We hit the road and ended up in Tulsa...

Two weeks ago, I was in a huge funk. I had gotten a call from my doctors office getting the "official" word that they're finished with me. I now am referred to the Reproductive Resource Center in Kansas City for "more evasive treatments." Anyway, my hubs had remembered a comment that I made about wanting to see Happy Feet 2, so he got us two tickets to the new IMAX theater to see the movie in 3D.

 

After the movie was over, I had this overwhelming urge to just leave.  I wanted to leave town for the weekend.  We rarely ever go anywhere, so I decided to give in to my urge and take a road trip.  I asked the hubs if he wanted to go to Oklahoma, and he said, "ok."  So, at 11:30 pm we got home, and I told him we had 15 minutes to pack everything we needed for the next few days.  We jumped out of the car and scrambled about the house looking for any and everything we could possibly need.  We made it to the gas station by 12 am, and we filled up our tank and put gas in our tires then set out on the interstate.  I drove and drove and drove for what seemed like an eternity before I started getting tired (Luke slept on and off the 3 hours on the road).  I finally saw a sign for a hotel in Rogers, AR, so we stopped there for the night.  Talk about a nice hotel!  All I cared about was having a room that had a bed and shower, but the room was so much more than that!  It was so modern.  So...sexy!  Anyway, we found some pamphlets at the entrance of the hotel for things to do in Oklahoma, so we picked up a few.  Luke and I decided to go to the aquarium in Jenks, OK.  After we ran through the toll booth lane without paying (that's a whole other story for another time), we finally made it to the aquarium.

 

The aquarium wasn't as busy as I thought it would be for a Saturday morning/afternoon.  When we got inside, people were setting up tables, and catering trays.  Apparently they were getting ready for a banquet, but I found out that people can have weddings there too!

 

I'm not sure I'd ever want to be married at the aquarium, I'm quite grossed out by the smell of fish, but to each their own, yeah?  

We continued to walk around, and we saw some really cool things!  Here are some of my favorite pics I took from the trip (I only took a few, anyway!)

 

Also, I was able to pet a shark and a stingray.  Grated, it took me a good 45 minutes before I convinced myself to put my hand in the tank, but I still ended up petting them!  I had little kids telling me, "just do it--I did" or "I was scared, too, but now look, I can't stop playing with them--don't be scared."  Talk about feeling like a baby, even the little ones weren't scared!  Oh well, at least I went through with it EVENTUALLY. 

Just before we left, we stumbled upon a domed hallway of thick glass, at least I hope it was thick!!!  People could walk under the glass and surrounding them were sharks galore!  It's kinda surreal.

Overall, it was a great trip.  We stayed in nice hotels and didn't have to pay the high price we expected.  I got out of town, and I desperately needed to get away.  I'll always remember that weekend.  It was filled with more laughter in those two days than there have been for the last year!  I think it was a part of the healing process I have been needing.

Healing...

I'm on a journey to healing.  Healing of my heart, my my mind, and my soul.  This fertility journey has stolen many aspects of my life, including happiness, and I'm BEYOND ready to take it back!  I'm beginning a book called Hannah's Hope.

Last weekend when Luke and I went on our "date," we stopped by the Christian bookstore on the south side of town.  I immediately went to the parenting section to seek out infertility books (ironic, huh?).  I wanted a Christian perspective on our situation, but to my surprise, they did not have even one book about infertility.  They had TONS of books on parenting, and adoption too, but NONE on infertility.  My heart ached for a few minutes because I had hoped to find a book.  I found the manager of the store and asked him if they carried any books on infertility.  He looked it up in the system, and once again they didn't have anything.  They've never ordered infertility books because of the overwhelming need for adoption and parenting books.  He could see the disappointment in my face due to not having even a single book, so the kind man asked me to follow him to the back.  He went straight to a computer, and he started looking something up.  He searched out for christian infertility books that he might be able to have shipped to his store.  As we were going down the list, the "Hannah's Hope" book popped out.  I read the following description, "Hannah’s Hope offers insightful and heartfelt encouragement for couples dealing with infertility, miscarriage or failed adoption. Building on the story of Hannah (First Samuel, chapter 1), Jennifer Saake interweaves her personal experiences with advice gleaned from over ten years of providing aid to grieving families through the support network she co-founded with husband Rick, Hannah’s Prayer Ministries. While remaining true to the very real and anguishing emotions of longing for a child, Jenni continually directs her readers back to the comfort and strength of a compassionate God. Each chapter concludes with a special “Burden Bearers” section offering practical suggestions for pastors, family members and friends."  When I read the description, I felt I should order it.  So, I did! 

I received a call from the bookstore Thursday afternoon, and by Friday afternoon the book was in my hands!  I've only just begun reading it, but I hope and pray that this book will help bring me peace and the healing I've been needing.  I can't wait to share with you what the Lord has done in my life through this book.