Hannah's Heart

It’s tough watching your friends get married and have children while you are still waiting for God to bring your spouse into the picture. And Valentine's day can be extra brutal when people keep asking “have you found someone yet?” In this episode, Anne’s sister Sarah shares from her personal experience trusting the Lord and looking forward to the day she will be “wife and mother.”

Kara Jones joins Anne and Jade as she shares about the devastating infertility diagnosis she received at such an early age. Being told she would not be able to carry children was hard news to receive as a teenager, but Kara learned to trust God with the story He had for her. Little did she know, God would grow her family in ways she never imagined.

After losing her precious baby less than an hour after she was born, Emily went on to have multiple, multiple miscarriages. The journey moving forward felt cruel and pointless at times. And the desire to be a momma never went away. But through God’s grace, Emily learned to love children that were not her own and pour all her energy into the kingdom of God. 

No one expected Poppy to live through delivery. But she did. A few minutes after she was born, her family sang “Revelation Song” as they passed her around and soaked up every precious moment of her life. “I like to think she heard us singing and then when she died she immediately heard Heaven singing the same song to the Lord in the throne room,” says Poppy’s mom. Don’t miss this powerful story of life, loss and enduring love!

Is IVF my only option? Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART) is not for everyone. Many Christians have ethical, financial, emotional or physical concerns with procedures like IVF or IUI. Fortunately, there is an exciting new option many couples have never heard about! It’s called Natural Procreative Technology (NaPro Technology). Join Dr. Naomi Whittaker as she talks about the latest research, medicine, and surgery options available to help women wishing to achieve pregnancy in accordance with their natural fertility.

In the middle of infertility or miscarriage, it's hard to find the strength to hope again. Anna and Kendra talk about how to go into the new year focused on Christ, so that others will see your testimony and be drawn to Jesus.

Does it make you angry how much IVF costs? What about the price of adoption? As Christians, how do we trust God to provide for us on our journey to build our families? And what practical things can we do to manage our finances and build character along the way?

After years of infertility, Tara was ready to be done. She was mad at God and becoming more and more bitter each day. Little did she know, God was about to use this time in her life to forever strengthen her faith and her marriage.

Will and Anne share the tragic story of losing their baby John-Micah  and the supernatural grace that God poured out on their lives in the midst of so much pain.

After realizing that biological children would not be a part of their story, the Brooks family applied for adoption and waited three years to get “the call.” During the painful wait, Emily clung to Isaiah 49:16 which says, “I will not forget you, see I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” And sure enough…God had not forgotten them.

Emily hasn’t gone a day in her life without pain. Even as a little girl, her severe rheumatoid arthritis had her wheelchair bound and constantly missing out on normal childhood activities. The idea that her condition might one day keep her from bearing children didn’t really start to sink in until college.  But thankfully, Emily was raised in a God-fearing Christian family who taught her the importance of choosing joy and leaning on the faithfulness of God– two lessons that would stick with her through a lifetime of challenges. 

For anyone who has ever prayed for a baby by Christmas– we get it! The holidays mark the passing of time and another year without an extra stocking to hang. But we have SO much to be grateful for this season. Focusing on all that Christ did for us and remembering who He is… is the key to finding joy in the middle of life’s trials.

After multiple miscarriages, the Pipkin’s were offered a free round of IVF if they participated in a research study. This seemed like a miracle and Crystal was instantly on board!  But Ethan had some serious reservations about the way the embryos would be treated and wanted to seek God over the decision. Years of infertility and loss had left Crystal feeling bitter and hard and she just couldn’t believe that her husband would turn down such an opportunity! Was this “miracle invitation” actually going to break up their marriage? Or was God’s grace strong enough to hold them together through the hardest storm imaginable? 

Dr. Heather is back with more helpful tips for anyone struggling with infertility. She’s a former pharmacist turned holistic hormone healing expert. She has a passion for empowering women to learn, listen, and heal their bodies in ways that are natural and practical. Other episodes with or about Dr Heather: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX0yOMflONM&list=PLTG6q2kW0RI6W8RnoDzFamN8tCG11rb3t&index=31 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZeGKUKZVJQ&t=1154s

There are several women in the Bible who struggled with infertility, and there is so much we can learn from their stories! Michal was King David’s first wife. Initially, she was in love with David and they had a celebrity marriage… but somewhere along the way, something happened, and she began to despise him in her heart. Jade and Kendra discuss her story and how to cling to a healthy marriage while struggling with infertility. 

It’s hard to find someone more passionate about fostering and adoption than Mackenzie Killough– seriously, her selfless love for children shines out of every part of her story! But she’s also not afraid to share the hard stuff. You know, like that time she got punched in the face and ended up with a black eye. If you are considering fostering or adoption, this is a must watch episode. She tackles important topics such as how to navigate a failed adoption or placement, how to help older children adjust to a new life and so much more!

Yes! It’s possible to breastfeed your adopted baby and many people have done it! Many women who have struggled with infertility and end up adopting, grieve over the missed opportunity to feed and nurture their little one through nursing– but according to lactation consultant Anna Chamblee, that doesn’t have to be the case. Also many adoptive moms who have never struggled with infertility desire to breastfeed because of the close bond it creates and the many health benefits for both baby and mama. That was the case for Mackenzie Killough. Join Anna and Mackenzie as they both share from their experiences!

Anyone struggling with infertility or miscarriage has probably felt very alone at least once. But the truth is, soooo many couples are dealing with this and are silently hurting. Our enemy, the devil, would like to isolate each of us so that he can prey on our weaknesses and fill our hearts with despair. God designed us to grieve and endure hardships together with the help of other believers. Community is so important! Hannah’s Heart celebrates our 2-year anniversary and the beautiful community God is forming. We also recognize October as pregnancy and infant loss awareness month and encourage anyone struggling to reach out for prayer and support at [email protected]

Infertility can often feel like an unending journey of pain and suffering. Anyone who has endured such a season knows that it is absolutely crucial to have daily reminders of God’s grace and love as you cling to Christ through every month of disappointment. God is ready to pour out extra portions of His love and grace on anyone who asks, we just have to be willing to see them and receive them! Beth Forbus shares the powerful story behind her new book “Daily Double Portions:100 Devotions For Your Journey Through Infertility.” https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Double-Portions-Devotions-Infertility/dp/B0C92F8B2S https://www.sarahs-laughter.com/

Laura Petherbridge shares about the unique dynamics growing up in and marrying into a stepfamily. In this raw and authentic episode, she gives blended families hope-filled tips to stay focused on Christ even on the hard days.