Our miracle baby was
born in April, an incredible gift from God! I realize (with gratitude) that my writing
career was launched as a creative outlet (and free therapy) during
our years of infertility. A year ago God shifted everything when He said YES, and now I'm a mom of a newborn! Read more here: http://www.hopeduringinfertility.com/jesus-said-yes-announcement/
Although I'm a mom now, I
still have hopes and dreams of writing, even more than I already have. I
have a manuscript mostly finished that I dream of publishing as a book this upcoming
winter. There are other books I long to get out of my head and onto paper. (Good thing I outlined the path for myself and others in my book Write Your Story: Straightforward Steps for (Finally) Writing and Publishing Your Book.)
The biggest
challenge I have faced as a new mom is what
they call "mommy brain" (and some people say it lasts for as long as you're raising children!) My mind feels foggy, and I feel like all of my creative energy is going toward sustaining and nurturing the little tiny life in my arms. I am not feeling sharp enough to focus on a sermon, much less read a non-fiction book or WRITE one!
Along with mothering an infant, I am still working! Full-time, outside the home, nannying
four children. I will have a teenager assisting me for a portion of the
summer, so there will be many days when I feel like a mom of six children. (How does Sara Hagerty find time to write!?)
The past several summers, as I've nannied my four charges, I've realized that I have very little time and energy for writing (or any other pursuits). Every year I tell myself that "next summer I'll have no expectations of producing writing over the summer." This summer I'm taking myself seriously.
If I have a burst of time and inspiration, I might crank out a blog post. Every now and then I'll even manage a Facebook post (on my personal page, my Hope During Infertility Page, or my Betsy Herman, Author page). But I'm not planning on writing much until September... and it will be happening in a new physical location.
Yes, at the end of the summer, things are changing. My husband and I plan to move from Northern Virginia
to Maryland! This means I will leave my nanny job - this has been a very difficult and bittersweet decision. After 6 years of caring for these children, in many ways they feel like "mine" and there have been tears at the thought of me leaving. After our move to Maryland, I will focus on being a mom. I'll make time to write (because you don't "find" time to write, you "make time.") And I plan to be a part-time nanny there. Who knows what the future will hold?
This year is life-changing for my husband and me. Our family has changed with this new baby, a move to be near my husband's job will change our lives dramatically with a new home and new routines. We plan to stay connected to our community in Virginia, including making the trek to our church.
That's a quick little update from me. I'm a mom now, but still an infertility blogger. I intend to keep writing books, and I will look for opportunities to encourage others to write (like with Write Your Story). But until September, I'm setting aside my laptop to focus on home life, nannying, and reading for fun. You'll hear from me more starting this fall, so keep an eye on my social media!
Until then, you can read the books I've written. Check out my personal blog or my infertility blog archives.
Hi, I’m Betsy, married to Mike since 2008, and we're delighted that our long-awaited baby girl has joined us in 2018. We live in the Washington, D.C. area. We enjoy exploring new cities together on foot and doing life as a team.
My first book, Embracing Hope During Infertility is intended to infuse hope into your heart! Seasons: A Picture Book, although written for children, can point readers of all ages toward the goodness of God, even in the darkest times. This year I published Write Your Story for new authors or people who dream of writing a book. I hope that it helps you finish writing & publishing your own book as well!
Thanks so much for reading this post!
Thanks so much for reading this post!
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