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Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk

When I think back to being invited to our church’s leadership meeting in 2022, I can feel the excitement all over again. I can remember Micah and I half joking about how we weren’t sure if our pastors meant to invite us. I was nervous and excited to be a part of whatever these meetings consisted of but I also felt that being included in leadership would require a heart posture that was open to…

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Grieving Levi: Leaning into Perfect Placement

I feel like time is moving rapidly. Today is Levi’s due date, April 1st, 2024. Did we really go through all of that in December and it’s already April? Goodness. I really believe that in order to tell you of all the miraculous things God was and is doing through Levi’s brief time here, I need to start from the beginning. While Levi was our 3rd pregnancy loss in 4 years, I feel like I need to…

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Grieving Levi

What was true then is still true now. I’ve thought about writing this many times but I haven’t been able to sit down and clearly express my thoughts, memories, emotions, and revelations until now. I’m currently 3 months postpartum after losing Levi at 6 months (24weeks) pregnant. Surprisingly, most days I’m in good spirits. Of course, there are other days and moments where grief hits like a huge…

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The Power of Our Identity in Christ

This is probably one of my favorite quotes so far from Neil T Anderson’s book, Victory Over The Darkness. A knowledge of who we are in Christ is one of the most important truths to live in every day. Our identity in Jesus shapes the way we live our everyday lives. I love how Neil Anderson touches on the fact that, as Christians, we are to call ourselves saints rather than sinners; a belief and…

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I can still feel the steamy breeze on that hot July summer morning as I was watering our wildflowers. I was admiring new seedlings among flourishing flowers, and I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “Levi is here.” In that moment, I could feel God’s wraparound presence and peace. The following day, I took a pregnancy test, and it was positive. This positive test came four weeks after the Cottons…

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Miracles Do Happen: We’re Pregnant!

Well guys the moment has finally come to share that we’re expecting our little miracle baby in April, 2024. This is turning out to be quite the testimony of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness to fulfill his promises. It would be easy to have an attitude of entitlement for this promised child, especially with two babies in heaven. Through everything we’ve been through, it’s obvious that the gift…

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Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month

I remember after such a long journey to receiving healing with endometriosis, getting pregnant with Jacqueline seemed like God’s promises of children were coming to pass. When we lost her, it was hard to understand what God was doing. When we lost Ezra, nine months later, it was even more difficult to understand God’s plan. Eventually, God revealed that our children in heaven, were not part of…

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Being transformed in Christ is lifelong

As I’m pulling weeds, planting flowers, and transplanting ground cover today, I’m reminded of John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭5‬, ““I am a true sprouting vine, and the farmer who tends the vine is my Father. He cares for the branches connected to me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest. The words I have spoken over you have already…

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I was praying this morning and felt this in my spirit: When stuff hits the fan, God will still be there. The question is really, will I remain engaged with God in every season? Is my faith dependent on what I want or is my faith centered on Jesus and God‘s word. I think most of us would agree that we can’t control God or control difficult circumstances that we are called to walk through. I know…

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Making the Welcome Sign for Our Home

We certainly had a different picture for our forever home, but when God spoke a promise about this house and land, it changed everything in 2018. Two weeks later, God’s generosity moved through my father and mother-in-law to gift us this house in exchange for what she put into it, and we are so grateful they followed that nudge. We certainly don’t deserve this house, and we are thankful for God’s…

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We choose to live in Remembrance of Jacqueline

Two years ago today, our daughter Jacqueline Rose was born about 21 weeks early. Her life was short but she was such a gift. While we were praying this morning, I could hear Underground River singing on repeat: We will choose to liveIn remembranceThrough the test of timeYour faithfulness will stand I remember the moment my water broke, I could almost audibly hear Pastor Whit say, “Locate what…

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Flourishing with my Valentine

Flourishing with my Valentine

As Valentine’s Day rolls around again, I’m overcome with joy and gratitude that God brought Micah and me together. We’ve come so far from where we started in our walk with God and I’m so thankful for our profound sense of placement at our church. When we got married, we weren’t planted in a church body. Not only did we not like church- me especially- but we had found agreement in going it alone…

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Spiritual Lies and Truth Surrounding Pregnancy Loss: Week 4

Spiritual Lies and Truth Surrounding Pregnancy Loss: Week 4

This is week four of spiritual lies and truths we often experience after pregnancy loss. This is the final week of sharing daily videos on Tiktok, Instagram, and Facebook regarding pregnancy loss as part of this series I’m doing for Pregnancy loss awareness month. For each day of the month I have addressed spiritual lies we can begin to believe after miscarriage or stillbirth and where God’s…

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Spiritual Lies and Truths Surrounding Pregnancy Loss: Week 3

Spiritual Lies and Truths Surrounding Pregnancy Loss: Week 3

This is week three of spiritual lies and truths we experience after pregnancy loss. I’ve continued sharing daily videos on Tiktok, Instagram, and Facebook regarding pregnancy loss as part of the series I’m doing for Pregnancy loss awareness month. For each day of the month I address spiritual lies we can begin to believe after miscarriage or stillbirth and where God’s truth is located within…

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Spiritual Lies and Truths We Experience After Pregnancy Loss: Week 2

Spiritual Lies and Truths We Experience After Pregnancy Loss: Week 2

This is week two of Spiritual Lies and Truths we experience after Pregnancy Loss. I’ve continued sharing daily videos on Tiktok, Instagram, and Facebook regarding pregnancy loss as part of the series I’m doing for Pregnancy loss awareness month. For each day of the month I address spiritual lies we can begin to believe after miscarriage or stillbirth and where God’s truth is located within them.…

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Spiritual Lies and Truths Surrounding Pregnancy Loss: Week 1

Spiritual Lies and Truths Surrounding Pregnancy Loss: Week 1

Pregnancy loss isn’t easy to talk about for anyone. For those of us that have survived miscarriage or stillbirth, it can be difficult to put into words the process we go through with grief and how relationships are impacted moving forward; this includes our relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. For those that have not experienced it themselves, this conversation can be incredibly…

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October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month

October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month

I’ve taken some time away from writing and making videos on the topic of miscarriage and stillbirth for the better part of this year. We experienced our second miscarriage in December of 2020, but I didn’t go through the physical miscarriage until January. Although in theory this should have been a realitively safe process compared to the stillbirth of our daughter in 2020, I came as close to…

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