After the Storm... There is Sun

I cannot begin to express the deep, heartfelt gratitude I have for the wonderful people I have met thanks to this journey with infertility. It is amazing to me that there is anything for which to be thankful in regards to IF. But there is. It is the people who I never would have met, the friendships that I never would have made, and the relationships that would have never been this strong if I didn't have to fight this battle with infertility. Friends, Blog Stalkers... you know who you are. There is a piece of my heart and soul that is stronger and warmer thanks to you. I love you all and wish I could hug each and every one of you every single time I think of you (which is often).

I have had some really dark days recently. I don't want to talk about how sad and horrible it was. It will only bring me down when I'm finally feeling like I can stand back up again. But I will say that it was because of the love and support of the above mentioned family and friends that I was able to get through it. As hard as I got knocked down, they picked me up and carried me along at a time when I felt like I couldn't take a single step more. And now, somehow, I feel like I can walk on again. My heart is pieced back together and full of love. 

I have had the honor and pleasure of meeting two of these friends in real life this weekend. It is incredible... my dear friend Say & I are both day dreamers, and a few months ago were saying, 'wouldn't it be great to meet up somehow?!' Long story short, we seized an opportunity when Sueann revealed that she lived in the very city that Say determined was the geographical halfway point between us. The three of us planned a girls weekend where we would meet to run a 5K together and go from Internet buddies to real face-to-face friends. 

This, of course, was not without a few road bumps. I had a train wreck of an emotional day (as you can see from the previous post) yet I still managed to get on the plane. Then Say missed her connecting flight which forced her to face a fearful situation of being alone in a strange city and missing the race (the main event of the trip). But we all got here. And even though it didn't go perfectly according to the plan, we had a ball together.

In the hotel before leaving for the race. I'm ready for some fun!

On your marks... get set... ;)

I am so sad that Say missed out on the race.
Sueann & I had a great time and did our best to "represent" for Say :)

Getting color bombed and taking Say's shirt along for the ride :)

Making the most of our awesome girls weekend :)
We picked Say up in the middle of nowhere...
Sueann drove over a screw & had to get the tire repaired...
We got pedicures... it was so much fun!

We went to the Relay for Life to honor our dear ones who are or have been affected by cancer.
CLEcyclist, a fellow bumpie who is fighting and is a true warrior. I have her in my thoughts and prayers.
My best friend's father, who left us in 2007 and will forever be in my heart.
Two dear colleagues who left us in 2008 and 2013. Every time I see a sparrow, or come across familiar handwriting in a music score, I think of these two brave and amazing women.