Joy and Infertility

My name is Jillian Heerlyn, and I live in Southwest Michigan with my husband, Todd, and our 4 children. We began our personal battle with infertility in 2007, and have since walked alongside many other couples whose lives have been affected by infertility. Although infertility was a huge part of our journey for many years, it is only part of our story.Connect: Facebook | Instagram | Website | Purchase Hope Deferred

Today we welcome back a listener favorite, Macy White. Macy shares an update on where they are now and what they've been through since our last conversation. You don't want to miss her story and as always, Macy's wisdom as she leans more and more into Jesus through their story.

Imagine yourself, years from now on the other side of this fertility journey. Someone asks you “so why do you think God allowed you to walk through that? What did He teach you?” Will you have an answer? Are we paying attention to what God is showing us through this? Join in on my conversation with Melissa McLamb as she encourages us “from the other side."

"Do you know you're in a dangerous season? If you had a miscarriage, you're 20% more likely to get a divorce than parents that had a healthy baby. If you had a stillbirth, that stat jumps to 40%! If you don't process and look at this season as a potential "big deal" in your marriage, you're missing something.” This statement from today's guest Ryan Cole shook me. We are in a fight against an enemy and today Ryan gives us really practical advice on how we can fight back by loving and serving each other well in this season.

Is there a right or wrong way to grieve? What if you’re stuck, how can you move forward? How do you go about finding a great Biblical counselor to help? In this episode, Biblical Counselor Rebekah Hannah chats about all this and more as she reflects on her own miscarriages and how she sought healing and then began to help others heal as well.

When the miracle you’ve been waiting for comes, do the scars of infertility go away? In this episode, newly pregnant Kaitlyn Kusky and I chat how your battles may look a little different after a positive pregnancy test, but they are still very real battles.

How do you face trauma after trauma and still love life and love Jesus? How can you make it to the other side and still see beauty and purpose through it all? Today I’m chatting with Shawna Beucler from Lunchbox Babies as she shares her unbelievable story and how after walking through it she found her “why.” She also leaves us with three thoughts as we end out 2019 together. PS: Grab your tissues. Trust me.

Unexplained infertility had no chance of taking this girl down. Emily Skillman and her husband fought hard through so many treatments trying to answer the question their infertility had left them. Although their prayers would be answered this year with an IVF miracle, they began practicing gratitude through those hard days and it’s a habit they continue today.

Who is the Lord when something really terrible happens to you? Is His plan for our families really better than our own? And how do we care for those we love when they are walking through awful things? This episode is perfectly timed as we move into the holidays, which for those walking through infertility or child loss, can be extremely difficult. If you are walking through something hard, listen to this episode. If you know someone walking through something hard, listen to this episode.

Today I chat with one of the original voices in the infertility instagram world, Chelsea Ritchie. She began sharing their journey way before it was trendy to be vulnerable. She has encouraged thousands and thousands of women throughout her journey and today you are going to be one of them.

Heather Rhodes is a wife, adoptive momma to a wild one year old, and a holistic pharmacist. She approaches infertility with a unique lens as she helps her clients fight hopelessness and fight for their health.

5 years ago Lindsay and Dan received a devastating diagnosis that ended their dream of having a family which was their greatest desire. That moment has changed the trajectory of their lives forever because they began a new adventure that is still changing their direction, quite literally, even today.

Panic attacks and anxiety became a reality for Ashlee after she experienced the loss of three of her babies through miscarriage. But even in that dark place, she discovered through just a few index cards.

Infertility PLUS. How can someone handle infertility PLUS something else? How do you add on breast cancer, house fires, and brain surgery and yet still have joy? Kelley Ramsey from Waiting in Hope tells us how in today’s episode. She also opens up about a big trial she’s facing this next week and I’m asking all of us to join her community in prayer.

Today I chat with founder and voice behind Sarah’s Laughter, Beth Forbus. Her humor, wisdom, and heart for God is invigorating. Beth shares not only her infertility journey but after that story became part of her history, how God used the classroom of infertility to teach her how to walk through other difficult moments in life.

It’s not everyday we get to hear from a woman whose birth story began with dictators, communism, and crazy government policies, but today we get to do just that! Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, author of Longing for Motherhood, shares her unique birth story but also how a rare diagnosis 19 years later began the biggest battle of her life with the Lord.

Today’s episode is about a different kind of miracle. One that for Thelma and her husband, did not end with a miracle baby (and won't.) They are in the 5% of couples who will never go on to have children... and yet Thelma says they have immense joy. How? Listen in as Thelma shares their miracle was the undeserved gift of peace and acceptance that could only come from our Heavenly Father.

Five years ago, Kristine’s world was completely rocked at the passing of their first baby. Listen in as Kristine shares how the loss of her daughter, Darla, still affects her to this day but how the decision to start sharing her story more is actually helping her heal.

Pregnancy is not the gift, the Father is the gift; and in our wait if we choose to press in, something amazing will be produced in those valley’s with Him that just can’t be produced any other way. Jessica Satterfield is in an 8 year wait for her biological children but her hope is not in a pregnancy, it’s in a person, Jesus Christ.

These friends have walked through the worst life has to offer together and yet they continue to trust that God is the author of their story and are giving it to Him to use through their ministry Foreknown Ministries.

If we praise God in our good moments, shouldn’t we praise Him in our hard ones too? Michelle has faced miscarriage, adoption loss, and an MS diagnosis after her first pregnancy and yet she trusts God more today than ever.

How do you approach God when you are carrying a child you know you won’t get to hold? How do you face Him as you lose your third child? Blogger Brittany Allen shares her faith, doubt, lament, and trust through her three miscarriages. Her story is POWERFUL.

