In the church that I attended as I grew up, they had something called "testimony service". It was a time where people shared with the entire church what God was doing in their life.
With that in mind, let me testify …
Jenn and I have one child, a daughter. She is nine. Jenn is from a family of six children. I am from a family of six children. We wanted a large family.
For eight and a half years, we have had wanted to have an addition to our family, but have been unsuccessful. If you have ever read my book, I Was Broke. Now I'm Not., I share on pages 15 and 16 about two major surgeries that Jenn had to have to remove large tumors/cysts from her ovaries.
We met with a reproductive specialist twice. Once in 2004 and again in late 2008. The conclusion was the same. Because of the scar tissue and multiple surgeries, the only real option for a pregnancy was to pursue "in vitro fertilization" (IVF). IVF is extremely costly and has many issues – not the least of which are the moral considerations. Before we could even consider IVF, however, we were told that one of the fallopian tubes had to be removed because it was so scarred and damaged. In November 2008, that tube was removed – further reducing our chances at pregnancy.
After much prayer, Jenn and I embarked on the IVF journey in January with the agreement that every embryo would be given a chance at life. God has blessed us, and we had the money to pay cash for it. We could have remodeled our master bathroom and kitchen for the cost of IVF, but we decided that we would rather have a child than granite countertops. We knew that we were privileged already because we had been blessed a child – many have not had that joy. But we also knew the joy of having brothers and sisters and prayed that this investment into IVF would work.
Our prayer to God was this: "You have blessed us with the funds to do this. You know our heart's desire for another child. Whatever the answer is from You, we will accept it. If Your answer is, "No", then OK. If Your answer is "Yes", AWESOME!
We went for the blood test to see if IVF worked in early February. The answer was, "No".
We were devastated.
So let me set up where we were on June 16, 2009 by summing up the facts:
- Two major in-patient surgeries on ovaries
- Major scar tissue
- One fallopian tube
- Two doctors saying IVF is pretty much the only chance we have
- Dropped nearly $18,000 trying IVF
- Gave up completely
On June 16, 2009, my tired, exhausted, and nauseated wife said she thought something was wrong and said the only time she had ever felt this way was ten years ago when she was expecting our daughter. She went out at lunch to buy a pregnancy test. I told her that she was throwing money down the drain.
Can I tell you a secret? I went into our spare bathroom as Jenn went to "take the test" and I BEGGED GOD to answer our heart's cry. Ever been there? Ever BEGGED GOD? It is a level of desperation I have rarely felt.
I believe that God smiled and said, "Watch this!"
You would not believe the pandemonium that took place in the house over the next two hours.
In early 2010, if it be God's will, we will have a new addition in the Sangl Family. God has shown Himself to be who He says He is.
Prayers are appreciated for my bride and the pregnancy.
Testimony Service Over – unless you want to share how God has been faithful to you!
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Actually, neither one of us know it is pay day until the deposit slip comes in the mail. It is a wonderful feeling.
