I've had a close friend suffer a great loss this week.  I will not go into details because I want to respect their privacy to grieve. Please pray for them anyway, God knows who they are and what they need.   I will say that if you've never suffered from infertility, please, please take some time to consider it, think about it. Speaking from experience....Honestly, so many people, sometimes complete strangers can say things to you.  They don't mean to be insensitive or hurtful, but they don't think about what they are saying.  Infertility is a painful, painful thing to go through.  I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  Having to figure out how to answer prying questions makes the pain ever more unbearable.  Please, don't ever ask someone when they are going to have a baby, or why they haven't.  You just don't know what people are going through and truly, it's a private thing. 
I'm off my soap box about that now, but please do be considerate.  I've found it's an issue that isn't talked about much, but I wish it were.  

I just happened upon this poem on a website I found just today.  I thought it was appropriate for anyone who's struggled and prayed for a baby.  I hope it isn't offending, that is not the intention.  I related to it because I didn't know if I would ever be blessed with children, so I DO find myself joyfully loving every minute of my kids' lives.  Even the not-so-fun ones.  Just last night I slept on the couch and floor with my son because he was sick and as I laid awake I was thanking God I had him.  Thanking God I wasn't getting a good night's sleep because that meant I had a baby to wake me up.    


Thoughts on Becoming a Mother
There are women who become mothers without effort,
without thought,
without patience or loss,
and though they are good mothers and love their children,
I know that I will be better.

I will be better not because of genetics or money or because I have read more books,
but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.

I have longed and waited.

I have cried and prayed.

I have endured and planned over and over again.

Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.

I will notice everything about my child.

I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore, and discover.

I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life.

I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold, and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream.

My dream will be crying for me.

I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child.

Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love.

I will be a better mother for all that I have endured.

I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend, and sister because I have known pain.

I know disillusionment, as I have been betrayed by my own body. I have been tried by fire and hell that many never face, yet given time, I stood tall.

I have prevailed.

I have succeeded.

I have won.

So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort.

I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs.

I listen.

And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely.

I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth when life is beyond hard.

I have learned a compassion that only comes by walking in those shoes.

I have learned to appreciate life.

Yes, I will be a wonderful mother.
- Author Unknown