It’s truly difficult to think the pain of infertility will go away or that we will one day embrace all the pain and struggles that we endured but one day it will all make sense. You will be the chosen one for that one baby who so desperately needs a home and a family to love.

For more information on Shelley Sykes and how to purchase her books, go to the following websites:

www.shelleysykes.com
www.books-by-shelley-sykes.com

This week I continued my interview with Shelley Sykes and she is truly an amazing person in that she can see the silver lining in any event. Rather than get down about life, she sees life as the glass is half full with many blessings in store, no matter how bad her day might be.

She reminds us that “God’s delays are NOT God’s denials”…that when things go awfully wrong, we have the ability to translate that into the universe showing us that a shift needs to be made. She also gives us some specific points to consider incorporating into our lives, so we can begin to achieve happiness…no matter what.

Also keep in mind that Global Happiness Day is on 8-8-08 this year so try to think positively about life and try to make a difference in someone else’s life just by saying something nice.

Shelly Sykes is an Australian mum as well as the author of six books, tv host, and inspirational speaker. She shares her frustrating journey to conceive, her torment when she was on bedrest near the end of her pregnancy, and why she wouldn’t change one event of her life story.

Join me as we laugh and give thanks for the life that we are blessed with!

Did you know that if you want to just cuddle newborn babies with the understanding that they will be placed elsewhere that you can become an emergency shelter home for newborn babies? There are many options available for those who want to love the many, many children in our foster care system.

Kari and I also laughed and compared stories about how much our adopted children look like us, even though we didn’t give birth to them! They even have some of our character traits, which is truly a sign that God placed them in the right family, where they belong.

Being a foster parent is a special calling because the children are sometimes only with you a short amount of time or they come to you with emotional or developmental problems. But Kari feels blessed because it was through the foster parent program that she and her husband were able to adopt their twin boys.

Listen in as Kari describes her journey to motherhood and her love for all of the foster children that have come through her home.

My guest this week is Elizabeth Cessna, a private counselor who treats patients who are struggling with infertility. This struggle can often become all-consuming and sometimes an outside therapist can help you find ways to cope with your grief or an unsupportive spouse.

Elizabeth shares ways to keep your psyche and self-esteem intact during your infertility journey rather than trying to please others. She also shares tips for men who want to comfort their spouse but don’t know how to do so.

My guest this week is Holly, who works at A Labor of Love Adoptions and is also an adoptee. She shares the story of how she found her birth mother and a new extended family but also shares how nervous she was at first and what she hopes will happen in the future.

So rarely do we hear the happy stories of adoption! Not every adoption story is like a television movie with sad endings. Holly’s story is one of hope and encouragement, especially for those of you who are considering adopting but are fearful of the process.

During Mother’s Month, I hope you find it in yourself to remember the birth moms and surrogates who gave the ultimate gift to you…your child. Heart Mark Designs offers cards and other gifts specifically to remember birth mothers. Even a simple gift from you will be a treasured keepsake for a birth mother.

Two big concerns for some listeners are the fear of having a home study for adoption and how to get over the pain of infertility, even after some time has passed. I had these same fears and pain and I hope you can find some comfort in my own stories.

To find reputable case workers and adoption experts who can lessen your anxiety, you MUST do research and you MUST get references so you are not scammed. Finding the right people to work with you will take away a lot of the fear that couples often experience during the adoption process.

Mother’s Day is coming up on May 11th and if you have adopted your baby, please don’t forget to honor your child’s birth mother. They have truly given you the greatest gift of all. If you would like to send a unique birth mother cards, please visit Heart Mark Designs.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to be part of our prayer chain, please send an email to barbara@journeystomotherhood.com Please know that I have total faith that your baby is on its way to your arms.

John Van Regenmorter from Stepping Stones Ministry shares his story of infertility and how it affected him and his wife, Sylvia, differently. He describes his confusion at why his wife would feel the need to see an infertility doctor and he talks about how his male ego was bruised when they found out his low sperm count was part of their infertility problem.

It was only after Sylvia wrote an article about infertility that John fully understood just how hurt she was during this ordeal and he describes his guilt about not being more supportive of her.

You will realize while listening to John that infertility is not just a woman’s problem. Nearly 40% of infertility problems involve male infertility. It’s very important for men to get checked as well so the doctors can have a full picture of what obstacles a couple needs to overcome to get pregnant. 

Thank you, John, for sharing the male perspective of infertility!

This week I am pleased to continue my conversation with Jodi Panayotov, the author of Invitro Fertility Goddess and a sister from Australia. I am still amazed at her ability to find humor while longing for a child and we share some very special passages from her book. Each passage touched my heart and I could relate to everything she has described.

Jodi shares her invitro (IVF) experiences, some of which might surprise you. She even managed to overcome her fear of needles and found a way to laugh when faced with taking so many different drugs. No matter what stage you are at in your journey to your child, Jodi can help lighten your mood and your heart!

Also, if you live in the Pittsburgh, PA area and are contemplating adoption, our founding sponsor, Tina Tyra from A Labor of Love Adoptions, is hosting two workshops at the end of March.