Because sometimes the path changes…but that doesn’t mean the story is over.
💛 Hey, Faith & Blessings Family!
Happy Tuesday! ✨
We’re back with another Tuesday check-in, and we have a LOT happening at Faith & Blessings Foundation!
We’re getting ready to lace up for Stride for Strength 👟, we’re introducing a brand-new way to support our mission while enjoying a good meal 🍽️, and we’re taking a look back at the amazing community that joined us for Roots & Wings Family Building Expo 🌱.
But first, let’s talk about something that many people on a family-building journey understand all too well:
What happens when the plan…doesn’t go according to plan?
Maybe you thought getting pregnant would happen quickly.
Maybe IVF was supposed to be the answer.
Maybe you never imagined considering adoption, foster care, donor conception, or surrogacy.
Maybe you’ve experienced a loss that completely changed how you pictured your future.
Or maybe you’re simply in a season of wondering:
“Okay…what do I do now?”
If that’s you, this week’s conversation is for you. 💛
💬 This Week’s Conversation
When Building a Family Doesn’t Go According to Plan
For many people, the dream of building a family begins long before they are actually ready to have children.
Maybe you imagined becoming a parent when you were young.
Maybe you already had names picked out. Maybe you knew exactly how many children you wanted. Maybe you pictured holidays, birthday parties, Saturday mornings, family vacations, and all the little everyday moments in between.
For some people, the plan seems pretty straightforward:
Fall in love.
Get married.
Have children.
Build a life together.
Simple…right?
Except real life doesn’t always follow the plan. Sometimes pregnancy doesn’t happen as quickly as expected. Sometimes a diagnosis changes everything. Sometimes pregnancy ends in loss. Sometimes fertility treatments don’t produce the outcome everyone hoped for. Sometimes finances delay treatment. Sometimes an adoption journey takes longer than expected. Sometimes surrogacy becomes part of the conversation. Sometimes foster care or kinship care opens a completely unexpected door. And sometimes you find yourself looking at a family-building journey that looks absolutely nothing like the one you imagined.
Suddenly, something that once felt exciting can become filled with appointments, medications, paperwork, applications, phone calls, waiting, decisions, disappointment, and uncertainty.
That’s a lot. And sometimes we don’t give ourselves permission to admit that.
At Faith & Blessings Foundation, we believe there is something every person navigating family building deserves to hear:
💛 Your family-building journey does not have to look like anyone else’s to be meaningful.
Sometimes building a family requires changing the plan. Sometimes it requires grieving the original plan. And sometimes it means discovering possibilities you never expected to consider.
All three are okay.
Real families don’t always happen in neat little stages. Some people become pregnant immediately. Others try for months or years. Some know early that fertility treatment will probably be part of their story. Others receive a diagnosis they never expected.
Some experience pregnancy or infant loss. Some pursue IVF or IUI. Some pursue adoption. Some consider foster care. Some build their families through surrogacy. Some use donor eggs, donor sperm, or donor embryos. Some become parents later in life. And some start down one road only to eventually become parents through a completely different path.
There is no single correct timeline for becoming a family.
Still, when your life doesn’t follow the timeline you expected, it can feel like everyone else is moving forward while you’re standing still.
Another pregnancy announcement.
Another baby shower.
Another first birthday.
Another “We’re expecting!” post on Facebook.
And then comes the question many people learn to dread:
“So…when are you going to have a baby?”
Sometimes people mean well. But questions and advice can still hurt.
“Just relax.”
“It’ll happen when you stop thinking about it.”
“Everything happens for a reason.”
“Have you thought about adopting?”
“Maybe it just isn’t your time.”
Here’s the thing:
Family-building challenges are complicated.
A simple phrase isn’t going to fix them.
Sometimes people don’t need advice.
Sometimes they just need someone willing to listen. 💛
🧪 When “Trying” Becomes Treatment
There may be a moment during infertility when trying to have a baby stops feeling spontaneous and starts feeling…well, clinical.
Calendars replace spontaneity. Ovulation tests appear in bathroom cabinets. Appointments start filling the calendar.
There may be bloodwork. Ultrasounds. Consultations. Injections. Procedures. Medication schedules. Insurance calls. Financing conversations.
And LOTS of waiting.
Then suddenly, you know an entire language you never planned to learn.
IUI.
IVF.
Follicles.
Retrieval.
Embryos.
Transfer.
Genetic testing.
Donor eggs.
Donor sperm.
Gestational carrier.
For someone outside the experience, these may sound like medical terms. For someone going through it, those words can carry enormous hope. A follicle isn’t always “just a follicle.” An embryo isn’t simply a number on a report. A transfer isn’t simply another appointment. Each step can represent the possibility of a child someone has already imagined loving. And that’s one reason unsuccessful treatment can hurt so deeply.
People can grieve something the rest of the world never got to see.
💰 Let’s Talk About the Money Part Too
Family building can also get expensive.
Very expensive.
And we need to be able to talk about that too.
