Jovial State of Mind
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Jovial State of Mind
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Jovial State of Mind

Blog

Jovial State of Mind
  • Home/
  • Blog/
  • Be Jovial/
  • Our Adoptions/
  • Speaking/
February 23, 2015

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February 23, 2015/
February 23, 2015/
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Jovial State of Mind

 Infertility can be a tough and sometimes seemingly lonely road to travel.  You are not alone! Our roads may take different twists and turns, but we can come alongside each other whenever possible and yell "keep trekking!' while giving cheesy high fives. 

I have been married 10 years to my handsome bald hubs and have been wandering the road of infertility and loss for over 6 years.  Our world got wonderfully turned upside down with the adoptions of the two cutest kids who also happen to have Down syndrome. I am crazy passionate about orphan/foster care, orphan prevention and encouraging women struggling with infertility. I work part-time as a Family Nurse Practitioner and am adjunct faculty at a university.  Here is my attempt to occasionally shares stories about navigating the waters of infertility, adoption, miscarriage and my frequently encountered awkward moments of life. High Five! Keep Trekking!

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A family that dances together stays together.... Something like that right?! 😉 There is no better dancing crew than the one I’ve got. I could not be more proud of the arm raising, hip swaying, feet stomping moves that we wowed the crowds with that night. A lifetime of dance parties will never be enough. I plan to dance party it up with them for ETERNITY. Also shout out to the incredible bride with a heart of gold. It was her day but she took the time to love on my kids and include them in such a special way. We are so lucky to know you @alormand - thanks for including us!😍
A family that dances together stays together.... Something like that right?! 😉 There is no better dancing crew than the one I’ve got. I could not be more proud of the arm raising, hip swaying, feet stomping moves that we wowed the crowds with that night. A lifetime of dance parties will never be enough. I plan to dance party it up with them for ETERNITY. Also shout out to the incredible bride with a heart of gold. It was her day but she took the time to love on my kids and include them in such a special way. We are so lucky to know you @alormand - thanks for including us!😍
Thinking outside the box for breakfast ideas this morning. Seriously though? Egg allergy has me STRUGGLING on what to feed this growing food monster here. Also it needs to be a food she can eat independently- so not me spooning it to her- cuz y’all mornings are sometimes tough with 3 by myself. Give me all your breakfast ideas👇
Thinking outside the box for breakfast ideas this morning. Seriously though? Egg allergy has me STRUGGLING on what to feed this growing food monster here. Also it needs to be a food she can eat independently- so not me spooning it to her- cuz y’all mornings are sometimes tough with 3 by myself. Give me all your breakfast ideas👇
Happy February ❤️ #cartervadimdoesbigbrother #niyahgracedoesbraveandbeautiful
Happy February ❤️ #cartervadimdoesbigbrother #niyahgracedoesbraveandbeautiful
I do know that there are some families who do want to hear the words “I’m sorry” when receiving a a new diagnosis, from friends or medical professionals. I suppose it’s a longing for acknowledgement or awareness that they have been walking a different and sometimes difficult path. I can understand that. Wanting to be seen. There is no “sorry” for us. Nothing has changed. She is still our fabulous, spunky, dancing, singing, always moving- Niyah Grace. A new diagnosis on her chart doesn’t change a bit for her or us really. Only opens the door for additional supports and services that sadly were not covered or offered before. Autism is not a “sorry”. We are not sad or scared but hopeful. She is uniquely wired and offers us a new and beautiful view of the world. #sorrynotsorry #autism #differentisok #dualdiagnosis
I do know that there are some families who do want to hear the words “I’m sorry” when receiving a a new diagnosis, from friends or medical professionals. I suppose it’s a longing for acknowledgement or awareness that they have been walking a different and sometimes difficult path. I can understand that. Wanting to be seen. There is no “sorry” for us. Nothing has changed. She is still our fabulous, spunky, dancing, singing, always moving- Niyah Grace. A new diagnosis on her chart doesn’t change a bit for her or us really. Only opens the door for additional supports and services that sadly were not covered or offered before. Autism is not a “sorry”. We are not sad or scared but hopeful. She is uniquely wired and offers us a new and beautiful view of the world. #sorrynotsorry #autism #differentisok #dualdiagnosis
