0 Our Journey: Part 5

After over a year of walking through the journey of infertility ‘quietly,’ Nate and I feel led to share our story in hopes of providing connection, fellowship, advice, and prayer for others traveling on such a heartbreaking road. 

{start at the beginning here}

Part 5
Prior to starting any medication, my doctor wanted me to get daily ultrasounds to make sure everything in my body was working correctly. 

A year ago this month, I started to go to the Medical Center for 7 to 8 days in a row to get an ultrasound. I was excited to hopefully fix whatever was wrong! 

But nothing was wrong and my body was like clockwork.

Our doctor said it was time to start Clomid, 

so Nate started researching. 

Nate doesn't make any decisions without looking at all the options, praying about it, and absolutely becoming an expert on the subject.  

And after a period of time, we felt comfortable starting Clomid.

I thought that 'this is it!' Our journey is over! 

It wasn't the highs and lows of earlier. . . but just confidence and faith.

Each month, I spent 7-8 days at the Medical Center for ultrasounds and 

got excited over growing follicles and prayed that one day I would be able to see a baby on that screen.

But Clomid didn't work. . .
month, after month, after month.
{Part 6}

0 Bloglovin

If you have heard the news about Google Reader going away in a few months . . . 

I would suggest to start following blogs using Blog Lovin! 

Follow me on Blog Lovin by clicking the icon below! :-)
Happy Saturday and don't forget about the hair tie giveaway by Tiny Bit More going on now! :-) 

3 Our Journey: Part 4

After over a year of walking through the journey of infertility ‘quietly,’ Nate and I feel led to share our story in hopes of providing connection, fellowship, advice, and prayer for others traveling on such a heartbreaking road. 

{start at the beginning here}

Part 4

Soon after receiving supernatural peace from the Lord, I was hit with the question, “Elizabeth, am I enough for you?”  

God does not promise us a spouse, children, health or financial security . . .

He promises that if we believe in Him, He will bless us with salvation, heaven, eternal life, and that He will meet our every need. . .

So from that point on, there were two corresponding prayers in my heart.

God can do all things. 

He can make the rivers part and the storms be quiet. 

He can raise the dead. 

I know, that I know, that I know that he can give us a child.

And so I asked expectantly. . .  

Knowing that He was big enough to grant us the desires of our heart.

Yet, at the same time, I told myself, we are not promised children and God WILL be enough if He says no. So I also prayed that if He did say no and did not give us children that He would fill that hole in our hearts.

After coming to the shocking realization that we were probably not going to get pregnant without medical help, Nate and I began to pray over whether or not we should travel down the road of fertility treatments or down the road of adoption.

For us, we did not have a peace about adoption at that time.

Not saying that it wasn’t in our future, 

Not saying that it isn’t in our future.

I have had precious friends stop at this point on their journey to get pregnant and adopt and I have had friends do IVF 8 times.
But we prayed with open hearts and felt God leading us towards the road of fertility treatments.

And so we started down that path. . . . 
{Part 5}

3 Our Journey: Part 3

After over a year of walking through the journey of infertility ‘quietly,’ Nate and I feel led to share our story in hopes of providing connection, fellowship, advice, and prayer for others traveling on such a heartbreaking road. 

{start at the beginning here}

Part 3

Month after month after month. 

Nothing.

Basal temperature.

Ovulation tests.

Charts. Plans. Hopes.

Doctor appointments.

Tears. Dismay. Anger. Stress. Disbelief. 
We felt it all.

Then months into our journey, God changed my heart.

“Wait with grace, Elizabeth. While you wait, encourage others. Use this time wisely. Invest in your marriage. Love, honor, and delight in Nate. Good will come of this.”

My change of heart was entirely the Lord. 
Nate would agree that his heart was changed too. 

Not saying that our time of waiting wasn't hard. . . but it was different. 
There were no longer huge swings of highs and lows. 
But a steady stream of faith.

Because our hearts were changed, we could weather the attacks that Satan threw at us. . . and there were plenty. 
I could write a novel on the uncouth things people have said to us, 
none intentionally hurtful, 
but so many speak without thinking  . . 
and, yet, we would literally laugh to ourselves when comments were made, identify that Satan was trying to crush our faith, and give glory to God that we could laugh at the comments. 
To look back and realize that I have never cried, gotten upset, or even really angry over thoughtless comments people have made is totally the Lord. . .
Even though we were going through this incredibly tough journey.  . . it was apparent daily that we were not going through it alone and that Jesus was by our side.

But months went by and nothing.  
{Part 4}

1 Tiny Bit More Giveaway

I am so excited to bring you a fun giveaway today! 

Amanda from Tiny Bit More has recently started making these precious hair ties.

Amanda and I have known each other since elementary school but more importantly were Kappas together at Baylor! :-) 

My personal favorites are these cute chevron ties! :-) 

Amanda is giving away 9 solid and 1 print hair ties valued at $17.75! 

She is also giving Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box readers a discount! 10 hair ties for $12 plus free shipping!! (Just let her know that you are a follower of Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box!) 

Enter below! 

Giveaway ends Thursday, March 21! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

6 Our Journey: Part 2

After over a year of walking through the journey of infertility ‘quietly,’ Nate and I feel led to share our story in hopes of providing connection, fellowship, advice, and prayer for others traveling on such a heartbreaking road. 

{start at the beginning here}

Part 2

Nothing . . . NOTHING can explain the grief, the disappointment, and the hurt of losing a pregnancy. 

There are no words.

Through those dark days, I clung to God.

Good WILL come of this. He IS Sovereign. There IS a divine plan. HE WILL use this for His glory.

We WILL see our baby in heaven one day.

God is good. 

Even the night that I miscarried, he was good  . . . 

Even though it was the worst night of my life. . . 

even in the darkness. . .

I KNEW that God orchestrated that night perfectly. 

I felt like He said, “I am going to take this from Elizabeth and Nate. . .but she is not going to go through this alone. She will be surrounded by love.”

And we were.

But we were heartbroken.

Nate loved me well during that valley. He is so good at that. . .

Very few people know about our loss. . .

It is even hard for Nate and I to talk about it to each other.

But I truly believe that one of the reasons we go through trials is to encourage and support others who might go through the same or similar trials after us.
God has put people in my path this past year to pray for and comfort after they too have experienced loss.
He is so faithful.

Nate and I encouraged each other with "we weren't even trying to get pregnant and we did. . . surely we will get pregnant again soon"
{Part 3}

12 Our Journey: Part 1

After over a year of walking through the journey of infertility ‘quietly,’ Nate and I feel led to share our story in hopes of providing connection, fellowship, advice, and prayer for others traveling on such a heartbreaking road.

Part 1

I  have always wanted to be a wife and a mother. I never wanted fame, success, a business, or anything of the sort. I wanted a white picket fence, the June Cleaver 1950s life, and dinner on the table when my husband got home from work.

In high school, I was voted most likely to be a “Memorial” mom.

In college, I loved, doted on, and cared so much about a group of guy friends that they called me Mom.

Fast forward a couple of years. . .

In November 2011, I thought I was pregnant.

We weren't “trying” but we weren't “not trying.”

I remember taking the pregnancy test, waiting those 3 minutes and praying, “Lord, please let this be positive. . . I can’t imagine waiting another month now that I think/hope I am pregnant. I don't think I am ‘built’ to wait another month.”

And it was positive!

Overjoyed doesn't even begin to describe how we felt!

Nate was researching car seats that night and I was planning the nursery.

We were so so thankful!

We told our families.

We planned.

We rejoiced.

And then just a short time later.  . . we lost the baby.
{Part 2}