On the Brighter Side of Things...

It's easy to sit around and feel sorry for myself but I am making a choice to not do that.  I am making a choice to take control of my life and the hand I have been dealt.  I have been trying to focus on all the positives that might come from my health issues and our delay in having children.  God's timing is perfect, even if we don't always see that at first.  I can look back on other "trials" in my life that at the time, I could not fathom why it was happening the way it was.  Now I look back and am so grateful it did!  Following are a few of the things I feel are positives that might come from this not so positive situation:

1) This will give us an opportunity to continue our journey with the famous Dave Ramsey (who created the infamous husband budget nazi) and become more financially stable.  Because, as we all know, children are VERY expensive.  Plus, if we have to go through extensive fertility treatment, it can get pretty costly.  Even further, if it comes down to adoption, I might start doing a fundraiser!  ;-P

2) Obviously, I have some work to do on my unhealthy body.  This will give me the opportunity to "follow doctors orders;" take all my meds, stick to a diet appropriate for my body's issues, and get on some sort of consistent, workout routine.  I want a safe, healthy place for my precious baby to grow!  And of course, I will need a lot of energy once they're here!

3) PRACTICE!  Most of our friends have had babies recently and we have been given the joyous opportunity to spend time with them.  I know I have learned a lot from simply observing them and their new life's.  In fact, we have been given the honor of babysitting little Miss Sophie (for the second time) this Friday evening so that Heather and Kevin can go out alone for their anniversary.  I've heard some people say that they wish they had known this, or wish they had known that.  Well, I have close friends who will be able to help guide me through the stages of pregnancy, childbirth, and raising that precious baby.  It's always good to have people you can go to for advice.

4) This gives us the opportunity to spend more "alone" time together!  Even after MANY years of knowing each other, several years of being best friends, and almost 5 years of marriage, we are still getting to know each other and becoming closer each day.  He is my very best friend and I wouldn't want to take this journey with anyone else-this will only make us stronger as a couple and as a family.  (I would say it gives us time to travel kid-free, but all these medical bills put a damper on that idea.)

5) Time and this "situation" has given me a chance to make some new friends who are or who have gone through similar situations.  It has also given me the chance to become closer to some of my current friends whom I have really had to lean on for the simple reality of not being able to handle this alone.  It's bitter sweet but true; trials and tribulations often bring people closer together!  I am so blessed to have such a wonderful support system...one that seems to be ever growing!

So, when I get down and out about my current situation, I will try to refer back to this list and look at all the reasons I have to be grateful for the way things are happening.  I will try to remember that God does have the perfect plan for our lives and he is just preparing the perfect path.  I will try to remind myself how wonderful it's going to be when it does happen and that I have so much to look forward to.  Until then, I will give my best effort to do everything that I can do at this point in time!