November 18, 2024 • 18 mins
Join us on a heartfelt journey with our cherished guest, Brandie Thomas, as she shares her incredible story of adopting her son Elijah. Through the lens of vulnerability, Brandie opens up about the simultaneous joy and grief that adoption brings, offering a raw, emotion-filled insight into her struggles with infertility and the divine orchestration of her journey.
Writing her chapter for an anthology became a healing process, allowing Brandie to explore the depth of her faith and how surrendering to God's plan strengthened her relationship with Him. The candid reflections on open adoption, unmet expectations, and the power of storytelling make this a conversation you won’t want to miss.
We also explore the unexpected inspiration that led to Brandie authoring her personal chapter, capturing the emotional complexity and hurdles of the adoption process, including the nuances of writing in unexpected places and the mix of emotions at events like baby showers.
Brandie's experience emphasizes the profound impact of community and the power of sharing stories as a catalyst for personal growth and leadership. Whether you're navigating your own spiritual journey or seeking to embrace your divine purpose, this episode promises to inspire and encourage you to share your own story.
Don't forget to connect with Brandie on her website and social platforms, and join us next week for more discussions on faith, leadership, and personal growth.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Hey, I'm Lemon.
I am just like you, sisterfriend.
Talk about stepping into thatoverflow that God has for us by
becoming those ultimate Proverbs31 women.
Hey, I'm Lemon.
I am just like you, sisterfriend.
I knew God had something morein store for me, but I couldn't
see a way out of the laundrypiles and, frankly, I resented
that.
Proverbs 31 woman.
How was I going to live up tothe hype?
(00:39):
That is until I found out howto really step into becoming
this Proverbs 31 woman throughleadership development.
In this podcast you're going tofind financial freedom,
leadership, growth andmotivation so you'll be able to
do all the things God has calledyou to do with ease and really
step into that land of milk andhoney.
Welcome back to the Milk andHoney podcast.
(01:00):
I'm your host, lemon Price, andtoday I'm so excited because I
have one of my favorite peopleon, brandy Thomas.
She's been on here before.
You guys know her, you love her.
She is my sister that I didn'tknow I needed and one of my
closest friends, and I'm just soexcited to have you here.
So thanks for being here,brandy.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I always love having on your podcast, and anytime I
get to talk to you it's's like ajoy in my life.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
I wish you guys could see the 17 different
conversations we always havegoing on at one time actually
it's funny because Glenn and Iwere talking about this last
night.
For those of you who don't knowBrandy was sending me mass
amounts.
We will each send each otherreels on Instagram on a regular
basis, like daily, but then wealso have a different
conversation going on inTelegram and we'll have a
(01:43):
different conversation going onlike texting, and then we'll
call each other and have acompletely different
conversation there's alwaysmultiple conversations going on
and Glenn last night he was likewhat are you doing?
He was like you guys, you guysall need help.
How do you keep track of all ofthe different conversations you
guys have going on?
And I was like we just do.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I think my favorite is when we text each other and
then we'll switch over to.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Instagram within the same five minute conversation.
Literally.
It's so funny.
You guys would love to be a flyon the wall of our conversation
.
It's like we're.
We're like a fun time.
I'm not gonna lie to you.
I think we're a fun time but I'mexcited because I got to know
you in a slightly differentcontext over the summer, which
is exciting.
So Brandy was part of our superfun anthology that we put out,
(02:33):
but I wanted Brandy to come onand talk about her story, her
chapter and why she picked thosespecific things.
So, Brandy, do you want to giveus a little insight to the
chapter that you wrote?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
my friend insight to the chapter that you wrote, my
friend Sure.
So my chapter was about leadingup to the adoption and the
actual adoption of my son Elijah, and so I was discussing the
duality of the joy of thatjourney and also the heartbreak
and trauma and all the difficultemotions that also come in line
(03:07):
and stop with that joy.
So it was a lot of duality ofemotions, of happiness and grief
at the same time, and then alsojust sharing parts of my story
that I had never reallyverbalized to anybody and, yeah,
it was definitely a grievingjourney for me.
