty for any bite. :)
As a fellow pottery fan, I wanted to share that if you're interested in taking classes, CNU has great workshop offerings that are open to the public through the Torggler Fine Arts Center (some classes are shorter (a weekend) and others stretch out over several weeks) - https://thetorggler.org/learn/studio-classes.html They're taught at several different skill levels and are a great entry point to pottery.
Oh thank you for this insight, Logan! I didn't know that they've got classes too - their course looks a bit more affordable than the other I was looking into. I am always excited to meet another pottery fan - it is such a beautiful art form!
Your writing is always a gift! Finally have the Substack app and can properly comment instead of in my head in my inbox as usual. ❤️ I love this bit and such a poignantly human feeling about so many different things. “…that I’m a naïve fool who has fallen behind in some irreparable way”. Your specifics in your writing are always so beautiful and speak to The Human Experience so perfectly even when they’re about the specifics of yours. And my, oh my, to try hard AND remain openhanded—the wildest ride.
Your 2024 sounds deliciously and delightfully successful and I pray for even more beauty in your 2025. ❤️
Thank you, Susannah! I am so grateful to have you as a faithful and always-invested internet pal from the days of old! Isn't it nice to know that many of us feel behind in some way? I wish none of us did...but I also am so glad it's not just me. <3
Rachel- oh how I love your writings! They stir something within me- you often put down into words what I cannot seem to find ways to adequately express. I want to encourage you in the infertility journey. I was EXACTLY here you are. I was 32 and 3 years in to a journey I never signed up for. I was desperate and wanted motherhood almost more than I wanted anything. I felt left out, too old and somehow was so angry with not being able to make my off do what it was suppose to do. Oh my do I get it. And yet here I am looking back on that time and some of it I can hardly remember. We were 35 when we got our miracle call to adopt a family member’s newborn baby and then my miracle pregnancy at 39. You know my kiddos and my story but I just want to encourage you that the Lord has a beautiful story of motherhood for you and it’s so exciting to know you and watch it unfold. It WILL happen. Waiting is the hardest part. But hold on my dear friend. You will have a story one day to encourage another infertile and look back to all you learned along the way!! Heres to 2025 being the most amazing year!! Love you sweet girl!!!
-Heather
Thank you, Heather! It is always encouraging to hear from somebody who was in a similar place and can now encourage others with her story - I hope to be that person for other women down the road! <3
I was so delighted when this link popped up on my Facebook! I enjoyed reading your posts and writing, but somehow lost you. I came to your family’s home church a few times with my children when my hubby had Army Reserve weekends in the area. (We live in Fredericksburg.)
Thank you for being real in your writing. So many people are fake - online and in person. You are not alone in your struggles. And your victories are certainly worth reflection.
We do something every New Year’s Eve. We read our slips of paper from our ‘Blessings Jar.’ It turns our focus to praising God for all the blessings He has rained down on us. It takes a while, because He is generous!
That’s what it seems that you have done in this post, and I applaud you! I also commend you for sharing your struggles so each reader feels connected to you through those. Now I don’t feel alone for being the plus size woman at the gym. And I want to know more of your thoughts on enjoying food rather than feeling guilty for any bite. :)
May God richly bless you this year!!
Welcome back, April! Thank you for your comment - I'm so glad that some of my words helped you feel seen. You are certainly not alone. :)
I loved reading your reflection of the year!
As a fellow pottery fan, I wanted to share that if you're interested in taking classes, CNU has great workshop offerings that are open to the public through the Torggler Fine Arts Center (some classes are shorter (a weekend) and others stretch out over several weeks) - https://thetorggler.org/learn/studio-classes.html They're taught at several different skill levels and are a great entry point to pottery.
May 2025 bring the clarity you're seeking!
Oh thank you for this insight, Logan! I didn't know that they've got classes too - their course looks a bit more affordable than the other I was looking into. I am always excited to meet another pottery fan - it is such a beautiful art form!
Most definitely!