The gang’s all here! Team Henry goes to the pumpkin patch, year 2. ✌️🎃 #teamhenry
Listen. ... It feels ludicrous to launch another campaign after the overwhelming generosity and success from the last one, so I was reticent to even do this. But I’ve gotten messages from a number of people asking about the other designs I had in the works and when those would be available. The answer is "today!", and this is the design. ... It’s the word “brave”, written small, across the heart. It’s just my handwriting, nothing showy or loud, because bravery is not always loud or bold. “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.” ― Mary Anne Radmacher. ... So this one is for you as much as it is for me. For the grief warrior, cancer patient, bereaved parent, new mother, entrepreneur, HUMAN. Whoever you are, whatever you’re facing down- you've got this. You are so brave, even in your tenderness, and we're all here for you. (Link in profile 💛)
I still struggle to find adequate words to thank you to everyone who has donated, commented, messaged, shared, and prayed for us so far. ... My eyes fill up with tears and there’s a lump in my throat when I think of the way you all eased my fear of asking for help, worrying that people will think we’re foolish or selfish. The texts I got from loved ones telling us how happy they were to finally have a tangible way to help started replacing all the ugly thoughts and fears in my heart that we could never do this, that more treatment would never be an option, that the money and time we’ve poured into this pursuit would only serve to assure us later that we did everything we could. But now it’s feeling POSSIBLE. We believe in miracles, no matter what happens. Our community is beautiful, ours hearts are tender, and there are so many people holding up the lantern for us when we can’t always see the horizon for all the fear and darkness. ... Today is the last day of the Stay Tender campaign and if you’d like to get your shirt, now is the time- but if no more shirts sell, we still exceeded my wildest expectation and I am so grateful for each and every one of you. ✌️ #staytender
I've seen too many people (like Franklin Graham) saying they're praying for "God's favor for Kavanaugh" and I am HORRIFIED that the prayers are not for favor for TRUTH. I hope God reveals to you the damaging nature of this approach to prayer. ... To those of you who believed me, thank you. To those of you who believed me BUT categorically dismiss the experience of these women because of the "timing" or because you think the guy she's accusing is a "good man," please remember that it took me time to report my experience, too. For this very reason. My abuser was in medical school, student body president, well-liked by (most of) his community, too. My abuser was acquitted, too. But truth is truth, and no prayer will change that, no matter how much anyone liked him or thought he was good. ... And if I ever found out he was running for SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, you'd see me raising this much hell as well. EVEN IF HIS POLITICAL VIEWS MATCHED MINE. Even if it ruined my life (which it very nearly did already for close to 7 years). ... #believewomen ... (While my profile is public, my abuser is blocked- if you wish to share, please copy and paste without my name for confidentiality reasons... until the day I find out he's running for public office- then the floodgates will open.) ... Artwork by @oliviaherrickdesign
🎉UPDATES! UPDATES!🎉 ... For those who were interested in the necklaces in my stories yesterday: ... I’ve ordered enough supplies to make several each of gold, silver, and rose gold to start (same style as those in the photo)- I’ll be posting actual photos when I have them created and selling them through my website! (Link in bio) ... If you’d like to preorder them NOW, feel free! (That would actually be super helpful for me in deciding how many more supplies to order, which colors you love, etc) But I won’t have product images or start shipping until mid-October- thanks for your patience 😊 ... Necklaces are $30, hand-stamped by yours truly with the words “Tender” and “Brave” (because you can be both at the same time!), and have the option to add a free pineapple charm (a lucky symbol in our fertility community)! I hope you love them! ... ALSO JUST 12 SHIRTS LEFT UNTIL WE HIT OUR GOAL! #staytender
It smells like pumpkin spice in every corner of this house 🎃#huntfamilytreehouse
🧡 First. Day. Of. Fall. 🖤 Raise a pumpkin spice latte if you started decorating this weekend, too! 🎃☠️👻🕷🍂
I first got to meet Henry three years ago today. 👩‍👦🎉☺️ That’s HALF HIS LIFE now! It feels like the perfect time to share the vows I wrote to him in “our wedding” (as he calls it 😂): “Henry, I can't tell you how happy I am to help raise and continue to love on you: you incredible, silly, warm, wild, intelligent boy. You're my best boy in town. You told your daddy once, "I can't wait until we will be hers and she will be ours." Well, you are mine,  Henry, and I am yours. You have a mommy who loves you and a daddy who loves you, and now you have a Katie who loves you, too. I didn't grow you in my tummy, but you live and grow in my heart, and I promise I will always love you and take care of you, and make sure your life is filled with love, with playing and laughter, and that our home will be a safe place for you to grow. I will hold your hand and dry your tears, and help shepherd your heart through all of life's hard parts, and also through the fun parts. I will call you my son, and someday I hope you know how serious this role is to me and how truly and completely I see you as my boy, together with your daddy. Families are made in all sorts of ways, and I love that I'm going on this adventure with you. I can't wait to watch you grow into the kind of man your daddy is.” It’s been a wild ride and I wouldn’t trade a minute- ...okay maybe a few minutes I’d trade but OVERALL it’s been the best thing I’ve ever gotten to be part of, little dude. Thanks for loving me back!💕
“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” -Kurt Vonnegut ✨✨✨ UPDATE: we’ve sold over 120 of these puppies in the last 48 hours. My head is reeling and my heart is so full. I’ve just been 😭😭😭😭😭 since the launch. All your shares have made SUCH an impact on our fundraising efforts and I’m totally gonna cry when I start seeing you all sporting these! Just a reminder that the campaign goes until October 1, so you still have time to pick up one (or several) for yourself if you haven’t yet! These sweatshirts have been the most popular BY FAR. Jon snagged the navy and I picked dark heather- let me know what your favorite one is in the comments! (Link in profile- you know what to do! And please keep sharing, you’re all amazing!!!)