Needing some warm accessories during this polar vortex? Audie is making scarfs now. Just waiting to build up some inventory before launching her Etsy site- but i have a hunch it will wipe out the competition. #momsoftoddlers #audiejoy #scarfweather
Needing some warm accessories during this polar vortex? Audie is making scarfs now. Just waiting to build up some inventory before launching her Etsy site- but i have a hunch it will wipe out the competition. #momsoftoddlers #audiejoy #scarfweather
I don’t consider myself a real writer. Which is what makes sharing about a #hopewriterlife seem so weird or even a bit fake. I feel like most of what I share would be considered a rough draft- especially by someone with any sort of grammatical knowledge 🤦‍♀️. The first post that was published with the Today Show parenting team might get an award for the highest number of spelling and grammar errors in an article on the internet. I am pretty certain there was a typo IN THE TITLE. You guys serve as my editorial team. You usually get my first draft. The truth for me is I’m scared. If the “draft” is not amazing or full of mistakes; I can lie to myself that maybe I could have done better or made it better. I’m scared to really try. I am nervous I will look stupid. If I consider myself a real writer. If I ask someone to proof read. If I really try. If I offer more than a draft. If write a book proposal. If I let go and spread my arms out to see if i can swing without holding on, Niyah-style. What if I embarrass myself? What if I fall? @hopewriters day 3/ DRAFT #niyahgraceswings #parentingteam
I don’t consider myself a real writer. Which is what makes sharing about a #hopewriterlife seem so weird or even a bit fake. I feel like most of what I share would be considered a rough draft- especially by someone with any sort of grammatical knowledge 🤦‍♀️. The first post that was published with the Today Show parenting team might get an award for the highest number of spelling and grammar errors in an article on the internet. I am pretty certain there was a typo IN THE TITLE. You guys serve as my editorial team. You usually get my first draft. The truth for me is I’m scared. If the “draft” is not amazing or full of mistakes; I can lie to myself that maybe I could have done better or made it better. I’m scared to really try. I am nervous I will look stupid. If I consider myself a real writer. If I ask someone to proof read. If I really try. If I offer more than a draft. If write a book proposal. If I let go and spread my arms out to see if i can swing without holding on, Niyah-style. What if I embarrass myself? What if I fall? @hopewriters day 3/ DRAFT #niyahgraceswings #parentingteam
See my last post ranting about the word PEACE. How fitting today’s prompt from @hopewriters is MORNING. In our house, mornings are anything but peaceful in the traditional sense. There is no spiritual quiet bible reading or life changing writing going on at daybreak. By the time the sun rises, we are full on doing our thing. Scrambling eggs, eating eggs, throwing eggs, putting eggs in our hair. You know, the usual breakfast egg stuff. I start “mom-ing“ (that’s a word right?) around 430 or 5 am. There is a weird pressure that i sometimes feel to have a different morning. To start with bible journaling, to write, to have a special chair to curl up in with a blanket where I pray over my children before they wake. Those are all good things. Great things. Things of peace. But peace is also found in picking out the eggs from your 5 year olds newly braided hair, the 10th round of Baby Shark, the potty accident right before the bus, the sweet “happy to see you” my son greets me with as i open his door at 5 am. Serenity in the middle of the mess. Peace because this is the chaos we prayed for and yearned for during our years of loss, infertility and adoption waiting. Morning are not my time to write but rather my inspiration to write. Mornings are why i have something to write about. #hopewriterlife
