Sometimes in a season of infertility/loss, we find ourselves dealing with insensitive comments or needing to establish a boundary with family members or friends.

Balancing self-care and charity can be difficult, so we wanted to have this conversation with Edward before the holidays!

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• Advice for those on the receiving end of an insensitive comment or prying question.
• How we can draw boundaries and defend ourselves in these situations while also defusing the conflict.
• How couples can take steps to charitably address these issues so that relationships can be salvaged.

Remember, we are here with you this holiday season!

Links:

Blessed Are They Counseling

Why is it important for us to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas? How can we experience the “fullness of time” of this season as we prepare for the incarnate Lord to come into the world?

In this episode, Ann speaks with Fr. Paul about the Psalms as we get ready to pray the Psalter together this Advent as a community. They’ll discuss:

• The origin of the Psalms and their spiritual importance.
• How the Psalms can be both personal and communal prayers.
• Why praying the Psalter can be so good for us on the path of infertility and loss.

Psalter Links:

Fr. Paul's pick: The Psalter (Pocket Edition)

Alissa's pick: A Psalter for Prayer

Ann's pick: Songs of Praise: A Psalter Devotional for Orthodox Women

Krissy Hamilton, director of Calvary Cemetery in Tulsa, OK, joins us on the podcast today to tell us about Calvary’s Infant Burial Ministry.

For couples in eastern Oklahoma, this beautiful ministry is able to donate the burial space and opening and closing the grave to grieving parents who are burying their child.

In this episode, Krissy gives us:

• advice for parents who need to find a place to bury their baby.
• reassurance that those working at Catholic cemeteries are there to help grieving parents.
• steps for cemetery directors to take to establish Infant Burial Ministries of their own.

As we remember the souls of the faithful departed this November, we are here with you.

Links:

Calvary Cemetery Infant Burial Ministry

How are you dealing with infertility grief? Have you been able to come to a place where that grief can be acknowledged?

In this episode, Ann and Cassandra explore the unique grief of infertility. We'll talk about:

• How emotions like jealousy and anger can come under the umbrella of grief
• The value of learning from other people's experiences of infertility, including primary/secondary infertility and miscarriage
• The beautiful fruit that can be drawn out of grief

Springs in the Desert offers peer-based support to those struggling with infertility and pregnancy loss. It does not provide medical services, psychological counseling, or therapy. This information should not replace professional medical and psychological services. Find trusted grief coaches, counselors, and spiritual directors on our website.

As we wrap up Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, we're bringing Margalita Poletunow, LPC on the podcast for an encouraging episode that will touch your heart.

No matter where you are on the path of infertility/loss, you'll take away from this episode:

• The difference between grief coaching and therapy
• The fact that "God sees you whole" – even when you're struggling with infertility/loss
• The message that you are a beloved daughter (or son!) of the Most High

Please share this episode with anyone who needs that reminder on the path of infertility!

Links:

Where Grief Meets Grace: Grief Coaching w/ Margalita Poletunow, LPC

Happy feast day of Pope St. John Paul II!

To celebrate, we have two very special guests on the podcast today: Peter and Theresa Martin of the Wojtyła Community & Institute, authors of The Rule: St. John Paul II's Rule for a Joy-filled Marriage of Divine Love.

In this episode, we'll chat about:

• How infertility has informed the Wojtyła Community's married couple groups from the very beginning
• How Theresa and Peter "found" JPII's rule for married couples and how their groups are living it out
• How your marriage is complete, no matter the size of your family

Links:

Wojtyła Community & Institute

Starting a Married Couple Group

The Rule: St. John Paul II's Rule for a Joy-filled Marriage of Divine Love

Jocelyn and Pat, the mom & daughter team behind We Carry You Still, join us on the podcast today to talk about:

• The experience of miscarriage grief
• Why it can be helpful to share stories of loss
• How to accompany your daughter (or daughter-in-law) and her husband when suffering through a miscarriage
• Their miscarriage and infant loss ministry, We Carry You Still

It is our honor to walk with you this Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

Links:

We Carry You Still

Heaven's Gain Ministries

It is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and so today we're having a tough but important conversation with Chaney from Heaven's Gain Ministries.

We'll be talking about:

• The disenfranchised grief of infant loss during pregnancy
• Collection options at home and at the hospital for burial
• Memorializing babies who have passed away
• How parishes can help couples experiencing a miscarriage
• Encouragement for couples who were not able to bury their baby

If you have suffered the traumatic loss of your baby during pregnancy: "Your grief is valid, your story is valid, and we want to be here for you."

God loves you, and so do we.

Links:

Heaven's Gain Ministries

Heaven's Gain Hotline: 513-888-4200

Ministries, Counseling, and Spiritual Direction Links

Happy feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux! This episode is a "rose" to take with you today as we reflect on this great saint and her "little way" of growing closer to Jesus.

St. Thérèse received particular graces from God in her life that helped her reach an incredible level of holiness. Even though she lived within the walls of a Carmelite convent, she is the patron saint of missionaries and is even a Doctor of the Church. Her sanctity, sweetness, simplicity, virginity, and vocation to the religious life may make it hard to relate to St. Thérèse at first – especially when we're feeling the weight of the cross of infertility and its effect on our marriages. But there is so much we can learn from this saint even though our lives may look very different from hers.

Will you let St. Thérèse send you a "rose" today?

Links:

"The Hidden Gift of Hidden Suffering" blog post

I Believe in Love (personal retreat book)

Aleteia article on married saints

Just for TodayCompiled and translated from the writings of Saint Thérèse with selections from the Imitation of Christ

Have you ever felt called to be a homemaker, but feel like you can't because of your family size, financial situation, or concern about judgment from others? This episode is for you!

Two old and dear friends of the ministry, Andrea and Allie, join Cassandra on the podcast today to talk about:

• What homemaking looks like for a family of two
• How to discern the decision to stay home
• How Andrea and Allie have found healing of infertility grief through homemaking, and
• How to bring a little more homemaking into the home—even if you are not currently in a place to leave your job!

Links:

Visitation of Hearts Spiritual Direction (with Andrea)

Embracing Homemaking in Infertility (by Allie)

SpiritualMaternity.org

Participating (Sharing) in Mary’s Spiritual Motherhood and Spiritual Children