Rooted Ramblers

This isn’t forever… But maybe, just maybe it is. Either way, nothing changes. We will love with abandon despite the unknowns. I heard it said recently, loving is easy but it isn’t simple. We fell in love with our girl on night one. The day to day loving is easy as a summer Sunday in the south. The big picture love is more complicated. The thing is we believe in reunification… we got in to foster care to fight for families. It turns out, believing something does not prepare you to live it. We are called to love the orphan. The widow. The least of these. And so we step into this life of uncertainty because we know it is good and right and worth it. We do it for her. Our sweet girl didn’t have a choice about the life she was born into. She is brave, and resilient, and strong. She is silly, and soulful, and stubborn. She is all of these things both because of her dna and despite it. And so we will love. In all of it’s easy, complicated glory. Because she deserves it all. Learn More --> https://www.rootedramblers.com/getinvolved … #fostercare #fosterparent #fosterparents #fosterparenting #choosenfamily #hawaiilife #luckywelivehawaii #luckywelivehi #luckyweliveoahu #alohafriday #alohastate #alohaweekend #alohaspirit

Wanna hear something crazy? Even with a diagnosis of recurring stage 4 endometriosis (a known cause of infertility), our insurance still refuses to pay for anything outside of diagnostic testing. That means all IUI and IVF cycles (and all of the gnarly medication costs) come out of pocket. Tricare, do better. Even knowing since my early 20s that fertility may be a struggle, I never saw myself pursuing IVF treatments. We have always known there are many beautiful ways to grow a family, and we wanted to lean into those. We also know that an intentionally kid-free life is just valuable and worthy (even though the world may tell a different story). But last year we felt the nudge to pursue treatments. Despite the odds. Despite the cost. 20-something me would have been shocked… but it’s time to normalize changing your mind. Even when it comes to big things like politics, theology, family planning… We are made to evolve. So here’s where it gets awkward. We have spent close to $30K so far walking this road. Much of that is through a personal medical loan that we are paying a hefty monthly payment on. We are not sharing this for sympathy. We are sharing because many are naive to the fact that this is what it takes for some to pursue pregnancy. There are many, many individuals and families who are held down by the weight of not only the emotional burden of infertility but also the financial toll that comes along with it. Navigating the simple things can be surprisingly challenging, and for us, this journey is no exception. As we tread the uneasy path of vulnerability, we earnestly seek your prayers. If you find it within your means, we warmly invite you to join hands with us in support. We’ve already been touched by the generosity of some incredible people, and have been encouraged to extend our request. So, here it goes—our humble ask. Whether it’s $5 or $500, your contribution would not only make a meaningful impact but, more significantly, fill our hear

Life lately… *Long Post Alert* A lot has changed in the 2 years since my last post, and a lot is still the same. We are still in Hawaii, soaking in every glorious moment for as long as God has us here. He has blessed us with the most beautiful place to call home, a relationship that we still manage to be stoked on (after 10+ years of marriage), the sweetest and most genuine community, and some pretty incredible new hobbies (hello free diving). This sweet and simple life has been sprinkled with struggles. From major surgeries to skin cancer. Injuries to infertility. High highs and low lows. Last year we felt the Lord nudge us to take action in a very specific area. It had been difficult to decide how to proceed in building our family and we got a very clear, “just do it all.” So in January, after 6+ years of infertility, we started the process for both IVF & foster care here in Hawaii. For a long time, I refused to share this part of my life with others because I do not feel that our hardships should define us. I am not a victim. I didn’t want people to look at me and only see a sad story. Infertility is but a single factor in a season of life that has been so full that sometimes I can’t believe it’s mine. I slowly realized that opening up about our experience would help break down barriers of shame for others so that together we could be stronger. When I looked around the only stories that I saw about infertility were the stories of triumph, of the baby that came after the wait. Where were the stories of the middle? The truth is the season of waiting is long, and the outcome is not assured. Our stories are no less valuable, no less worthy just because they’re uncomfortable to hear. God is still good when months turn into years, when the test is negative again, when healing never comes. There is power in sharing our stories, no matter how raw. With that in mind, we have decided to invite you in. If our story helps just one person, to us the pain

Big Island, Hawaii

Big Island was bringing the 🔥 last week. Only a 40 minute flight from Oahu, but feels like a completely different world. We were dreading the super rainy forecast, but it ended up being absolutely beautiful almost the entire time we were there. We stayed on the Hilo side and away from most of the tourists, and we do not regret that decision at all. Exhausted ourselves by cramming so much into a quick 3 day island hop, and we’re already dreaming up our next trip. Highlights: *Epic waterfalls… each with their own rainbows 🌈 *Hawaii Volcanoes National Park… feels like the moon 🌋 *Mauna Kea… tallest mountain on earth. Hitchhiked and crashed an engagement to make it to the top ⛰ . . . #rootedramblers #loquatco #bigisland #bigislandhawaii #hawaiilove #luckywelivehawaii #luckyweliveinhawaii #waterfallsofinstagram #hawaiivolcanoesnationalpark #volcanoesnationalpark #maunakea #maunakeaobservatory #travelgram #travelhawaii #hawaiitrip #coastguardwife #coastielife #somewherefaraway #dreamtrips #vacationplanning #vacationplanner #rainbowfalls #akakafalls #pukapuka #mochi #richardsonbeach #hilohawaii #hilo #husbandwife #adventureoften

What a dream that this is a just a quick bike ride away from our front door✨ . . . . . #rootedramblers #hawaii #oahu #oahulife #kailua #kailuabeach #coastguardlife #firstpcs #pcsadventures #islandlife #islandvibes #bikerides #travelgram #optoutside #livelifesimply

Hawaii life✨