Actually, writing my story outwas very therapeutic and I
(03:32):
literally cried writing thefirst half of my story.
I woke up at 4 am at a hotelroom between my husband and son
and was just like typing away.
I just needed to get it out.
God had given me the son and itwas just like typing away, I
just needed to get it out.
God had given me the words, soI was like all right, let's go.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
I love that.
I love that you said it waslike a grieving process to like
writing this chapter, Because Ifeel like I don't know.
Do you feel like it was likecathartic to sit and put this,
put all of your feelings likepen to paper?
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Or I don't know, keyboard to Keyboard to Google
Doc, yes, just like getting.
I am a writer and I like tojournal and I've written other
things and so getting the wordsthat had been ringing in my mind
for so long like actually outdefinitely was helpful.
And I think it was hard to goback and process that time that
(04:26):
I went through with myself, withGod, with my faith, and like
the wrestling and thesurrendering and all of the
things that come with yourinfertility and adoption journey
.
There's so much, just like wehave an open adoption, so just
(04:49):
navigating that, as in in thebeginning, that's beautiful,
like I love our open adoptionand our story is like really
beautiful.
Just walk on, just divinelyorchestrated every step and turn
about it.
Then when you're in it, it'slike really hard because you
don't know when the next thing'sgonna happen.
Happen in your there is like areally dark period, like
literally in my memories it'sjust blackness and it's just
like me and god jesus that's allI can say about that.
(05:12):
She's like so much darkness andit's just me wrestling with god
.
Then like things like startedto happen really fast.
So it was just cool how, lookingback, seeing our timeline to
adoption was actually very short, like it was less than a year
process, but in the middle of it, you're like every day feels
like a year and the waitingyou're not just waiting for a
(05:35):
child, you're also wrestling theunmet expectations, the unmet
timelines, the fear, your owninsecurities, and so that was a
lot of what I was personallybattling in my faith at that
time with God of just like justlaying it out, lying and not
being a good Christian girl andactually showing up and like I
(05:57):
am kicked off.
I actually saw one of yourquotes and I am in the
background.
It's like Jesus, you can justkick rocks with open-toed shoes.
And I'm like, yes, that'sexactly how I feel, right in the
background.
It's like Jesus, you can justkick rocks with open-toed shoes
and I'm like, yes, this isexactly how I feel right now
about Jesus and I love that'ssuch a deep part of my story
because it was really what Ilearned Like I was big enough
for my emotions and the hardquestions and the imperfection
(06:20):
and the brokenness and he justwas there, holding me the entire
time.
It's such a beautifulrepresentation of the
relationship that I have withhim now.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
I love this and I love that you're vulnerable in
the chapter two to be like, yeah, like I was angry with God,
Like I'm mad at Jesus, I think,and I like to that you're like,
listen, I put this like goodChristian girl thing aside.
I did a whole podcast episodeon the good Christian girl
persona and it's okay to be likeGod, like I'm really angry
(06:52):
right now or I don't understand,and I think it's okay.
I don't think enough people sayit's okay to be mad at God.
I don't think it like changesnecessarily the relationship in
a negative way.
I think it's honest, right,Like I can tell my husband I'm
mad at him.
I can tell other importantpeople in my life that I'm mad
at them.
Why couldn't I go to God and belike are you angry about this
situation that I'm in?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
yeah, I was not, it was a turd.
I was kicking, punching,cussing and I just the picture
was just like God, with his armsopen, and I'm just like
punching his chest and likegoing at it with them.
And then it's like when you'reif you've ever parented or
witnessed like a kid just likekicking and screaming and then
(07:39):
finally they just melt into likethe arms of the person that
hopefully is there, safely there, to protect them.
That's what it felt like.
It was like god was just my dad, out with my dad, and I was
just being so angry and upsetwith what he was doing to me and
then I just melted into hisarms because I was like you're
also who I need in this moment.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
I love that.
Okay.
So where are you at like withGod and this fertility journey
and the adoption Like?
