Speaking for the first time

3.13.14

     Thursday night was busy: I had a dinner meeting for my job and at the end of the night I had committed to speak at my friend's sorority meeting as an "inspirational speaker". Needless to say, I was a little stressed.
      I was lucky to arrive at Sherri's right on time for them to finish eating some delicious chicken gumbo she had made (I had to leave the business meeting so early I didn't get my meal), so I grabbed a bite and then we circled around Sherri's living room. I had brought my hope box with me, and had been rehearsing all day what I would say.
      I started at the beginning. I talked about Alex's deployment, and our pregnancy, and all the blessings that came with being pregnant. And then I talked about losing Kaitlyn and the sorrows that I felt after that moment of loss that continued for months. I told them about Hope Mommies, and about how the ministry wasn't in Dallas, but that we needed sponsors to help, or women that we were willing to put together boxes.
       The sweet ladies all nodded and cried along with our story. Some of them knew of women who had been through similar experiences. Some of them had no idea that stillbirths and infant losses were so prevalent in our world.

        The next morning, I got a call from Sherri thanking me for coming to speak to her group. I told her that it was my honor, and I thanked her so much for allowing me to share Kaitlyn with them. You see, Sherri is the manager who ran interference for me the day Kaitlyn passed (by asking all of the lab staff not to text me, and later telling them what had happened), and the day that I went back to work by sending an email to the staff giving them the right phrase to use with me. I owe her so much. But now, Sherri called me to tell me something else.
         She told me that her sorority had committed to giving $200 a year to Hope Mommies for the Dallas Area Ministry. She said that her ladies were so touched by our story that they felt called to movement, and they wanted to be able to do something tangible to help. It was amazing. I immediately started crying because it was such a generous gift. The money would be able to help moms here locally connect and not feel abandoned.

God used us again to grow His story and show His love.