Rest, Reflection, and the Road Ahead

Hi Friends!

I hope June has been kind to you. It’s been a little quiet here lately—thank you for your patience. The truth is, I’ve been in recovery—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Creativity has felt distant, but reflection? That’s been unavoidable. So today, I want to share some of what’s been on my heart.

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The Power of Community

When life gets hard, your people either show up—or they don’t. And ours showed up.

I still don’t know how we got so lucky, but I thank God daily for the community that surrounds us. The love we’ve felt over the past few weeks has been overwhelming in the most beautiful way. From meals and treats to vacuumed floors, flowers, care packages, ice packs, camping trips, check-ins, and phone calls—every gesture has reminded me that we are deeply loved.

This experience has also been a powerful reminder: when someone you care about is hurting, don’t wait for them to ask. Just show up. One of my dearest friends told me to “lean on your village.” She knows me well—I struggle to ask for help. But I took her advice. I’ve let people in. I’ve said yes to help. And it’s been humbling, healing, and so human.

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Dogs Really Are Little Healers

Junior, Logan, Lily, and especially Champ have been glued to my side. Champ has hardly left me for a second—his sweet, quiet companionship has meant more than I can put into words. He somehow knows when I need him most, even when I don’t have the energy to give anything back.

Sure, four dogs can feel like a circus some days. But they bring a comfort that’s impossible to measure. Champ, especially, is special. We brought him home after our first loss, and he’s been my “fertility dog” ever since. He carries a piece of my heart that I didn’t know was missing.

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Choose Your Person Well

If I’ve learned anything through this, it’s that who you choose as your partner matters more than almost anything.

Ian has been steady and present through it all. Even with a packed work schedule, he was right there in those first two weeks post-surgery—making sure I had what I needed, reminding me to rest, and encouraging me not to push myself too hard. He’s picked up the slack without complaint and given me space to feel it all—tears, silence, frustration, and hope.

I truly married my best friend. We’ve laughed, cried, bickered, and held each other close through this season, and I don’t take a single second of that for granted.

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This Was Never Our Plan

There have been some dark days. One of the hardest was the day we found out only two embryos made it from this round. I stepped out of the shower to take the call and got right back in, sobbing as I yelled out to God.

“What’s the lesson? Why us? What are You trying to show me?”

I still don’t have the answers. Maybe I never will. But even in the heaviest moments, I keep circling back to hope. I remind myself: this isn’t about my plan or my timing—it’s about His. And I truly believe there will be a day when we’re holding our baby, looking back at this chapter, and understanding why it had to be this way.

Maybe through tears. But definitely with gratitude.

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Pressing Pause

We’ve decided to take July completely off from fertility treatment. No meds, no injections, no bloodwork. Just space to breathe and heal. My body needs a break. So does my heart.

I’ve also started Whole30 as a way to reset—body, mind, and gut. And with clean eating and no added hormones, I’m already feeling lighter and clearer. It’s the first time in a while I’ve felt even a little like myself.

We’re expecting our embryo testing results within the next week or two. Once we have them, we’ll meet with our doctor to talk through next steps. Best case? We can prepare for a transfer. Worst case? We might need to consider another retrieval.

And I’ll be honest: right now, I don’t know if I have it in me to go through that again. I’m not closing the door on it forever—but for now, it’s a firm no. My body and spirit need time.

I’ve been praying every day for clarity and direction—asking God to show us the next right step and give us peace, not pressure, as our guide. As my therapist wisely reminds me: You can’t grieve what hasn’t happened, and you can’t celebrate it either. So I’m learning to hold space for both. And I’m taking it one breath, one prayer, and one day at a time.

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We Need a Vacation

The past few years, most of our travel has been for others—to visit family, attend events, celebrate milestones. And while we’re grateful for all of it, we’ve realized: we need a vacation just for us.

Not a trip full of plans and people, but space. To breathe. To laugh. To rest. To reconnect.

We’re leaning toward something easy and familiar—maybe an all-inclusive where we don’t have to make a single decision beyond beach or pool, or exploring a new city in the States where we can wander and eat and just be. A cruise was on our list, but we’re keeping things simple this time. We’re not looking for busy—we’re looking for peace.

If you’ve been anywhere recently that left you feeling refreshed, centered, or inspired, I’d love to hear about it! What’s your go-to vacation spot when you really need to reset?

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As always, thank you for walking alongside us. I know I say it often, but it’s never just words—your love, prayers, and encouragement truly carry us. We couldn’t do this without you.

If you’ve ever found yourself in a season of waiting or healing, I’d love to hear your heart:

• What helped you stay grounded when everything felt uncertain?
• Who showed up for you in unexpected ways?
• How did you learn to embrace rest—even when it felt uncomfortable?

Wishing you a summer full of joy, gentleness, and moments that breathe life back into your soul.

With Love,
Britt