Where are you at now BecauseElijah's running his own show
now to be?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
honest.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
If you got Elijah, it's so funny.
He's 100% going to be a worshipleader someday or something,
because he's always singing andpraising Jesus and he's a whole
blown like worship pastor.
So like, where are you at now,like with God, and like, how is
it different?
Did it change your relationshipwith God in the present by like
reflecting on your journey?
Good question several.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
At this point we're like eight plus years now into
our infertility journey andElijah's four and a half, and so
it almost cut like part of mealmost felt like four years now
have gone by and I'm still atthe same place in the waiting,
and so I'm actually goingthrough a whole nother grieving
(08:56):
journey and I've hired a greatcounselor who's amazing and we
do a lot of deliverance workwith that as well.
So I would just say, if you'rea Christian, find a Christian
counselor who's also propheticand deliverance, because it just
makes your healing journey likeso there's just so much freedom
that I'm gaining from doingsome of the prayer work that we
(09:17):
do in our sessions withforgiveness and then also just
literally going into spiritualwarfare, battle and breaking
things off my bloodline.
Raising Elijah honestlytriggered a lot of things inside
of me that were unhealed andparts of my story that were just
unheld and I didn't hold spacefor.
(09:39):
And so I'm on a level 2.0healing journey with my
fertility because I think Godhas more in store for me.
But again, it's just likebefore we can adopt Elijah, I
had to go into this space ofsurrendering and he had to heal
some broken parts of me and it'sokay.
(09:59):
We got through that level ofhealing and now you couldn't
handle the full healing at thattime.
I think sometimes God can, likehe can take the leprosy away, he
can heal the broken leg, he cando the healing in the immediate
, but I feel like your characterand emotional healings tend to
agree to take longer because heis literally, if you look at the
(10:22):
disciples right.
He didn't take peter's angeraway, he didn't like take his
outbursts away and one moment itwas a character development.
It was in the relationship thatpeter became that disciple that
god knew.
He was at the very beginningwhen he first stepped off the
boat.
And so it's been like that forme with my journey of just okay,
(10:43):
we're going to shield in thisarea and now that part's done
let's go to the next levelbecause there's deeper roots and
just things in your life and inyour story that we weren't able
to address this.
And so I feel like I'm at alevel in my healing where we are
getting down to the roots ofthings and we are pulling things
(11:06):
out and I'm taking thatauthority and dominion over my
healing and over fertility andit's really cool because I think
God is leading me into the giftof healing over different
aliens and session for bearingwomen, and he's had me pray for
(11:28):
pregnant women and there's beentwo women that have actually
gotten pregnant and I'm notsaying it was my prayer alone,
but it was just really cool tome to be like God prompted me to
pray over these wounds and thenthey were pregnant.
So it's really cool from thatperspective.
But again it's like why is thatworking for me?
(11:48):
So there's still, I think,grieving and healing that needs
to occur personally, but it'salso really cool for God to
start revealing I'm going to useyou for bigger things and I'm
taking you through this journeybecause you need to have
authority over these spaces.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
I'm so proud of you for just the work that you've
done and the vulnerability too,and like your chapter was really
vulnerable and Molly alwayssays that like your story is
meant to be mentorship forsomebody else, and so I love
that you're taking thisfertility struggle that you guys
are having and then using it togo and bless other people and
praying for other women.
Like that.
It's hard right, like I get it.
I'm also like I have nobiological children.
(12:34):
I won't have biologicalchildren because of my
hysterectomy.
And sometimes it's hard, likewhen, like your best friend is
pregnant or like your sister ispregnant and you're like God,
like why not?
Okay, so I would love to know,because this was the the first
book that we put out, with katoo.
So what was that experience?
Like for you my friend becausewe did it fast.
Yeah, when did we start that,may I think it was the beginning
(12:57):
of may.
Yeah, started that project.
It was a really fast turnaroundtime, like four months total so
I would love to know yourexperience in that whole process
.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Going back to the very beginning.
