Mary Graham

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National Infertility Awareness Week + A Royal Daughter guest post

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Today I am honored to have the beautiful (inside and out) Amanda from A Royal Daughter visiting. She’s sharing some pretty powerful stuff that’s on her heart and I know, from experience, that so many people will relate to her and her struggle. Make sure you stop by her blog today and show her some love and encouragement.
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Hi there, have we met before? If not, let me introduce myself:

I am a country-living, ice tea drinking, good book reading, farming, ranching, Jesus-loving, curly-headed wife of a seminary professor.   He’s a teacher, I’m a writer. He’s a thinker, I’m a creative. Together we make our home on a small farm in Texas.

I had the complete joy and honor of meeting Mary last October at the Influence Conference. She has such a sweet spirit, and I loved having the opportunity to brainstorm with her about her blog design. She’s a treasure, and she’s graciously offered to let me take over her online space today. Thank you Mary for your virtual – albeit very real – hospitality.

Carly, Mary, Me, and Brittany. Mary’s the only non-Texan in the picture. And her fabulously comfy outfit may have inspired me to purchase some mustard pants to pair with a chambray top. Talk about copycat fashion!

I’m here today for a very specific purpose. April 21-27 is National Infertility Awareness Week, and as a woman deep in the thick of battling barrenness, I am trying to make the most of this painful journey by spreading awareness about infertility.

A few facts about infertility:

  • Approximately 1 in 6 couples in the United States are diagnosed with some degree of infertility each year.

  • “Infertility” is defined as the inability to conceive a child after one year of unprotected, well-timed intercourse for women under the age of 35. Women 35 and older may be diagnosed after 6 months of unprotected, well-timed intercourse without conception. (The inability to sustain a pregnancy beyond 20 weeks is also classified as “infertility.”)

  • 30% of infertility is the result of an ovulatatory dysfunction (i.e. there is a problem with the woman’s ovulation cycle).

  • 30% of infertility is the result of a problem with the man (i.e. sperm structure or production).

  • Women who face infertility often describe their situation as “lonely,” “isolating,” and “painful.”

  • There is a large spectrum of treatments for infertility, with varying degrees of invasiveness and cost.

    • My story:

  • My husband and I started trying for a baby almost 4 years.

  • We were officially diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” in February 2012 (the same month our foster boys were removed from our home). 

  • We have tried various therapies and treatments, from “alternative” therapies to traditional western medical treatments, including Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).

  • In September 2012 we embraced a gluten-free diet, as gluten intolerance is closely tied to infertility. 

  • We’ve experienced the pain and frustration of two failed IUIs.

  • Until last November my husband and I kept our struggle to ourselves. We were completely unwilling to share our story, and to some extent we were unwilling to accept our diagnosis.

    • National Infertility Awareness Week:
    This week on my blog, I will be dedicating the entire week to spreading awareness about infertility, offering encouragement for those battling the pain of barrenness, and providing resources for friends and family of those facing infertility. Topics will include:

  • Ideas for stepping up out of the pit of infertility and transforming negative emotions and energies into productive, worthwhile activities.

  • Collaborative efforts from women currently battling infertility, and how they overcame common lies women believe about being barren.

  • Online and print resources for those battling infertility as well as those who want to come alongside and encourage and support their infertile friends and family members.

  • How to encourage and support your infertile friends.

  • Owning your infertility + embracing the waiting period.

  • Collaborative efforts from women who have made it through to the other side of infertility straight to the hearts of those currently navigating the muddy waters of barrenness.

  • Infertility from the husband’s perspective.

    • There will also be a giveaway during the week with items I’ve hand-picked to offer hope and encouragement to those battling infertility. My goal is to offer encouragement and inspiration not only to those currently facing the isolation and frustration of infertility, but for those who wonder how they can minister to their friends who are facing infertility.

    I hope you’ll join us, and help spread awareness about infertility. It is an isolating journey, but it doesn’t have to be.

    You can connect with me at my website, on twitter, facebook, and instagram. I’m also on pinterest and google. However you decide to connect with me, please take time to introduce yourself!

    the tattoo project and Africa

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    Blogging. It’s such a funny word and fickle thing. But it comes with great responsibility, too. I can use this platform I have to tear down or build up. And today I’m hoping there’s a lot of building up: of people, of money, of prayers, and of encouragement. Let me introduce you to Carly…

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    Hi guys! My name is Carly and I’m the blogger behind Texas Lovebirds. You might recognize me from Copycat Linkup, which I co-host each week with Mary. I’m a 7th grade Language Arts teacher turned SAHM to my son, Gunner. I love Dr. Pepper, reading, bad reality television, baby cuddles, and big bowls of cereal for dinner. At Texas Lovebirds, you’ll find my thoughts on faith, motherhood, fashion, and whatever else crosses my mind. 

    I’m so grateful that Mary is letting me take over her space today. What I’m sharing today is no small matter. It’s not an easy DIY or a 30 minute meal, although those things are pretty awesome. What I’m sharing today is a calling, a calling to take care of the orphans.

    Did you know that 8 out ofevery 10 children who have lost parents to HIV/AIDS live in sub-Saharan Africa? In the sub-Saharan region there are more than 34 million orphans, 11 million of them have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. In fact, the number of orphans in sub-Saharan Africa would be declining were it not for HIV/AIDS. But because of the disease’s spread, the number of orphans is increasing exponentially. In sub-Saharan Africa, 12% of all children are orphans, compared with 6.5% in Asia and 5% in Latin America and the Caribbean (all statistics via UNICEF).

     

    As a mother who feels called to international adoption (read more here), those stats are heartbreaking. I want to do something about it. And as a Christian, there is no doubt in my mind that we must do something about it. In fact, James 1:27 makes a Christian’s role in orphan care pretty clear…it reads, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

    So, I decided to do something about it. And so came the idea of “The Tattoo Project.”

    My goal is to raise $1,000 during the month of January. $1,000 provides for FOUR orphans for one year. The money will help provide safe housing, protection, food, education, spiritual direction, medical
    attention and vocational training.


    And what will I do when the funds are raised? I’ll get that BIG tattoo I’ve always wanted. The tattoo I’ve always made excuses to not get. This project is now the motivation, the meaning behind that tattoo.


    All donated funds will be directed to Mocha Club, a non-profit organization who is helping to rehabilitate the people of Africa in so many ways. If you’d like to read more specifics on how Mocha Club is taking care of the orphans, you can read about that here. They are doing some awesome work, and I am so excited to be a part. 

    Today, I can excitedly tell you that almost three weeks into The Tattoo Project, $610 has been raised! That means TWO orphans are being provided for for ONE year. But, there’s still work to do. There is still $390 to go until we reach our goal. There are still two orphans out there waiting for our help. 

    You can help in two major ways…

    1) SHARE! I’d love for you to blog, Tweet, Facebook, Instagram about this project and get the word out there! Share it with your friends, your family, your town. We need your help.

    2) Today, I would love for you to prayerfully consider donating to The Tattoo Project. Every single bit helps, every single bit counts. All donations are tax deductible. 


    Please know that your donation will go to these children, it will not, in any way, go toward the purchase of my tattoo. 

    Again thank you to Mary for letting me take over her space, and thank you for letting me share my heart and my project!

    Let me know if you stop by the blog. I’d love to say hello!

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