How could you ever give up one of your future children to be raised by someone else? How could you watch as someone raise your flesh and blood? In this episode Mandy shares her story of embryo adoption and says as hard as it's been, it’s been equally rewarding to know she’s been obedient in being a good steward of the lives God has given her.

Caley shares an exciting and shocking update and talks about the future of Joy & Infertility.

Lauren Bourne is the definition of a boss babe. She is an entrepreneur, speaker, writer and founder of I Am Fruitful, a non-profit built specifically for the purpose of encouraging couples struggling to grow their families. God used delayed fertility in Lauren’s life to give her a passion for speaking life into women all over the country and she does that today in this conversation!

Lauren’s story covers the infertility gamut, most TTC medical abbreviations- she’s walked through them and yet as you will hear, no miracle yet. But Lauren is determined to not allow this to keep her from having not only inner joy, but outward- genuine happiness.

Abby and Beau had a whirlwind romance, they met and married within a year. And just like their engagement, their infertility journey has been fast and serious as well. Abby has experienced 3 miscarriages within a year which has lead them to have to do some serious testing. She shares how each one has invoked a different emotion and how she has brought those to God.

In Proverbs 16:9 it says, we can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. No better verse comes to mind when Lauren shared their journey with me. After her life-long adoption dreams were unexpectedly delayed, they found out unexplained fertility would be a diagnosis they had to face too. When doors continue to close in their face, they keep their eyes on Jesus and remind each other that He is all-satisfying and forever near.

Infertility is stressful, and sometimes, that stress can be more than a marriage can take. That was Stephanie and Jared’s story. Broken pasts combined with the stresses of infertility lead them to divorce after just a few years of marriage. But God wasn’t finished with their story yet. Listen in to hear how God restored their marriage and how Stephanie continues to live her life to glorify God is every situation He allows in their lives!

Caley & Jay share their story of infertility, a miracle pregnancy, and continued season of infertility. They share what God has taught them through the past 8 years and how this season opened the door for Joy & Infertility.

Caley & Jay share their story of infertility, a miracle pregnancy, and continued season of infertility. They share what God has taught them through the past 8 years and how this season opened the door for Joy & Infertility.

"Lord don’t ever let me forget the pain so that I can love others well." This sums up who Jessica is; her sensitive to God’s spirit pushes her to reach out, speak up, and love well. This week I interview Jessica Bennett; her story covers the infertility gambit... secondary infertility, adoption wins and losses, and a surprise miracle. Jessica has been an encouragement to me in the past and I know she is going to speak to a deep place in your heart today.

"Lord don’t ever let me forget the pain so that I can love others well." This sums up who Jessica is; her sensitive to God’s spirit pushes her to reach out, speak up, and love well. This week I interview Jessica Bennett; her story covers the infertility gambit... secondary infertility, adoption wins and losses, and a surprise miracle. Jessica has been an encouragement to me in the past and I know she is going to speak to a deep place in your heart today.

From the world’s perspective, Macy and her husband Jacob are facing some impossible situations in their fertility journey including the loss of Jacob’s mom and a miscarriage along the way. Although they have faced some terrible things, their hope is not wavering. Listen in as Macy shares where her hope lies and how God is teaching her about surrender.

Infertility creates unique friendships. It’s a club you never wanted to be in, can’t wait to get out of, but a place you’ve found beautiful community. But now one of you is no longer facing infertility, but facing their miracle. How do you tell your friend you're finally pregnant? How do you tell them that you now have what you both have wanted for so long? And as the friend still waiting, how do you navigate this new season your friendship is in? Listen to this unique set of besties talk through how they are carefully walking through this situation with lots of grace, laughs, and some tears.

Infertility creates unique friendships. It’s a club you never wanted to be in, can’t wait to get out of, but a place you’ve found beautiful community. But now one of you is no longer facing infertility, but facing their miracle. How do you tell your friend you're finally pregnant? How do you tell them that you now have what you both have wanted for so long? And as the friend still waiting, how do you navigate this new season your friendship is in? Listen to this unique set of besties talk through how they are carefully walking through this situation with lots of grace, laughs, and some tears.

On today’s episode I chat with Elisha Kearns from the popular infertility blog Waiting for Baby Bird. She’s real, she’s raw, and she loves her some Jesus! Listen in to see how severe PCOS, a miscarriage, an adoption, and lots of God moments along the way have shaped her into the powerful woman she is today.

On today’s episode I chat with Elisha Kearns from the popular infertility blog Waiting for Baby Bird. She’s real, she’s raw, and she loves her some Jesus! Listen in to see how severe PCOS, a miscarriage, an adoption, and lots of God moments along the way have shaped her into the powerful woman she is today.

Stephanie is a mom to five beautiful girls; but they aren’t her only children. Stephanie has been pregnant twelve times and experienced significant loss. If you are looking for encouragement, peace, or just need to be loved on, this episode is for you. Her perspective on her children in heaven offers a beautiful and different outlook than most of us hear today.

Do you ever think maybe God is withholding your children from you because of your past? Or maybe because of your present? Listen as Anna leads us to identifying how our insecurities are playing a factor into some lies we may be believing about our infertility.

Ashley has faced a 15 year journey with chronic illness that has dramatically effected her ability to have children. Ashley's story isn't tied up with the perfect bow, the perfect ending. She's not holding her miracle. She's still facing this journey every day, and yet she is still choosing to trust God through every heartbreak.

Ashley has faced a 15 year journey with chronic illness that has dramatically effected her ability to have children. Ashley's story isn't tied up with the perfect bow, the perfect ending. She's not holding her miracle. She's still facing this journey every day, and yet she is still choosing to trust God through every heartbreak.