We are finishing our Summer of Stories with Nicole Zasowski. She is a counselor, author and speaker that shares her painful story of infertility and miscarriage. Many of you know too well what it’s like to embrace joy when you’ve walked through so much loss and disappointment. Nicole bravely encourages us all that it’s possible. It’s possible to find joy and practice thanksgiving even when mourning and grief is very present.Make sure you follow along this week on Pardon The Mess Instagram page. I will share the picture of all of her kids that stopped me in my tracks. The photo was edited to feature her 3 kids on earth and her 5 kids in heaven all walking together on the beach. This photo so beautifully depicted the reality that Nicole is a mom of eight children, not just three. If you have been through loss like Nicole, I believe you will be so encouraged by her honesty about the emotions she feels and her journey with God through it all.My favorite part is when she shares about the brain science behind negativity and joy. She shares practical ideas on how we can lean towards and practice savoring joyful moments. We can store these memories in a part of our brain that helps us recall them again and again.Praying for each of you now, that you feel seen and heard through this episode. I pray that God meets you in the tender, broken and disappointed places of your heart. Much love,Courtney In this episode, we chat about:Nicole’s journey with infertility and miscarriageLeaning into God with all of your emotionsHow sadness can help us find the joyHow to practically celebrate and savor moments when life is hardTimestamps:0:00 Introduction and Background03:48 Struggling with Infertility and Miscarriage08:09 Feeling Alone and Finding Support11:35 Journey Between Children16:01 The Vulnerability of Joy22:24 Holding Both Pain and Joy24:17 The Power of Celebration27:56 Savoring Everyday Moments30:21 Celebration as a Rhythm35:40 Engaging God in Joy and PainConnect with Pardon The Mess:Christian ParentingPardon The Mess Courtney DeFeoGet your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of FaithResources from today’s show:NicoleZasowski.comLost to FoundWhat If It’s Wonderful NLT Student Thinline Reference BibleHope for your HomeschoolOur Sponsors:* Check out Seed and use my code 25MESS for a great deal: seed.com* Check out Seed and use my code 25MESS for a great deal: seed.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy