How do we deal with disappointment from day to day, month to month, cycle to cycle?

How do we wait well? We talk about those things and about a future series we hope to start aimed guiding us through this continued season of infertility.

Scriptures mentioned:

Genesis 50:20 "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

*correction-PRP is Platelet Rich Plasma not protein

We're back after the work travel assignment and a decided "trying" break. We discuss the work assignment but then how we "regroup" with my NaPro doctor after returning home.

This episode focuses on the frustration and validation of feelings we feel through this journey but focusing on who and where God is in the midst of it.

Are we seeking a relationship with the Lord as much as we are trying to search for a solution for our infertility?

I (Naomi) also mention how I was able to find a local infertility group near me and other resources that have been helpful.

Waiting in Hope (this is the resource I found/use for my support group)

Sarah's Laughter (so good and their podcast has so many stories to relate to from women all over)

Bridget's Cradle (specifically related to loss but another great resource for support groups).

All three are on social media (facebook, IG), have podcasts and have good websites of resources and connections.

Correction: B9 is folic acid not myo-inositol. Myo-Inositol is B8 (stated wrong in episode)

Scripture mentioned:

Psalms 6:3 My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?

John Waller - "While I'm Waiting" https://youtu.be/3gjXBMC8-oM?si=z4iM4tPgCkySWvgR

Welcome to Season 2!

We continue our journey into another year. In this episode, we wanted to talk about the recent monitoring I (Naomi) did prior to starting my new temporary work assignment, but also how the use of the word “failure” isn’t helpful. Why do us women (more than likely than men) use that word to describe ourselves in this journey of infertility and striving for a healthy pregnancy/baby? Hopefully you can relate, but let us all change our mindset to a higher purpose, giving it over to God. It is a constant, minute by minute, day by day struggle with emotions/feelings, but God wants to comfort us and guide us through them (totally normal to have them and feel them but allowing God to be the One we turn to to help us and NOT avoid these emotions/feelings). Let us choose to see another cycle that didn’t work out as “unsuccessful” and look forward to the “miracle” that God will provide, even if (or when) it is not in the way we hope or expect.

Scriptures mentioned:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

(16) Rejoice always, (17)pray continually, (18)give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (19) Do not quench the Spirit. (20) Do not treat prophecies with contempt (21) but test them all; hold on to what is good, (22) reject every kind of evil. (23) May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.

Ephesians 3:20-21

(20) Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, (21) to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Season One of the podcast comes to a close in 2023. What a year it has been! Listen in as we discuss our updates and future plans on our infertility journey and also as we reflect on what 2023 has meant for us. God is faithful, even when we don’t truly see it at the time, in all He has done.

We look forward to sharing more (hopefully good news soon) in Season Two, starting in 2024.

Scriptures mentioned:

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Hebrews 10:23 (NIV) “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

So the last advent is Love. Love means something so special to us especially in relation to God's love and how massive and incomprehensible it is. How do we know God loves us even in these trials? How do we realize He is in control and truly rest in that? We give several scriptures throughout this episode to help point you back to Him and Him as the Creator and who sees all things, even when we don't.

First and greatest commandment is to love the Lord, your God

Second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself

How do we love well in this journey of infertility? Tune in to hear our side of things and hopefully encourage you.

Scriptures mentioned:

Psalm 103:8 (NIV) (sorry I, Naomi, misspeak this one in the episode ;-) )

The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

Psalm 23 (1-6)

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Abbreviations on these scriptures:

Psalms 36:5

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies

Ephesians 3:18b-19 (NIV)

To grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Matthew 6:25-34 (do not worry, for He takes care of what you “need”)

Job (38-40) - God response ‘Who is this that questions Me with ignorant words?’ ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?’ ‘Have you commanded the morning…?’ ‘Have you understood the expanse of the earth?’ Story of generations of this mountain goat family – donkey, ox, ostrich, horse “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars…” “Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up?”

Job says: “Behold, I am unworthy; how can I reply to You?” - Job 40:4a

Job says: “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. …I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” - Job 42:2-3

And then check out and listen to Christmas Carols with a new ear to what the song is really saying and talking about, such as O, Holy Night.

How do we have joy in the midst of life in general and with going through infertility? How is Joy different from happiness and how can we find this? These are some of the questions we answer in this week's episode on Advent: Joy in infertility.

It is not a easy journey but having the right tools to help during this unexpected and sad times are key.

Scriptures mentioned:

James 1:2 (NIV)

“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials.”

John 10:10 (NIV)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights.”

We continue our mini series of Advent with the next topic of Peace and how we can apply it to our journey of infertility. We also touch on just how each of us (male and female perspective) apply this aspect of peace to us as individuals and as a couple.

Advent devotional for inspiration: I'm reading the @YouVersion plan 'Finding Peace: An Advent Study'.

Check it out here: https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/41405

Scripture mentioned:

”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.“ ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

”Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.“ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭55‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

”Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.“ ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let us celebrate this Advent season (which starts the first Sunday of December leading up to Christmas, so 2023, the last Sunday is Christmas Eve).

The first is Hope and that is the topic of this podcast. It is very fitting, since it is what is in our podcast title. We have Hope but where does hope come from and where did it start in relation to Christ.

We discuss this and then tie it back to our infertility journey and how we can use this knowledge to help us not only in this holiday season, but our current "season" of trying to have a child.

We used several devotionals to help with our discussion from the Bible App and from YouTube.

-Great Expectations: Rediscovering the Hope of Advent (bible app)

-Clinging to Hope: An Advent Study (bible app)

-Advent Series by the Bible Project (YouTube) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH0Szn1yYNecujwVOMet2ywprWUbFcAQb&si=ruO1GymCzP-m7byF

Scriptures mentioned in this podcast (NIV):

Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope and for assurance about what we do not see."

Matthew 6: 34

"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Romans 12:12

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

This episode is a recap of the 2nd surgery follow up that then lead into our 2 week overseas vacation. We talk about next steps now that my body has healed. We also discuss how our vacation was a nice break from reality and how often times we use things like this to escape. We continue to lift our eyes to God and ask for His help and provision in our lives in this continued journey.

Romans 15:13 NIV

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Well, we made it through surgery #2! We do a recap on what lead to this and then our (mostly Naomi's) experience with this round. It is amazing what technology we have and what our bodies can go through. We are this much closer to our #miraclebaby (babies ;-) )

This episode references previous episodes for certain topics. You can find them here.

-We have met with my OB (Ep04),

-a RE (Ep05)

-are now with a NaPro MD (Ep08 and since Ep11)

-Ep13 references what was found from first surgery

We continue to persevere and that is what prompted this scripture. Note we are in the threshold of year 5 of infertility following a miscarriage.

Romans 5:3

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Oh, and if you're watching us instead of listening, enjoy the flannel. ;-)

Follow us for more updates @hopeaheadjourney on Instagram

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