Fertility medications, procedures, testing, travel, legal services, adoption expenses, surrogacy costs, counseling, missed work, and other expenses can quickly add up. Even when insurance covers some services, families can still face significant out-of-pocket expenses. Then people find themselves making decisions nobody wants to make:
Can we afford another cycle?
Should we finance treatment?
How much can we spend without hurting our financial future?
Do we keep trying?
Do we explore another option?
Can we afford adoption?
Can we afford surrogacy?
How much longer can we do this?
Those aren’t simply financial questions.
They’re emotional ones too.
When money begins determining which family-building options are available to you, the weight can be enormous. That’s one reason community resources, education, advocacy, partnerships, and financial support matter so much. People shouldn’t have to carry every part of this journey quietly.
🔄 When the Original Plan Changes
Changing direction does not mean you failed.
Let’s say that again.
Changing direction does not mean you failed. 💛
Someone may begin their journey determined to conceive without medical assistance and later pursue fertility treatment. Someone pursuing IVF may eventually explore donor conception. Someone researching fertility treatment may begin learning about adoption. Another family may consider adoption and eventually become foster parents. Someone else may pursue surrogacy. There are many possibilities.
But here’s something that’s important to understand:
Moving from one path to another can involve grief. People sometimes think presenting another option should immediately make someone feel better.
“If IVF doesn’t work, you can always adopt.”
But adoption isn’t a consolation prize. Surrogacy isn’t a backup plan. Foster care isn’t a replacement for infertility treatment. Each is its own family-building journey with its own responsibilities, requirements, emotions, challenges, and joys. You can be grateful another option exists while also grieving what you originally hoped would happen.
Those feelings can exist together.
💔 It’s Okay to Grieve the Family You Imagined
Grief isn’t limited to death. Sometimes we grieve expectations.
🤝 Find Your People
Isolation can make an already difficult journey even harder.
That’s one reason community is such an important part of the Faith & Blessings mission.
There is tremendous power in realizing:
Someone else gets it.
Their story doesn’t have to be identical to yours.
Maybe it’s a support group.
A trusted friend.
A counselor.
A faith community.
Another IVF warrior.
Another adoptive parent.
Another foster parent.
Someone who has experienced pregnancy loss.
Someone navigating PCOS.
Or an organization that can help connect you with information, resources, and community.
Support doesn’t magically remove every difficult part of the journey.
But it can change how you carry it. Sometimes the family you eventually build looks completely different from the one you originally imagined.
And it can still be yours. We are here for you!
🍽️ What’s New at Faith & Blessings?
Introducing Dining for Hope!
Okay…we’ve been working on something new, and we’re excited to finally introduce it!
🍴 DINING FOR HOPE
Eat Local. Give Hope. Build Families.
Yes—dinner can make a difference! 🙌🏾
Dining for Hope is a new community fundraising initiative from Faith & Blessings Foundation that will bring together local restaurants, families, friends, businesses, and supporters.
The idea is simple.
Throughout the year, we’ll partner with participating restaurants for special Dining for Hope events. Supporters can enjoy a meal during the designated fundraiser, and a portion of qualifying purchases will benefit Faith & Blessings Foundation according to the restaurant’s fundraising program.
So grab your family.
Call your friends.
Bring the coworkers.
Have dinner.
And help us build hope at the same time. 💛
Our First Dining for Hope Is Coming in October
We’re launching Dining for Hope during Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month.
That timing is intentional.
Pregnancy and infant loss can be an incredibly isolating experience. Some families grieve very publicly. Others carry their experiences privately.
Either way, their babies matter.
Their stories matter.
Their grief matters.
And they deserve to know they haven’t been forgotten.
We’ll be announcing the full details of our October Dining for Hope soon—including where we’re eating and how you can participate.
🍽️ Come hungry. Bring somebody with you. Let’s fill the restaurant!
📸 Look What We Did!
Can we take a minute to look back at Roots & Wings?! 💛
🌱 Roots & Wings Family Building Expo 2026
On July 25, Faith & Blessings Foundation brought our community together at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center for the Roots & Wings Family Building Expo.
And this one was special.
Roots & Wings started with a simple idea:
What if we could bring family-building resources together in ONE place?
A place where people could walk through the doors and learn.
Ask questions.
Meet professionals.
Discover organizations.
Find resources.
And maybe learn about an option they had never considered before.
That’s what we set out to create.
Throughout the day, attendees connected with participating professionals, businesses, organizations, and community resources representing different parts of the family-building journey.
But what made us especially proud wasn’t just having an expo.
It was seeing people connect.
Conversations were happening.
Questions were being asked.
Resources were being shared.
Connections were being made.
And THAT is exactly why Roots & Wings exists. 🌱
💡 And We Learned A LOT!
Here’s something we’re not afraid to say:
We’re growing too.
Every event teaches us something. Roots & Wings showed us where families need more information. It introduced us to professionals doing incredible work. It showed us opportunities for new partnerships. It helped us see things we want to add next time. And yes—it showed us things we want to do differently next time too!