When I got with Nicole to seewhat this new project was about,
I was like, oh, nicole, I'm notgoing to do this, I've already
done the anthology, been there,done that, checked it off my
bucket list and I was justpraying God, what would I even
write about?
I mean a comedy thing.
And then he just droppedelijah's he's like elijah into
(13:30):
my story.
I think I even texted you afterwe were probably texting,
actually while the call washappening and then a bunch of
crap just happened in my life.
Of course, like when you decideto do something, like just crap
, it's so off.
So I was like dealing with that.
And we got it all sorted outwith michelle for me to join the
project because there wasdifferent requirements that you
had to meet and I was able tomeet those requirements and we
(13:52):
worked out a unique way for meto do that.
The writing part was honestlyeasy because I already knew what
I was going to write about.
You have 4,500 words or so andI had been thinking about it in
my head, so I already knew how Iwas going to start the chapter.
My husband was away for a worktrip and he had his own hotel
(14:12):
room.
So Elijah and I just kind oftagged along on that journey and
I just felt the spirit justlike waking me up, get this out
now, grab a laptop, write itdown, like it was, to the point
where it was just in my head somuch I just needed to physically
get it out.
And so I wrote.
I don't even know.
I wrote at least like probablya page or two that first morning
(14:33):
.
I just had to.
Emotionally I was literallybawling.
I remember I was like are youokay?
I was like go back to sleep,leave me alone.
And then I just sat down andfinished the story, because the
rest of the story wasn't, it wasjust more of the chronological
timeline and sharing how theadoption came to be, like just
(14:56):
how the crazy way that Goddivinely orchestrated every step
of it.
So I'd say the beginning storywas probably the hardest part
for me to write.
And then there's another partwhere my family throws me a baby
shower and that was reallyawkward for me personally, and
so that was probably anotherharder part for me to write,
(15:17):
just because I never showedthose emotions right.
Baby showers are supposed to behappy and joyful and you can't
be crying while you're openingpresents and oh, by the way, how
weird is it to be openingpresents for a baby?
So there was a lot of internal,I think, struggle and
insecurities that I was dealingwith in that moment, but I
(15:38):
didn't share with people becauseI didn't want people to feel
pity me or feel bad for me and Ididn't want to ruin the
experience because peoplegenerally were so excited and
wanted to just love me andsupport me, and so the
intentions were good.
But again, this whole story isthe duality of juggling, the
(15:59):
duality of this beautiful momentthe string come true while also
holding space with.
This is not how it's supposedto be and there's something
unnatural about this and there'sa loss here at the same time
that I'm having a game.
So, yeah, I think, just tryingto weave and really explain the
(16:23):
duality that I was experiencing,that was my goal.
I just wanted to try to bringthat into writing.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
I'm really proud of you, friend, and you guys should
read her chapter.
It's so good.
I had somebody who was on thelaunch team and she said I read
yours and Brandy's chapter andit's so good and it's so moving.
I got a bunch of texts abouthow good your chapter was from
launch team people.
So I am just I'm so proud ofyou, I'm so proud of this
(16:52):
project.
Where can everybody go toconnect with you?
And I will leave a link for youguys to buy the book.
Just go get it.
It's so good.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
I would say probably just my website, which, let me,
can drop in the show notesbecause it's a mouthful, but
it'svictoriousentrepreneursrisingcom
, and that's where you can justget all the things that I do.
And then, if you want to followon social, I'm on Facebook as
Brandy Thomas and that's Brandywith an IE, and Instagram is at
(17:22):
live victorious.
But those are pretty much thetwo places I hang out currently.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Yep, I love it.
Go and hang out with her.
She's fabulous and talks aboutall these like very deep and
intense things, which shouldn'tsurprise you, given her chapter.
So thank you for being here,friend.
Again, I'm so insanely proud ofyou for just sharing this story
and the way in which you toldit was beautiful, and I just am
so grateful that you were a partof this project.
Thank you, hey friend.
What a joy it has been to sharetoday's journey with you.
(17:54):
If you found a spark ofinspiration or a nugget of
wisdom that resonated, would youbless someone else by sharing
this episode with them?
