Just a Side Note (or two)

Sometimes when something stirs in my heart and my spirit long enough, I have to get it out. I finally get time to blog and it just pours out of my heart. Clicking publish is hard, sharing the link on social media is harder. It's not easy to put my thoughts out there, it's not easy to be so transparent. But I never regret it.

I don't think my thoughts are abnormal... jealousy, anger, grief, blame... these are all completely normal things to experience and feel when you face painful circumstances like infertility. But I know I am not alone. And even if i didn't realize that, you showed me that yesterday. So many seemed to relate to my words, whether they have faced infertility or not. Different circumstances but the same feelings. Thanks so much to those of you who read my last post & took the time to send me a text or a comment to encourage me. You probably have no idea how much it means to me. Thank you.

I wanted to let y'all know that several of the girls from my support group have just started blogs. I'm super excited, and hope they continue them. All of these girls are going through infertility. I'm so excited they're blogging, and i was so proud as i read their posts. Good writing, y'all! So this is my side note. ;) Please check out their blogs, leave them an encouraging comment, and say a little prayer for them. It would mean so much to me. And them!

So here they are... meet my friends:

{ONE}
Mary Claire at The Stickles. Mary Claire started my support group the same time I did, so we have been friends for about a year and a half now? Something like that. I LOVE THIS GIRL and am so thankful she is in my life. She has such a positive attitude & sweet personality. She just started her blog where she shares her infertility story. Her writing is beautiful! Go read!

Heather, me & Mary Claire at the Kari Jobe concert in October

{TWO}
Heather at Becoming a Family of Three. Heather (pictured above) joined our support group in 2014 and has become a good friend as well. She is such a sweetheart. Heather's infertility journey has brought her and her husband to adoption, and her blog is keeping everyone updated on the process. I'm so excited to watch them bring their new baby home!

 Ashton (center), with Joy & Katie.

{THREE}

Ashton at Baby Dragonfly. I didn't know Ashton until the Baby Steps Infertility Awareness 5k. Remember that? Ashton is the girl that actually won the IVF giveaway! She has since joined our support group. Something very cool about Ashton is that she and her husband are raising money for another IVF to "pay it forward" to someone else. How awesome is that?! :)

 Sadie with Mary Claire & Heather

{FOUR}
Sadie at Bringing Home Baby Hill. Sadie is another friend in my support group! Love her, she is funny & sweet! (I'm telling you, this group has brought some awesome girlfriends into my life!) Sadie wrote her first post this week, sharing with the world what they have been going through in this difficult journey. Her story is heartbreaking but she tells it beautifully.

Me & m

Me & Loren at the 5k. 

{FIVE}

Loren at It's All Part of the Adventure. Loren has been blogging a bit longer than these other ladies, and I've been meaning to share it with you! Loren has one of the most positive attitudes about this whole infertility journey. I love her perspective, and honestly think we could all learn a thing or two from her! She is so sweet, and her upbeat personality is really quite contagious! Haha! I met Loren in support group just like most of these other girls. So glad I did!

 Lindsay (the blonde) with her BFF Meredith.

{SIX}
Lindsay at The Romes. Lindsay isn't in my support group, but only because she lives a few hours away! Lindsay and I grew up in church together. However, I am several years older, so we had different groups of friends. Infertility is what brought us together as adults. Funny how life works. I couldn't go through this without her, though...she's brought me encouragement through many many text conversations! Haha. Lindsay drove in from out of town for the 5k, and I'm so glad she did. The 5k gave her the courage to come out of the infertility closet! So proud. Love this girl.

Go visit them, please! :)

 I also have a read a couple of articles lately about infertility and i thought they were so good, I had to share! :)

"I could have a baby but she could not" - I absolutely loved hearing this told from a woman who has no issues with fertility. Her ability to truly put herself in her infertile coworker's shoes is truly remarkable. I have to tell you, I'm not judging the coworker because maybe she was in a really bad place at the time, but I've never asked a pregnant friend to hide their joy from me like this coworker did. It's up to me to avoid baby showers and other events that will be too hard for me, but I wouldn't want a person to have to hide the most joyful experience of their life. So that's not my point in sharing this post... it's more about people's lack of sensitivity in posting certain e-cards or complaints on social media, and even the things some of them say in person. I love the writer's response to her coworker, and how she encourages those without these struggles to not be like Penninah in the Bible. So good!

"10 Things not to say to someone experiencing Infertility" - I know there are a lot of "what not to say" posts on this subject, but most of them are either venting angry or just funny. This one is more of an educational one & i love it. Pretty much every ignorant comment that has been said to me is listed here, with an explanation on how it's not exactly true! Perfectly stated & well-written article.

So that's it, i guess! Just wanted to share it. Now go visit my friend's blogs so they'll stick around the blogosphere! :)