The struggle is part of the story

When my husband and I decided it was time to start a family, we were so excited! Then, month after month nothing happened. Tears, treatments, prayers. Nothing. After a few years of trying to get pregnant, we embarked on an adventure of standing in the gap for foster children. We fostered 18 children in 10 years. Satisfying, fulfilling, happiness.

The struggle is part of the story.

When we decided it was time to become homeowners, we searched and searched for the perfect home. One day, we found it! Voila! We put an offer on the house and waited. We were devastated when another couple got the home. This led us on a different path that landed us in the most beautiful and perfect home. Perfect neighbors, perfect yard, perfect friends. Now, we couldn’t imagine anything better. We drive past that other house we lost and smile.

The struggle is part of the story.

When my adult son got into a messy and hurtful relationship, we worried and wrung our hands. There were painful conversations, turned backs, deeply wounding words. I turned his empty bedroom into an art studio where my tears mixed with the paint. I transferred all my pain and despair on the canvas. The art that was birthed during those dark days healed me. It also started me on a new and surprising journey in my career as an artist.

The struggle is part of the story.

The struggle is hard. The struggle knocks the wind out of us. But there is also beauty in the ashes. The pain clarifies our focus…makes us stronger.