It could be the encouragementthey need to step into their
purpose and calling.
Also, if you could spare amoment to leave a review, it
would mean the world to me.
I really appreciate yourfeedback and it really helps our
community grow.
(18:14):
Remember, the road todiscovering God's call for you
isn't one you have to walk alone.
So join me again next Mondayfor another episode where we'll
continue to explore the depthsof leadership and the heights of
our heavenly calling.
Until then, keep seeking, keepgrowing and keep trusting in his
plan.
God bless you and I'll catchyou on the flip side.
Bye, friend.
Hey, I'm Lemon.
I am just like you, sisterfriend.
Talk about stepping into thatoverflow that God has for us by
becoming those ultimate Proverbs31 women.
Hey, I'm Lemon.
I am just like you, sisterfriend.
I knew God had something morein store for me, but I couldn't
see a way out of the laundrypiles and, frankly, I resented
that.
Proverbs 31 woman.
How was I going to live up tothe hype?
(00:39):
That is until I found out howto really step into becoming
this Proverbs 31 woman throughleadership development.
In this podcast you're going tofind financial freedom,
leadership, growth andmotivation so you'll be able to
do all the things God has calledyou to do with ease and really
step into that land of milk andhoney.
Welcome back to the Milk andHoney podcast.
(01:00):
I'm your host, lemon Price, andtoday I'm so excited because I
have one of my favorite peopleon, brandy Thomas.
She's been on here before.
You guys know her, you love her.
She is my sister that I didn'tknow I needed and one of my
closest friends, and I'm just soexcited to have you here.
So thanks for being here,brandy.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I always love having on your podcast, and anytime I
get to talk to you it's's like ajoy in my life.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
I wish you guys could see the 17 different
conversations we always havegoing on at one time actually
it's funny because Glenn and Iwere talking about this last
night.
For those of you who don't knowBrandy was sending me mass
amounts.
We will each send each otherreels on Instagram on a regular
basis, like daily, but then wealso have a different
conversation going on inTelegram and we'll have a
(01:43):
different conversation going onlike texting, and then we'll
call each other and have acompletely different
conversation there's alwaysmultiple conversations going on
and Glenn last night he was likewhat are you doing?
He was like you guys, you guysall need help.
How do you keep track of all ofthe different conversations you
guys have going on?
And I was like we just do.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I think my favorite is when we text each other and
then we'll switch over to.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Instagram within the same five minute conversation.
Literally.
It's so funny.
You guys would love to be a flyon the wall of our conversation
.
It's like we're.
We're like a fun time.
I'm not gonna lie to you.
I think we're a fun time but I'mexcited because I got to know
you in a slightly differentcontext over the summer, which
is exciting.
So Brandy was part of our superfun anthology that we put out,
(02:33):
but I wanted Brandy to come onand talk about her story, her
chapter and why she picked thosespecific things.
So, Brandy, do you want to giveus a little insight to the
chapter that you wrote?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
my friend insight to the chapter that you wrote, my
friend Sure.
So my chapter was about leadingup to the adoption and the
actual adoption of my son Elijah, and so I was discussing the
duality of the joy of thatjourney and also the heartbreak
and trauma and all the difficultemotions that also come in line
(03:07):
and stop with that joy.
So it was a lot of duality ofemotions, of happiness and grief
at the same time, and then alsojust sharing parts of my story
that I had never reallyverbalized to anybody and, yeah,
it was definitely a grievingjourney for me.
Actually, writing my story outwas very therapeutic and I
(03:32):
literally cried writing thefirst half of my story.
I woke up at 4 am at a hotelroom between my husband and son
and was just like typing away.
I just needed to get it out.
God had given me the son and itwas just like typing away, I
just needed to get it out.
God had given me the words, soI was like all right, let's go.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
I love that.
I love that you said it waslike a grieving process to like
writing this chapter, Because Ifeel like I don't know.
Do you feel like it was likecathartic to sit and put this,
put all of your feelings likepen to paper?