See my last post ranting about the word PEACE. How fitting today’s prompt from @hopewriters is MORNING. In our house, mornings are anything but peaceful in the traditional sense. There is no spiritual quiet bible reading or life changing writing going on at daybreak. By the time the sun rises, we are full on doing our thing. Scrambling eggs, eating eggs, throwing eggs, putting eggs in our hair. You know, the usual breakfast egg stuff. I start “mom-ing“ (that’s a word right?) around 430 or 5 am. There is a weird pressure that i sometimes feel to have a different morning. To start with bible journaling, to write, to have a special chair to curl up in with a blanket where I pray over my children before they wake. Those are all good things. Great things. Things of peace. But peace is also found in picking out the eggs from your 5 year olds newly braided hair, the 10th round of Baby Shark, the potty accident right before the bus, the sweet “happy to see you” my son greets me with as i open his door at 5 am. Serenity in the middle of the mess. Peace because this is the chaos we prayed for and yearned for during our years of loss, infertility and adoption waiting. Morning are not my time to write but rather my inspiration to write. Mornings are why i have something to write about. #hopewriterlife
Sometimes I can get hung up on a word. The Abstract. The Ethereal. The Intangible. I have trouble putting skin around it and making it into something I can touch. I begin to deep dive and find myself getting lost. A couple years ago, I got stuck on the word hope. It was after we lost our Hope. And suddenly this word was untouchable, delicate, confusing and at the same time beautiful. In a couple months, I am speaking at a retreat about Peace. PEACE. I am doing it again. In over my head with etymology, antonyms, root words, Hebrew, Greek. Trying to wrap my head around peace. I mean Paul does say it “passes understanding” so maybe i just need to lean into the fact that it simply cannot be explained. Although that is gonna be a bummer if I have nothing to say at this retreat but “It surpasses understanding you guys... that’s it... enjoy your weekend.” 🤷🏻‍♀️#awkwardcarlystrikesagain Thanks @hopewriters for the Instagram writing challenge. Already day one has helped me explore my writing approach. 🖊
Sometimes I can get hung up on a word. The Abstract. The Ethereal. The Intangible. I have trouble putting skin around it and making it into something I can touch. I begin to deep dive and find myself getting lost. A couple years ago, I got stuck on the word hope. It was after we lost our Hope. And suddenly this word was untouchable, delicate, confusing and at the same time beautiful. In a couple months, I am speaking at a retreat about Peace. PEACE. I am doing it again. In over my head with etymology, antonyms, root words, Hebrew, Greek. Trying to wrap my head around peace. I mean Paul does say it “passes understanding” so maybe i just need to lean into the fact that it simply cannot be explained. Although that is gonna be a bummer if I have nothing to say at this retreat but “It surpasses understanding you guys... that’s it... enjoy your weekend.” 🤷🏻‍♀️#awkwardcarlystrikesagain Thanks @hopewriters for the Instagram writing challenge. Already day one has helped me explore my writing approach. 🖊
My little ☀️-shine running around the park like she is a toddler. For the reals though, it seems overnight she became this tot and left infancy in the dust. Also this seems to include the “notorious” toddler tantrums. She has A LOT OF FEELINGS about ALL THE THINGS. Cheers to a new season. 😉 #audiejoy #audiejoydoesone
My little ☀️-shine running around the park like she is a toddler. For the reals though, it seems overnight she became this tot and left infancy in the dust. Also this seems to include the “notorious” toddler tantrums. She has A LOT OF FEELINGS about ALL THE THINGS. Cheers to a new season. 😉 #audiejoy #audiejoydoesone
Some pretty excited things to look for in 2019 and quite a bit if traveling. Can’t wait to see everyone!! @adreamretreat @embracetexas @choosejoyevent @wondermamasweekend @theluckymamas
Some pretty excited things to look for in 2019 and quite a bit if traveling. Can’t wait to see everyone!! @adreamretreat @embracetexas @choosejoyevent @wondermamasweekend @theluckymamas
A family that dances together stays together.... Something like that right?! 😉 There is no better dancing crew than the one I’ve got. I could not be more proud of the arm raising, hip swaying, feet stomping moves that we wowed the crowds with that night. A lifetime of dance parties will never be enough. I plan to dance party it up with them for ETERNITY. Also shout out to the incredible bride with a heart of gold. It was her day but she took the time to love on my kids and include them in such a special way. We are so lucky to know you @alormand - thanks for including us!