Hello! My name is Kathy and my husband is Joe! We currently live in Mount Juliet, TN. I am originally from Michigan and Joe from Indiana. We met about 11 years ago through mutual friends. Let’s just say it has been a

journey for us the past decade

We moved around a few times for job promotions like Southaven,MS and Lexington, KY. We have been living in the greater Nashville area for about 9 years now and absolutely love it! We have been married for almost 8 years❤️ We have been very blessed to have been able to be near family and to be given opportunities to see more places than we have imagined in the past ten years. We have also experienced so much in our lives that have impacted our lives in some way. 

When we moved to Tenneessee, we were preparing for our wedding while looking for a place to live. Luckily family was nearby to help us out After we married, we finally found a place to live to start our married life . Unfortunately for us, this would become a difficult time during our relationship. With many different factors affecting our lives, little did we know what would happen in the near future. Hitting a rough patch, we had to fight and be patient for what God had planned for us and what trials he would put in front of us. It came to the point of deciding what we would do with our marriage. It would be during this time that we would find a way back to him when we found our church, Crosspoint Church in Nashville, TN. This would be the start of our relationship back to God. 

After attending a few months at church, we decided to start volunteering when we found out a new campus would be opening in Mount Juliet where we lived. We saw this as a sign and ran with it. It was amazing to feel like every message was applicable to our lives and what was going on in them currently. This helped to strengthen our religious relationship as well as our personal relationship with each other. During this time of strength and perseverance, we had major career changes in our lives. We were able to positively impact our lives with great life experiences and adventures. We created wonderful memories that would last a lifetime for us.

Having establishing a good foundation, unfortunately tragedy would soon find us again. The passing of many family members in a short time frame pushed reality back to us. It showed us how short life could be and to take every day and live it to the fullest. These passings were all unexpected and confusing for us and those involved. It would initiate a time of questioning and episodes of hurt. Though it brought unhappiness, it also brought understanding that there is so much we can’t control. God has a plan for everyone even though it doesn’t match with what we have planned. Perservering through this stage would prepare us for the next thing to come our way that again was something we could not prepare for. The passing of Joe’s father Raymond hit the hardest. It became a long period of time of confusion, unrest, uncertainty and anger. At this time, we were trying to find ways to make a positive out of this tragedy . In a way it did, marking us appreciate our family and seeing them more. Realizing there is more to life and so much more to experience. 

With all that has happened to us so far in our relationship, we hoped to catch a break to just re-charge or reset. We would be given that opportunity on many occasions throughout the year and we were able to create new memories while cherishing the old. It was at this time we discussed being able to go to the next step for us as a couple. We wanted to expand our family, create new memories and experience something more positive in our lives. Just when we thought things were finally picking up for us, God put another test in front of us. In March 2020, our home was hit by a tornado ripping throughout the U.S. especially in Middle Tenneessee. This was such a new experience for us, having our home damaged by something unknown and unexpected. We were thankful to not be hurt and were able to still have a partial roof to protect from the wind and rain that would follow. Luckily our neighbors were ok with We sat in our damaged home, waiting for the sun to rise to assess damage and see what next steps we needed to take. The next morning we were grateful for all the volunteers that came around to check on the neighborhood and provide food and drinks as we waited for our next steps. The uncertainty or where we would sleep that night and how bad the damage was brought on the fact that we were again grateful for what we had and the family and friends we still had around. 

After 8 months of living away from our home, we finally were able to move back in. Though it wasn’t completely done, we were able to start building our home back again to make it feel like a home. It’s been a process but another instance in which we learned valuable lessons and experience we never imagined would happen to us. From our first date to moving states and experience our first major natural disaster, we have encountered many trials and tribulations. What more could happen right? 

During the last couple years we have been dealing with an internal battle. With our decision to start a family, the path to that direction has been one of the most difficult and most unplanned journeys we have been on in our relationship. Another thing we are unable to control, something we yearn for but have been patient in the journey. For those that are not aware, we have been on a journey of infertility and fertility issues. This has been one of the most difficult journeys so far and the most emtioanlly draining journey as well. It has tested both of us, not only testing our relationship with each other but testing our belief in God. Ultimately we understand there is a plan we are unaware of, we understand it may be his plan for us to go on a different path then we envisioned. Having gone through the tests and surgery to try and help out chances, unfortunately has not worked out for us. We are now learning about the IVF route.

This route is new territory for us. Learning all about the process and the steps involved is way more than what we thought. We know it’s in our heart to at least try because if we didn’t try, we would not be exploring all routes available. So now we move on to this new journey. Still the uncertainty of the outcome, the process and anything else that could come with it. Though we don’t usually ask for help, we thought long and hard and figured anything could help us out. It was time to reach out to friends and families and see if they would be able to help us out. Whether it be through prayer, advice or donations. We wanted others to know our story and possible bring insight to infertility and the issues that may come with it. In the end, it’s a learning process for us and those around. We are prepared for what this journey may bring to us, whether it be joy, sadness or frustration.