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Or I don't know, keyboard to Keyboard to Google
Doc, yes, just like getting.
I am a writer and I like tojournal and I've written other
things and so getting the wordsthat had been ringing in my mind
for so long like actually outdefinitely was helpful.
And I think it was hard to goback and process that time that
(04:26):
I went through with myself, withGod, with my faith, and like
the wrestling and thesurrendering and all of the
things that come with yourinfertility and adoption journey
.
There's so much, just like wehave an open adoption, so just
(04:49):
navigating that, as in in thebeginning, that's beautiful,
like I love our open adoptionand our story is like really
beautiful.
Just walk on, just divinelyorchestrated every step and turn
about it.
Then when you're in it, it'slike really hard because you
don't know when the next thing'sgonna happen.
Happen in your there is like areally dark period, like
literally in my memories it'sjust blackness and it's just
like me and god jesus that's allI can say about that.
(05:12):
She's like so much darkness andit's just me wrestling with god
.
Then like things like startedto happen really fast.
So it was just cool how, lookingback, seeing our timeline to
adoption was actually very short, like it was less than a year
process, but in the middle of it, you're like every day feels
like a year and the waitingyou're not just waiting for a
(05:35):
child, you're also wrestling theunmet expectations, the unmet
timelines, the fear, your owninsecurities, and so that was a
lot of what I was personallybattling in my faith at that
time with God of just like justlaying it out, lying and not
being a good Christian girl andactually showing up and like I
(05:57):
am kicked off.
I actually saw one of yourquotes and I am in the
background.
It's like Jesus, you can justkick rocks with open-toed shoes.
And I'm like, yes, that'sexactly how I feel, right in the
background.
It's like Jesus, you can justkick rocks with open-toed shoes
and I'm like, yes, this isexactly how I feel right now
about Jesus and I love that'ssuch a deep part of my story
because it was really what Ilearned Like I was big enough
for my emotions and the hardquestions and the imperfection
(06:20):
and the brokenness and he justwas there, holding me the entire
time.
It's such a beautifulrepresentation of the
relationship that I have withhim now.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
I love this and I love that you're vulnerable in
the chapter two to be like, yeah, like I was angry with God,
Like I'm mad at Jesus, I think,and I like to that you're like,
listen, I put this like goodChristian girl thing aside.
I did a whole podcast episodeon the good Christian girl
persona and it's okay to be likeGod, like I'm really angry
(06:52):
right now or I don't understand,and I think it's okay.
I don't think enough people sayit's okay to be mad at God.
I don't think it like changesnecessarily the relationship in
a negative way.
I think it's honest, right,Like I can tell my husband I'm
mad at him.
I can tell other importantpeople in my life that I'm mad
at them.
Why couldn't I go to God and belike are you angry about this
situation that I'm in?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
yeah, I was not, it was a turd.
I was kicking, punching,cussing and I just the picture
was just like God, with his armsopen, and I'm just like
punching his chest and likegoing at it with them.
And then it's like when you'reif you've ever parented or
witnessed like a kid just likekicking and screaming and then
(07:39):
finally they just melt into likethe arms of the person that
hopefully is there, safely there, to protect them.
That's what it felt like.
It was like god was just my dad, out with my dad, and I was
just being so angry and upsetwith what he was doing to me and
then I just melted into hisarms because I was like you're
also who I need in this moment.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
I love that.
Okay.
So where are you at like withGod and this fertility journey
and the adoption Like?
Where are you at now BecauseElijah's running his own show
now to be?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
honest.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
If you got Elijah, it's so funny.
He's 100% going to be a worshipleader someday or something,
because he's always singing andpraising Jesus and he's a whole
blown like worship pastor.
So like, where are you at now,like with God, and like, how is
it different?
Did it change your relationshipwith God in the present by like
reflecting on your journey?
Good question several.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
At this point we're like eight plus years now into
our infertility journey andElijah's four and a half, and so
it almost cut like part of mealmost felt like four years now
have gone by and I'm still atthe same place in the waiting,
and so I'm actually goingthrough a whole nother grieving
(08:56):
journey and I've hired a greatcounselor who's amazing and we
do a lot of deliverance workwith that as well.
