2016 was a year full of extreme ups and extreme lows. My husband and I were married in June and were expecting our first baby in December. Like anyone, I envisioned for us a blissful, growing marriage and the excitement of a new baby. And it was. That is until August when we began to find out how complicated our pregnancy was. We were newlyweds, still growing together and learning each other in our marriage, but yet the happiness became overshadowed by the stress, worry and complications. It was a roller coaster ride until October when I delivered by c-section at 32 weeks. Unfortunately, 9 hours later our sweet baby girl passed away. It was absolutely awful, there really are no words for the way it felt and still feels. Nonetheless out of our very unfortunate event I learned something, we learned something. We learned more about each other and how we could lean on each other in such a tragic time so early in our marriage. It made us stronger. It developed a trust I didn't know could exist between us. After losing our daughter, I know my husband is the rock I can lean on and I can depend on him for anything. He has truly become my best friend. Maybe we weren't ready to have a child yet. Maybe we needed to really find ourselves within each other first. I suppose God knew what He was doing and I try to trust that He does. The good Lord giveth and the good Lord taketh away. There is a silver lining in every dark experience and our strengthened marriage is it.

" For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

Here's to hoping 2017 brings us a year just as blessed as 2016; filled with love, growth and prosperity...