Posts

We moved four times in the first seven years of our marriage.

Moving while going through infertility treatments had some advantages. Some days, like Hannah in the Bible, I probably looked like I was hung over from crying myself to sleep the night before! When friends inquired, I always felt reluctant to admit that I was still sad about the same thing, and that no, it wasn’t getting any better. Although I had support from long-time, long-distance friends, new communities provided some relief from the broken record effect. (more…)

Monday evening a farrier came to our house.

(Update: I found out on his next visit that he is not, in fact, a farrier. A farrier trims hooves for the purpose of affixing shoes. This guy is a barefoot hoof trimmer. It’s a different style, intended to make the hoof flat against the ground and to help the hoof become calloused, similar to wild horse hooves. I’ve changed his title through the rest of the post. 🙂 )

We wanted to have a whole neighborhood trimming party. The guy has to drive nearly an hour to get out here, so he might as well trim all the hooves around here. Unfortunately, our young horse Whiskey (pre-named when we got him) got a crack in his hoof, so we asked the trimmer to come as soon as possible.

Foundational problems demand attention – horses, houses, or humans. (more…)

This summer and into fall I am writing a series of blog posts telling the story of our infertility journey. (more…)

Way back when my husband and I started to talk about marriage, we dreamily looked in each other’s eyes and said:

“We’re going to have as many children as God gives us!”

A few things got changed along the way. (more…)

In the middle of our hectic parties, traveling, and unpacking this month, the kids sometimes get lost in the shuffle.

Last week I decided to ignore my mile-long to do list and spend some time baking cookies with my daughters.

This oatmeal macaroon recipe has been in the family for ages. My mom made these cookies with her mom. I made them with my mom. Last week my daughters made them with me. My mom’s recipe card is so worn that it looks like leather, unlike the brand-sparkling-new card above. (more…)

Summer evenings make some of the most nostalgic memories.

We’ve been soaking up the evening play time, when the heat has relented a little, bedtime is still an hour or two away, and the light starts looking magical.

The kids love it… At least, I think they do. Sometimes I wonder about the littlest. But they all seem to enjoy themselves, in their own ways… even with no specifically planned activities.

Like sharing a summertime drink in the soft grass…

or working on a tractor that just won’t budge. (more…)

In the next several weeks, I’ll be putting up a series of ten blog posts telling my nearly seven-year infertility story. These are written from a Christian perspective, and from a non-medical perspective.

God frequently has a different plan in mind than the one we imagined. I had been considering giving up the blog, and I prayed about it, expecting God to say, “Yes, give it up.” Instead, I felt prompted to write some new things – especially about our journey through unexplained infertility.

I have lots of arguments against it:

• I don’t remember exactly how I felt back then. (This is probably a good thing!)
• Up to this point, I haven’t liked writing about serious topics… Didn’t I just spend years being depressed about not having kids? Is it possible to write about infertility in a lighthearted way?
• Who really wants to hear about my reproductive organs? (And sorry, I won’t be posting that level of detail. I hope this is a relief rather than a disappointment… It should be!)
• There will be no pictures (unlike my other posts) to make up for a thousand stilted words.

After continuing to feel prompted this direction last month, I started to jot down ideas. Just brief thoughts on each stage of the journey, highs and lows, and how it affected me – emotionally, spiritually, and in many other ways.

I have ten posts (including this one), covering the story from beginning to end, and I’ll put them up each Friday. You can find them in the top menu bar under Faith==>Infertility Story. If you’re interested, read Post #2: In the Beginning There Was Silence next week.

I’ve been feeling low, in a “nobody likes me, everybody hates me” kind of way. (You know that song?)

I know it’s not true, just feelings. (more…)

Annie and Drew’s baby was born late Wednesday afternoon!

They’ve taken dozens of fantastic pictures already. I’m sure they’ll post them after they’re settled in. Some are up on facebook now.

My husband and kids and I visited late Wednesday evening and tried to get some pictures in the dim hospital light.

My new nephew is a perfect, sweet, healthy baby, and Annie is so peaceful and happy.

I couldn’t get enough of this baby. (more…)