{bittersweet}

{thank you jodyrlanders for writing this post

and for so graciously allowing me to share it}

"The author below is talking about conversation with a group of girlfriends.

Each with different stories about the journey toward and through motherhood.

Infertility, loss, NICU’s, rebellion.

I had a similar conversation recently.

And when I think about a group of girlfriends from high school….

there is pain and elements of heartache

in each and every one of their stories.

All different.

Yet all the same.

The stakes have gone up in lives…

and it’s beautiful…

and exhausting….

and love and pain

like we never knew possible."

************************

“We are very thankful, of course,

and we adore our children

and one another’s children.

But as much as it’s beautiful,

the process is a little harrowing.

Who knew we could want

something so badly

and then not be able

to wrestle it into existence?

Who knew we could want to provide something

so desperately for our children,

to heal and protect them,

but find ourselves profoundly unable?

The stakes have gone up in our lives,

the way they do, it seems,

every time

you decide to love something.”

{Shauna Niequist}