So I would just say, if you'rea Christian, find a Christian
counselor who's also propheticand deliverance, because it just
makes your healing journey likeso there's just so much freedom
that I'm gaining from doingsome of the prayer work that we
(09:17):
do in our sessions withforgiveness and then also just
literally going into spiritualwarfare, battle and breaking
things off my bloodline.
Raising Elijah honestlytriggered a lot of things inside
of me that were unhealed andparts of my story that were just
unheld and I didn't hold spacefor.
(09:39):
And so I'm on a level 2.0healing journey with my
fertility because I think Godhas more in store for me.
But again, it's just likebefore we can adopt Elijah, I
had to go into this space ofsurrendering and he had to heal
some broken parts of me and it'sokay.
(09:59):
We got through that level ofhealing and now you couldn't
handle the full healing at thattime.
I think sometimes God can, likehe can take the leprosy away, he
can heal the broken leg, he cando the healing in the immediate
, but I feel like your characterand emotional healings tend to
agree to take longer because heis literally, if you look at the
(10:22):
disciples right.
He didn't take peter's angeraway, he didn't like take his
outbursts away and one moment itwas a character development.
It was in the relationship thatpeter became that disciple that
god knew.
He was at the very beginningwhen he first stepped off the
boat.
And so it's been like that forme with my journey of just okay,
(10:43):
we're going to shield in thisarea and now that part's done
let's go to the next levelbecause there's deeper roots and
just things in your life and inyour story that we weren't able
to address this.
And so I feel like I'm at alevel in my healing where we are
getting down to the roots ofthings and we are pulling things
(11:06):
out and I'm taking thatauthority and dominion over my
healing and over fertility andit's really cool because I think
God is leading me into the giftof healing over different
aliens and session for bearingwomen, and he's had me pray for
(11:28):
pregnant women and there's beentwo women that have actually
gotten pregnant and I'm notsaying it was my prayer alone,
but it was just really cool tome to be like God prompted me to
pray over these wounds and thenthey were pregnant.
So it's really cool from thatperspective.
But again it's like why is thatworking for me?
(11:48):
So there's still, I think,grieving and healing that needs
to occur personally, but it'salso really cool for God to
start revealing I'm going to useyou for bigger things and I'm
taking you through this journeybecause you need to have
authority over these spaces.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
I'm so proud of you for just the work that you've
done and the vulnerability too,and like your chapter was really
vulnerable and Molly alwayssays that like your story is
meant to be mentorship forsomebody else, and so I love
that you're taking thisfertility struggle that you guys
are having and then using it togo and bless other people and
praying for other women.
Like that.
It's hard right, like I get it.
I'm also like I have nobiological children.
(12:34):
I won't have biologicalchildren because of my
hysterectomy.
And sometimes it's hard, likewhen, like your best friend is
pregnant or like your sister ispregnant and you're like God,
like why not?
Okay, so I would love to know,because this was the the first
book that we put out, with katoo.
So what was that experience?
Like for you my friend becausewe did it fast.
Yeah, when did we start that,may I think it was the beginning
(12:57):
of may.
Yeah, started that project.
It was a really fast turnaroundtime, like four months total so
I would love to know yourexperience in that whole process
.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Going back to the very beginning.
When I got with Nicole to seewhat this new project was about,
I was like, oh, nicole, I'm notgoing to do this, I've already
done the anthology, been there,done that, checked it off my
bucket list and I was justpraying God, what would I even
write about?
I mean a comedy thing.
And then he just droppedelijah's he's like elijah into
(13:30):
my story.
I think I even texted you afterwe were probably texting,
actually while the call washappening and then a bunch of
crap just happened in my life.
Of course, like when you decideto do something, like just crap
, it's so off.
So I was like dealing with that.
And we got it all sorted outwith michelle for me to join the
project because there wasdifferent requirements that you
had to meet and I was able tomeet those requirements and we
(13:52):
worked out a unique way for meto do that.
