|  Blog Post   |  Ten years

Ten years

This morning as I got ready, two mourning doves and a blue jay worked through some stuff in our holly tree right outside the window. Of course, the blue jay was pretty feisty and eventually staked its territory.

And it felt like a little nudge on the darkest day of the year and what is the last of our three embryos’ due date anniversaries.

Ten years.

It feels a bit like an ending.

Sure each year, I know the due dates will come, and I will remember, yearn, wonder, and grieve, knowing exactly how old they would be if they had met us here.

And there is some major, maybe even final, healing happening in this life, heart, and motherhood of mine.

This story of mine, of ours, has taken away, revealed, and gifted so much.

The darkness has hidden and held the light, all while the light always promised to be there on the other side. I only had to open my eyes and soften my heart enough to receive it.

This year you would have been ten.

Thank you for choosing me to be your mom.

Author:

A Licensed Professional Counselor, Justine Froelker has over 25 years of experience in mental health, personal growth, and professional development. For eleven years, she was certified in Dr. Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability, courage, and empathy. Justine now shares her own curriculum, Courage is Built Here™. This transformative program empowers individuals to live and lead with self-awareness, authenticity, and resilience, building a foundation for courage-centered leadership. In addition to writing her blog since 2013, Justine is an accomplished author of twelve books—including five Amazon bestsellers—Justine has written across genres, from children’s books to in-depth explorations of infertility, faith, grief, and leadership. She has delivered two TEDx Talks, The Permission of the And and The Donut Effect, which highlight her unique perspective on navigating life’s complexities with grace. Justine is a sought-after speaker who travels nationally and presents virtually to global audiences, delivering keynotes, workshops, retreats, and trainings on topics such as leadership, resilience, mental health, coping with burnout, courageous and curious conversations, and fostering cultures of inclusion and belonging. Justine lives in St. Louis with her husband Chad and their two dogs, Gertie and Winston. You’ll often find her volunteering at Wild Bird Rehabilitation—supporting the medical team and feeding hundreds of tiny, hungry babies during baby bird season. And during butterfly season, her home comes alive with the flutter of wings as she raises hundreds of monarch and swallowtail butterflies.

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