Amy and I have a mutual connection.  She reached out to me years ago as we both struggled with our longing to grow our families.  God has been good to both of us...and in July, we both welcome precious baby girls into our families.  In very different ways.  Our girls are a constant reminder to us both of His faithfulness and perfect plan.  Amy is reaching out to you today as you long to grow your own families.  Please take a moment to read her story and connect with her!

I have not adopted a baby. I have not waited for "the call" or submitted mountainous dossiers. And I will certainly not pretend to know what it's like to walk that road. I mean...major respect, you guys. But I believe that God has called us to step into each other's stories, to imagine what it’s like to walk that road, and to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. 



My husband and I went through a season of infertility. Our journey through that deep darkness lasted almost three years. Not terribly short but not crazy long either. Time is so relative isn't it? During those years I was so heart sick. I wanted it to be over. I wanted my baby. I wanted God and I wanted heaven. We prayed long and hard about adoption. We knew that it was something we felt called to do. But when? When was our time? Should we foster?

"I would love a sweet South Korean baby" I told God.

I read the books. I stalked the blogs. I emailed Megan. It's all I could think about some days. But God never gave us peace to start the process. I was going through some infertility treatments and knew our time in that part of the journey was about to come to an end. God ended up allowing me to get pregnant on our third IUI. And I was a little bit floored. I was ready for the answer to be, "Start the paperwork to adopt" but it wasn't. 



Our little girl is 18 months old. She was born the day after Millie Janalee. I often think about our two girls. How our journeys were so different and why God didn't flip flop our circumstances. And the truth is, I don't know. But I trust Him. Because Millie Janalee needed her mama and Emma needed hers. The way our stories weave and intersect and display the gospel is so beautiful. God knew these two little people and how they would come to be placed in our families. And he is good. And his way is just right.  The fact that Jesus cares so much about the heartache we feel is breathtaking to me. He was crushed for us and He took our punishment so that as mamas and wives we can know Him, be comforted in our pain, and display his glory. And one of the ways he does that is through the way he grows our families. 



Going through infertility flipped a switch in me. It made me wide awake to suffering and it has caused me to want to pour my energy into praying for waiting families of all kinds. During the time I was going through all of this my best friend's little boy went to heaven at 41 weeks. I have been made so aware of what losing and missing a child feels like and my heart cannot forget it. And so I have a list on my phone of girls who are waiting for/missing their babies. I pray over this list often and try to encourage girls who are in the wilderness of waiting. I recently posted this post on Facebook:


I was amazed as message after message began to pour in. "Please pray for me" "we've been trying since..." "I know God has great things in store but please pray."



If you are waiting for your sweet baby I would love to pray for you. I love to see how God answers these prayers and it is the least I can do after so many prayed for me. I may not be in the trenches of the wait any more and I may have gotten pregnant and maybe that makes me seem unrelateable (or maybe not). Believe me, I totally get it. But sister, I want to lift you up because I know what it's like to cry out to God in pain. Our struggles are all different but pain is pain, you know what I mean?

 

Robert (my awesome husband) and I don't know what's next. We are praying about foster care. We are praying about International adoption. We are praying about more infertility treatments. Just all of it! So who knows! We are excited to obey God and we trust Him as we continue to grow our little family. 



Please email me if I can pray for you and add your family to my list! Amy_ekis@yahoo.com

Two Week Highlight Reel

Well, it's been a couple weeks since I've posted.  This is so not me.  It's not that we've been so incredibly busy with anything exciting.  It's just life.  I'm easily distracted these days and very unorganized it seems.  I need some time to regroup and  make a plan.  I'm not sure what the plan should be for.  But any kind of plan seems needed.  Ha!

I love this stay at home mama life!  So many little memories made throughout our days, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I basically get to play and take care of my little bestie everyday.  Here are a few highlights since the last time we've talked.

1. {Pigtails}  Oh my sweetness!  One day last week, we played beauty shop during a hypnotizing episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  It was so precious that I did it again the next day adding bows to the look.  Can we say obsessed?! 

2. {College Basketball} One of Russ's friends called offering us his tickets to the Memphis Tigers basketball game the following day.  We took the offer and made it a family night.  Millie Janalee's first college basketball game!  And who would ever guess that it would be Memphis?!  Not MSU.  Ha!  She was mesmerized by all the lights and action.  This girl is a sports fan for sure!

3. {Disney 2014}  I am super excited about our upcoming trip!  Russ had the opportunity to attend a radiology conference at one of the Walt Disney World resorts.  I have no idea what the conference is about.  I just heard "Disney" and said, "SIGN UP!"  Ha! Millie Janalee and I are tagging along for fun.  And because I'm not completely crazy taking an 18 month old to Disney, we invited my parents along.  I cannot stand it!  I'm so excited.  This will be a very laid back trip for us.  No real plans except a couple meal reservations.  We are taking Millie Janalee's lead and doing what we can.   Any advice doing Disney with a toddler?

4. {Losing the Baby Look} Ummm, when did it officially happen?!  I look over at my baby girl and I see a little girl!  Where is the baby face?  She's by far the cutest little thing I've ever seen with an adorable personality to match.  I'm so glad she's mine.  What a gift!

5. {Brrrr}  I'm pretty sure we all know how frigid these southern temperatures have been. All the snow and ice missed us this time, but it was still very cold.  We did what we had to do to stay warm.  Headgear and Ugg boots are a must.  No matter what you wear between the two.

6.  {Uncie Fun}  There are just some things that need no explanation.  Like the things uncles do for their nieces...

7. {Super Bowl Sunday} Did you watch the game?  Were you as shocked as we were?  Better still...did anyone else grandmother cry over the outcome?  Maw Maw was obviously emotionally involved in the game.  We teased her all night as she sat pouting about the direction of the game.  Then, after one of the last turnovers we turn to find her in tears.  It was a sad, sad night for Peyton.  She said she "just wanted him to win so bad."  Having three former MSU players on the Seahawks defense was some consolation, but I must admit...I was a bit traumatized too.  I didn't cry over it though.  Ha!

8. {Little Monkey}  It has happened.  Cribs have been lowered to the lowest hole.  And the little feet have left the floor.  I was working on my computer and heard some grunting and moving around.  I finally turned around to see what was going on, and I found her sitting on top of the ottoman.  Now, she spends her time crawling up and down and all over the chair.  Oh, the injuries I see on the horizon!  She is so proud, and frankly I'm proud of her.  My little monkey!

So you see now that there hasn't been anything terribly exciting.  Just the regular happenings of daily life and few roadtrips back "home."  Now that we're caught up, I hope to see you again this week.

**Stay tuned for Wednesday's God Gave Us Love encore series!  You will be touched by the remaining stories we will share during the month of February.  Check back in and be blessed.