The writing part was honestlyeasy because I already knew what
I was going to write about.
You have 4,500 words or so andI had been thinking about it in
my head, so I already knew how Iwas going to start the chapter.
My husband was away for a worktrip and he had his own hotel
(14:12):
room.
So Elijah and I just kind oftagged along on that journey and
I just felt the spirit justlike waking me up, get this out
now, grab a laptop, write itdown, like it was, to the point
where it was just in my head somuch I just needed to physically
get it out.
And so I wrote.
I don't even know.
I wrote at least like probablya page or two that first morning
(14:33):
.
I just had to.
Emotionally I was literallybawling.
I remember I was like are youokay?
I was like go back to sleep,leave me alone.
And then I just sat down andfinished the story, because the
rest of the story wasn't, it wasjust more of the chronological
timeline and sharing how theadoption came to be, like just
(14:56):
how the crazy way that Goddivinely orchestrated every step
of it.
So I'd say the beginning storywas probably the hardest part
for me to write.
And then there's another partwhere my family throws me a baby
shower and that was reallyawkward for me personally, and
so that was probably anotherharder part for me to write,
(15:17):
just because I never showedthose emotions right.
Baby showers are supposed to behappy and joyful and you can't
be crying while you're openingpresents and oh, by the way, how
weird is it to be openingpresents for a baby?
So there was a lot of internal,I think, struggle and
insecurities that I was dealingwith in that moment, but I
(15:38):
didn't share with people becauseI didn't want people to feel
pity me or feel bad for me and Ididn't want to ruin the
experience because peoplegenerally were so excited and
wanted to just love me andsupport me, and so the
intentions were good.
But again, this whole story isthe duality of juggling, the
(15:59):
duality of this beautiful momentthe string come true while also
holding space with.
This is not how it's supposedto be and there's something
unnatural about this and there'sa loss here at the same time
that I'm having a game.
So, yeah, I think, just tryingto weave and really explain the
(16:23):
duality that I was experiencing,that was my goal.
I just wanted to try to bringthat into writing.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
I'm really proud of you, friend, and you guys should
read her chapter.
It's so good.
I had somebody who was on thelaunch team and she said I read
yours and Brandy's chapter andit's so good and it's so moving.
I got a bunch of texts abouthow good your chapter was from
launch team people.
So I am just I'm so proud ofyou, I'm so proud of this
(16:52):
project.
Where can everybody go toconnect with you?
And I will leave a link for youguys to buy the book.
Just go get it.
It's so good.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
I would say probably just my website, which, let me,
can drop in the show notesbecause it's a mouthful, but
it'svictoriousentrepreneursrisingcom
, and that's where you can justget all the things that I do.
And then, if you want to followon social, I'm on Facebook as
Brandy Thomas and that's Brandywith an IE, and Instagram is at
(17:22):
live victorious.
But those are pretty much thetwo places I hang out currently.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Yep, I love it.
Go and hang out with her.
She's fabulous and talks aboutall these like very deep and
intense things, which shouldn'tsurprise you, given her chapter.
So thank you for being here,friend.
Again, I'm so insanely proud ofyou for just sharing this story
and the way in which you toldit was beautiful, and I just am
so grateful that you were a partof this project.
Thank you, hey friend.
What a joy it has been to sharetoday's journey with you.
(17:54):
If you found a spark ofinspiration or a nugget of
wisdom that resonated, would youbless someone else by sharing
this episode with them?
It could be the encouragementthey need to step into their
purpose and calling.
Also, if you could spare amoment to leave a review, it
would mean the world to me.
I really appreciate yourfeedback and it really helps our
community grow.
(18:14):
Remember, the road todiscovering God's call for you
isn't one you have to walk alone.
So join me again next Mondayfor another episode where we'll
continue to explore the depthsof leadership and the heights of
our heavenly calling.
Until then, keep seeking, keepgrowing and keep trusting in his
plan.
God bless you and I'll catchyou on the flip side.
Bye, friend.
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