Waiting
Monday, November 30, 2020
It's been a year since our miscarriage and we are still
waiting for that beautiful blessing. And now it feels as though we need a
miracle for this to happen. But we keep the hope that God will work a miracle
but the wait is definitely brutal and it feels as though it’s a never ending
journey.
I remember that less than a few minutes after posting about our loss people were reaching out to me telling me their stories. A former coworker came and talked to me. We had talked about her children and pregnancies often, but I never knew about her own miscarriage. She told me that it can feel like a club no one ever wants to be a part of, but once you’re in you realize that so many people you know are already members. And with at least one in five pregnancies ending in miscarriage, the odds are that she is right.
From there I was showered with support. Some people called right away, some
waited a month or two to send us a note. I still have a lot of existential
questions, but along with leaning on my husband, family, my faith and my
community the kind words and stories of few brave women have helped me push
through.
I get question from people asking how I stay so
positive or look so happy. In moments of negativity I hold myself hard to God
and his promises I know that I will see the victory in my family, sometimes
it’s hard to stay positive but that's when I pray harder and I believe
that the hand of God is in my family. Even though it’s been a year there is not
a day I have not thought of that baby. But the sharpness and the consistency of
the grief dulls. That grief has forever changed me, in many ways for the
better.
One of my favorite songs that has been in my
heart during the time I spend with God is; "See the Victory by
Elevation" the words spoke to me and I am sure that I will see God's
victory in my life and in my small family.
"But thanks be to God, who
give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
- 1 Corinthians 15: 57
And that waiting thing? It
can be so hard
In one of those moment when I
was feeling frustrated my mother said to me "Ana, sometimes is not about
the destination. It is about what God wants to teach you along the
journey."
And I have to say that she is
so right.
That doesn't mean that the
midst of waiting is not incredible hard. I have shed more than few tears here
and there because it's hard to live this journey of waiting. I know this time
is a time of growing and I need to think about the end result and be able to
look back and be grateful that God who is wiser orchestrated every circumstance
more perfectly than I ever could have asked or imagined.
We know God's timing is perfect and although
right now we don't understand, we still know his plan is perfect. Though the
pain, the trails, the tears, the obstacles. He is still good and still
faithful. We're continuing to stand in faith that our miracle will be here
soon.
If you are in the period of
waiting, take heart, my friend. There is beauty that comes from those times of
wondering and hoping. There is a journey that can create memories, teaching
moments, and bring just as much (if not) joy than arriving at the destination,
if we're just willing to look around and take it all in.
"I wait
for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope..."
-Psalm 130:5
Thank you for allowing me to share just a
small pieces of this story! I promise to continue to share different pieces in
hopes that someone (maybe that’s you) will be reminded that
they’re not alone. Sending big hugs your way!
"For my thoughts are not
your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my
thoughts than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:8
Our Miscarriage Story
Thursday, May 7, 2020
In late April we found out our baby was on the way, due December 22.
From the moment we found out we were expecting this baby had our heart, we were overjoyed to say the least. We were trying for quite some time and I had lost hopes in being a mom. Never the less we never stopped praying and believing. Once we found out we were expecting we were thankful because our prayers had finally been answered. In the beginning we shared the news with our families and a few closer friends, and we eventually shared the news with everyone at of sheer excitement. Slowly we started to plan for our little family of three.
Looking back, I don't regret rejoicing. It's who I am. We savored every moment we prayed over my belly every night and every morning before I drove to work. And at the end of the day I knew our baby heard the voices of loving and devoted parents. I was 12 weeks pregnant when we heard the news that my baby had passed away at 9 weeks and did not continue on growing, my body had a "missed miscarriage: When the baby's heart beat stops beating, but your body does not recognize the loss and yet had to be miscarried." I wont go into detail about this experience as it's deeply personal. But I will say that it was traumatic and tore our hearts into pieces... I will never forget the sorrow, the pain I felt the moment the technician told me that there was no heart beat and that my baby looked smaller than expected. How I slowly felt my heart sink into my stomach, I couldn't breath but I could feel my body shaking. The pain wasn't just emotional but it was physical. I never felt so much confusion and pain at the same time.
Disbelief washed over me as a thought, I never imagined this would be our story. I could not imagine parting with this little soul, for whom I already felt completely responsible. The following days of passing the baby were the hardest days of my life, unbearable without the support of my family and the abiding presence of Jesus. The loss of our baby brought me and Ruben closer to each other and closer to God, we put our sorrow and future hopes in God's hands. In the middle of the pain we did not know who else to run to but Jesus.
The loss of our child taught me many lessons. There are things I will never say to another couple, ways I will never attempt to rush someone's grief, and a new depth to my walk with the Lord I will never replace. I would never wish this type of pain on anyone else, but I can truly say I am better for it. It has taken me a while to get there.
When our baby went to heaven. I had never been so angry, so filled with doubt, so ready to cave into my pain, but in the darkness the lord carried me. In the middle our pain and confusion I could not do anything but look to God. And there in this search I was able to welcome other's who have had the same pain and experienced the same loss.
Ruben and I are growing stronger by the minute, and still learning new lessons everyday. Our marriage feels stronger than ever before.
Thanks to everyone who showed encouragement, love and support, and for the countless prayers. Those prayers carried us in our loneliest moments. I am forever grateful to our families and friends. Thank you so much for the love, we will not forget how you walked with us.
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