Infertility Awareness Week

Today I was scrolling through my blogroll and stumbled upon a post.

I didn't even know it was Infertility Awareness Week.
I suppose each week is some kind of awareness and we often tire of hearing about the endless causes out there.

But when I read this blog post, I couldn't help but pass it on to you.

It is so beautifully and eloquently written. I think the author profoundly hits the nail on the head. It is a deep truth that resonates with my soul. I am now on the 'other side' as well, but those struggling with infertility are near to my heart. I think the Lord has used that period of my life to create in me a sensitivity and love for these women (and men) that prompts me to try hard to be a source of encouragement and support to them.

To those of you who are currently fighting those emotions of despair, discouragement, pain and bitterness, I hope you read this post and find encouragement.

Know that you are not alone. Read through the Old Testament of the Bible. God's heart was also near to the barren women of old.

I hope you find some encouragement today.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.

An experiment of sorts...

I have been called quite a few things in my  lifetime.

Naive is perhaps one of the more accurate and less insulting among them.

An alternate description may be 'overly optimistic'. There is a fine (and often almost invisible) line between optimism and cynicism.

Today I like to think that I am falling more towards that glass-half-full side of the line.

All this preamble to say...we've decided to participate in a book exchange!!

I was doing my daily mail-perusal last week, and I was delighted to discover, tucked in among the bills and advertisements, a real, non-junk-mail letter from a dear red-headed Michigan friend and her two darling boys.

Now, I have been invited to participate in similar things in the past via email...prayer exchanges, recipe exchanges, verse exchanges, you name it. I will admit, to date, I have always been that awful person who clicks 'delete' without batting an eye and sleeps like a baby that night. That was my initial reaction when I opened this letter as well.

I don't have time.
I don't have money.
Somebody else will just drop the ball.

There goes that cynicism.

However, after a couple of days, I decided to fight that nature with a sense of optimism and adventure -
THIS COULD WORK!
It might be fun!
I'm so tired of getting nothing but junk mail - how fun would it be to receive books instead?!!

And so, here goes nothing.

We took a little day trip to the post-office today and Will learned all about the process of labeling and shipping a parcel (also about the process of sitting patiently and quietly and the consequences if we disobey).

Afterwards, since I already had the little guys bundled into their stroller (why does the post-office not have a drive-through window?!), we took a short walk across the street to the play-ground and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and spring weather.

This guy had a blast on the play equipment as usual...

And this guy sat quietly and smiled as usual.

Not surpisingly, Will made friends with everybody around, and even had a picnic with strangers and mooched their food.

(This sweet Filipino grandmother was so excited when I said "yes" to her request to let her share her grandkids' pizza and cookies with him. How could I say no?)

This little guy also had a nice day, taking his first ride, er swing...the first of many.

All in all, it was a nice little outing. Now, let's get those books coming!!