Let me just start off with this... I have been SUPER honest and blunt with everything on this blog to date, but at this point Dusty and I are going to be on the more private side with some of the choices we are making and the specifics related to our journey. So there is SOOOO much more to the story this weekend than I am going to share on here, but maybe one day I can tell :) ----Just know that God spoke to Dusty and confirmed the path we should be on!
The Choose Joy event started on Friday night with a welcome speaker and dinner. There was also an evening activity of cutting shoes for Sole Hope while the men had a men's only session, but after the LONG day Dusty and I had been through we just couldn't make it all the way through. Automatically when walking into the room, there were colors everywhere! The organizer, Emmy, did a fantastic job with decorating and making it feel like a place you wanted to be and welcomed. As soon as Emmy introduced herself, I knew the weekend would be full of laughter, tears, understanding, guidance, and so much more. It would be a place where you could cry because of something someone else said and all knew how you were feeling. The amount of people in the room amazed me, especially with the amount of men.
Dusty and I realized that with everyone we met, I would always ask their name, where they were from (because people came from all over the country), how did they find out about Choose Joy, and what there story was. How crazy was it that not one single person hesitated to share their deep wounds of infertility, loss, and hardship. It was a vulnerable place where you could be understood and hugged and loved on. There were people that had never been pregnant, had miscarriages, had stillborn deaths, or even had adopted children that were taken away 20 days later. The loss was significant. BUT, let me tell you.... you could feel, see, taste, hear how the Holy Spirit was moving in each and every person.
Saturday started off with worship in the morning, 4 break out sessions that were too hard to choose from, and ended with dinner and a keynote speaker. I have been to a million conferences, but with this one I didn't want it to end. I was soaking everything up. This was the 3rd year of this event and you could see the deep relationships built from people meeting one another in the years past. I want that... I want to continue and bring depth to the relationships started this weekend. I don't want it to end... (by the way, I am already dying to attend Choose Joy 2016 haha)
During our 6 hour car drive home today, Dusty and I spent pretty much the entire time talking about everything we learned and how we feel called to this ministry. We want to jump head first in it! We have no idea how... but all we know is we are saying "yes" to God in whatever way it be.
Infertility is THE HARDEST battle I have EVER faced... seriously it has been AWFUL... I wouldn't place it on my own worst enemy. But let me share this, the way it has deepened my walk with Jesus Christ and created a form of intimacy with my husband is something I would not change. I have found the true joy in the battle. I thank Jesus. Our Lord is SO REAL YOU GUYS! I am not lying.. I am not under some weird influence... I promise... he is REAL!
I am not sure when I will update this again as like I said, Dusty and I are continuing our journey of finding our baby(s). Keep us in your prayers whenever you remember as we will need it. Spiritual warfare is a real thing too, so we know we are in a battle, but thankfully God has already won, haha!
For anyone interested, please think of either helping in future fundraising or even attending next year's event!!!
http://choosejoy2015.blogspot.com/p/schedule-for-choose-joy-conference.html