That’s part of building something meaningful.
You listen.
You learn.
You improve.
And you keep going.
One thing Roots & Wings absolutely confirmed for us is this:
Family building should not have to be navigated alone. 💛
There is value in getting families, professionals, advocates, organizations, and community members into the same room.
Roots & Wings may have been one day, but the conversations and connections don’t have to end there.
🌱 And Yes…Roots & Wings Will Be Back!
We’re already thinking about the future.
What can we add?
What can we improve?
Who else needs to be in the room?
How can we make the next experience even more valuable for families?
That’s the exciting part.
We’re building.
If you attended Roots & Wings, volunteered, participated as a vendor, supported the event, donated, shared a post, told somebody about it, or helped us in any way:
THANK YOU! 💛💛💛
You helped us take another step toward what we’re building.
📸 [ADD FAITH & BLESSINGS/TEAM PHOTO HERE]
And if you missed Roots & Wings this time…
Don’t worry.
We’re just getting started. 😉
📅 Mark Your Calendar!
We’ve got more coming!
👟 September 5 — Stride for Strength: PCOS Awareness 5K Walk/Run
Ready to move for PCOS awareness?!
Whether you’re a runner, walker, team captain, volunteer, vendor, or professional cheerleader from the sidelines 😂—we’ve got room for you!
Stride for Strength isn’t just about who crosses the finish line first.
We’ve created SO many ways to have fun and win!
🏃🏾♀️ Top 3 Overall Female Finishers
🏃🏾 Top 3 Overall Male Finishers
👥 Team Challenge
⏱️ Pace Yourself Challenge
🎉 Most Spirited Team
🏆 Largest Team
😂 Best Team Name
And everyone who finishes receives a medal and event shirt!
Come move with us and help put a spotlight on PCOS awareness.
👉🏾 REGISTER FOR STRIDE FOR STRENGTH
🍽️ October — Dining for Hope
Our very first Dining for Hope is coming!
October’s event will recognize Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month while giving our community an easy—and delicious—way to support the Faith & Blessings mission.
Restaurant, date, time, and instructions are coming soon.
So keep an eye out!
DINING FOR HOPE DETAILS COMING SOON
💛 November 2 — Armor Off | World Fertility Day
Sometimes being on a family-building journey requires you to be strong for so long that strength starts becoming armor.
Armor Off is about putting some of that armor down.
We’re creating a FREE experience centered around emotional wellness, honest conversations, connection, and support.
No pretending.
No pressure to have everything figured out.
Just space to be human. 💛
More details are coming soon!
👉🏾 [LEARN MORE ABOUT ARMOR OFF]
✨ Your One Thing This Week
We’re giving you ONE thing to do each Tuesday.
Not ten.
Not a giant checklist.
Just one.
This week:
👟 Invite ONE Person to Stride for Strength.
That’s it!
Text your sister.
Ask your coworker.
Send it to your running buddy.
Start a team.
Invite someone who walks every morning.
Ask someone to volunteer.
Or send the information to somebody affected by PCOS.
You never know what one invitation might lead to.
So this week, your assignment is simple:
Invite ONE. 💛
💛 Stay Connected With Us!
You don’t have to wait until next Tuesday to hang out with Faith & Blessings!
There are LOTS of ways to stay connected and become part of what we’re building.
🌐 Visit Our Website
Learn more about our mission, programs, resources, events, and what we’re building next.
📧 Join Our Email List
Get Foundation news, upcoming event information, family-building resources, and opportunities delivered directly to you.
📱 Follow Us on Social Media
Keep up with us between Tuesday blogs for encouragement, event announcements, resources, photos, and community updates.
🙋🏾♀️ Volunteer With Us
Got a little time or a special talent? We’d love to have you! Our volunteers help with events, outreach, programs, and other community initiatives.
🤝 Partner or Sponsor With Us
Businesses and organizations can help us expand family-building education, community programming, awareness, and resources.
💼 Explore Board Service
Want to make an even deeper commitment? We’re interested in connecting with professionals and community leaders who may be a good fit for future board service and can bring their skills, leadership, experience, and connections to our mission.
💛 Support Our Mission
Every contribution helps us continue building education, resources, programs, events, and community connections for individuals and families navigating their family-building journeys.
👋🏾 See You Next Tuesday
Whew! We told you we had a lot going on! 😂💛
But underneath the events, fundraisers, 5Ks, expos, meetings, and everything else we’re building is one very simple belief:
People building families deserve information, resources, support, community, and hope.
Some journeys happen exactly as planned.
Others take a few unexpected turns.
Some take a LOT of unexpected turns.
Wherever you are, remember:
A different path does not make your hope less meaningful.
We’ll be back next Tuesday with another conversation about family building and, of course, we’ll tell you what we’ve been up to too. 😉
Until then…
Take care of yourself.
Check on somebody you love.
Invite somebody to Stride. 👟
And keep building hope with us. 💛
Faith & Blessings Foundation
Supporting the journey. Strengthening families. Building hope.