😍 Thinking outside the box for breakfast ideas this morning. Seriously though? Egg allergy has me STRUGGLING on what to feed this growing food monster here. Also it needs to be a food she can eat independently- so not me spooning it to her- cuz y’all mornings are sometimes tough with 3 by myself. Give me all your breakfast ideas👇 Happy February ❤️ #cartervadimdoesbigbrother #niyahgracedoesbraveandbeautiful I do know that there are some families who do want to hear the words “I’m sorry” when receiving a a new diagnosis, from friends or medical professionals. I suppose it’s a longing for acknowledgement or awareness that they have been walking a different and sometimes difficult path. I can understand that. Wanting to be seen. There is no “sorry” for us. Nothing has changed. She is still our fabulous, spunky, dancing, singing, always moving- Niyah Grace. A new diagnosis on her chart doesn’t change a bit for her or us really. Only opens the door for additional supports and services that sadly were not covered or offered before. Autism is not a “sorry”. We are not sad or scared but hopeful. She is uniquely wired and offers us a new and beautiful view of the world. #sorrynotsorry #autism #differentisok #dualdiagnosis Needing some warm accessories during this polar vortex? Audie is making scarfs now. Just waiting to build up some inventory before launching her Etsy site- but i have a hunch it will wipe out the competition. #momsoftoddlers #audiejoy #scarfweather I don’t consider myself a real writer. Which is what makes sharing about a #hopewriterlife seem so weird or even a bit fake. I feel like most of what I share would be considered a rough draft- especially by someone with any sort of grammatical knowledge 🤦‍♀️. The first post that was published with the Today Show parenting team might get an award for the highest number of spelling and grammar errors in an article on the internet. I am pretty certain there was a typo IN THE TITLE. You guys serve as my editorial team. You usually get my first draft. The truth for me is I’m scared. If the “draft” is not amazing or full of mistakes; I can lie to myself that maybe I could have done better or made it better. I’m scared to really try. I am nervous I will look stupid. If I consider myself a real writer. If I ask someone to proof read. If I really try. If I offer more than a draft. If write a book proposal. If I let go and spread my arms out to see if i can swing without holding on, Niyah-style. What if I embarrass myself? What if I fall? @hopewriters day 3/ DRAFT #niyahgraceswings #parentingteam See my last post ranting about the word PEACE. How fitting today’s prompt from @hopewriters is MORNING. In our house, mornings are anything but peaceful in the traditional sense. There is no spiritual quiet bible reading or life changing writing going on at daybreak. By the time the sun rises, we are full on doing our thing. Scrambling eggs, eating eggs, throwing eggs, putting eggs in our hair. You know, the usual breakfast egg stuff. I start “mom-ing“ (that’s a word right?) around 430 or 5 am. There is a weird pressure that i sometimes feel to have a different morning. To start with bible journaling, to write, to have a special chair to curl up in with a blanket where I pray over my children before they wake. Those are all good things. Great things. Things of peace. But peace is also found in picking out the eggs from your 5 year olds newly braided hair, the 10th round of Baby Shark, the potty accident right before the bus, the sweet “happy to see you” my son greets me with as i open his door at 5 am. Serenity in the middle of the mess. Peace because this is the chaos we prayed for and yearned for during our years of loss, infertility and adoption waiting. Morning are not my time to write but rather my inspiration to write. Mornings are why i have something to write about. #hopewriterlife Sometimes I can get hung up on a word. The Abstract. The Ethereal. The Intangible. I have trouble putting skin around it and making it into something I can touch. I begin to deep dive and find myself getting lost. A couple years ago, I got stuck on the word hope. It was after we lost our Hope. And suddenly this word was untouchable, delicate, confusing and at the same time beautiful. In a couple months, I am speaking at a retreat about Peace. PEACE. I am doing it again. In over my head with etymology, antonyms, root words, Hebrew, Greek. Trying to wrap my head around peace. I mean Paul does say it “passes understanding” so maybe i just need to lean into the fact that it simply cannot be explained. Although that is gonna be a bummer if I have nothing to say at this retreat but “It surpasses understanding you guys... that’s it... enjoy your weekend.” 🤷🏻‍♀️#awkwardcarlystrikesagain Thanks @hopewriters for the Instagram writing challenge. Already day one has helped me explore my writing approach. 🖊 My little ☀️-shine running around the park like she is a toddler. For the reals though, it seems overnight she became this tot and left infancy in the dust. Also this seems to include the “notorious” toddler tantrums. She has A LOT OF FEELINGS about ALL THE THINGS. Cheers to a new season. 😉 #audiejoy #audiejoydoesone Some pretty excited things to look for in 2019 and quite a bit if traveling. Can’t wait to see everyone!! @adreamretreat @embracetexas @choosejoyevent @wondermamasweekend @theluckymamas