Starting to share our story on the website, friends. Most of this has been shared on this Instagram or @hopingforahuntling over time, but it’ll be helpful to have everything in one place as I start to create more essays and launch more fundraising campaigns! (Link in profile) SPEAKING OF WHICH, I woke up this morning to more than 80 TSHIRT SALES!! Thanks to so many of you spreading the word and snagging these goodies for yourselves and your family members! My inimitable hero @emilymcdowell_ bought one, by the way. So if you want to be like her, you should buy one, too. Also @vbrnrd’s entire family got them I think. So now we’re going to crash their family Thanksgiving. The internet gave me my hand lettering business, my husband, and now it might help us with a baby. What a wild notion. Thanks, internet!!
So, it's no secret that Jon and I have been wrestling with unexplained infertility these last couple of years, and we're coming to a crossroads in our treatment plan. ... As many of you know, the cost of fertility treatment is massive- financially as well as physically and emotionally. We have learned SO MUCH through this endeavor so far: how to best love and support each other when the grief feels all consuming, how much our hearts are capable of sustaining, and that no matter how isolating this can feel at times, we are not alone, and it's okay to ask for help. ... Today we are humbly launching the start of a fundraising campaign to help us grow this little family, and we're so grateful to all the people who reached out to ask how they can contribute- you gave us the courage to say "we can't do this without you." To start, I've created a design that we'll be selling through a fantastic fundraising website called @bonfire, and you can see it (and the start of our new website!) via the link in my profile. ... It's so tempting to lean into the darkness and give up hope when all we’ve heard along the way is “no" and "it's not your time", but I think the secret to growing through all of this staying tender and being open to miracles- the miracle of new life, of beauty from brokenness, of healing and redemption in the most unexpected ways. So, I created this to be a helpful reminder on the tough days. ... Just a heads up- this design will only be available until OCTOBER 1! I hope you love it, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us on this journey. (More designs and goodies to come!)
When other mamas in your community share their garden spoils and now everything smells like thyme 😍
Just TRY to keep us out of your prom limo, kid. 😎 You’re gonna do great things this year, Henry! (First day of First Grade in a new school...wish us ALL luck? 🙏)
Today Henry became a big brother, and I became a godmother. 😭😭😭 Welcome to the world, sweet Max! We’re so happy you’re here! Your mama is a badass and you look so much like your daddy. So looking forward to being part of your village and watching you grow, and just FYI- you hit the Big Brother JACKPOT.
“They say our tree may never grow back, but one day, something will. Yes, these crackles are made of synthetic goose and these giblets come from artificial squab and even these apples look fake - but at least they've got stars on them. I guess my point is, we'll eat tonight, and we'll eat together. And even in this not particularly flattering light, you are without a doubt the five and a half most wonderful wild animals I've ever met in my life. “ -Fantastic Mr. Fox 🦊 Do you have an atypical family or chosen family? I wanna hear all about them. ✨ Tag them in the comments and tell me your story!
My husband, folks. ✨ I’m reticent to let him know how much this is making me laugh because I’m not sure I want him hijacking my carefully curated corners- except WHAT. EVER. because now we have this authentic exchange on display instead of whatever I thought would come across as “thoughtful” or “poignant” on Instagram. I’m working on being more intentional in this space and part of that includes choosing to follow people who lift my spirits and make me feel something genuine- not just jealousy or judgement or resentment or rolling my eyes and the inauthenticity (I spend 90% of my time scrolling feeling all of these on repeat). @jennakutcher did this today and I freaking LOVED it so I wanna ask all you the same question: What are 3 (or more!) accounts you follow that actually make your day BETTER and leave you feeling delighted or enlightened or encouraged? I can’t wait to add more daymakers/movers/shakers to my feed. (Extra love to body positive feeds and people who preach vulnerability and tackle hard shit)
Henry and Daddy finished reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone this weekend so we got to celebrate with movie night with the whole gang in addition to our usual Sunday night family dinner. ⚡️ Henry was more impressed with Harry and Ron’s stash of candy on the Hogwarts Express than with the special effects, and I’m very confused why Ron isn’t a Hufflepuff and Hermione isn’t a Ravenclaw, but I’m just so happy the day is here that we can share in our love of all things Potter with this kiddo. 🖤⚡️🖤
Sweet sunny corners. ✨ #huntfamilytreehouse
Saturday morning nesting. #huntfamilytreehouse