How 500 Women Became the Hands and Feet of Jesus

In December of 2013, Rusty and I found out we were expecting for the first time. After making doctor’s appointments and getting over the initial excitement, one of the first things I did was join a What To Expect monthly board for moms due in August of 2014. I was blown away by how downright mean some of them could be. When we miscarried in January, I quickly left the board. When we found out we were pregnant for the second time in February, I joined a November 2014 board a little more hesitantly. Again, I was saddened by the meanness and catty women. It seemed like people just felt good belittling others from behind their computer screen. When we miscarried for the second time in March, I quickly left the board yet again. 

Fast forward through the summer of endless appointments and testing, and we were pregnant for the third time in July. I almost didn’t even join the March 2015 board because I figured it would again be full of mean, hormonal women. But I joined, and quickly found this group to be so incredibly different. Prayer requests were posted, mamas were encouraged, and no question was too silly or stupid to ask. We all enjoyed interacting on the WTE board that a Facebook group was made shortly after all of our March babies were born. We affectionately refer to ourselves as the “March Moms”. We have been through the last nearly four years with each other; gone through pregnancy tests all the way to births, and are now fully into toddlerhood (our babies are turning THREE this month!) and we are still asking each other how in the world to do it. 

In July of 2017, when we found out we were pregnant with Nora, I didn’t even bother joining a March 2018 group. I already had my March Moms. They were there for every second kid question, every weird pregnancy symptom, every doctor’s appointment, and every ER visit. They talked with me through hospital stays, and they wept with me on November 6th, when Nora went to be with Jesus. And they have been there every day since, encouraging me and lifting us up in prayer. 

They signed up to send meals after Nora was born, they mailed cards, and they’ve sent beautiful gifts. They single handedly paid for Nora’s memorial service. 

They sent a book with her name written over and over, in dozens and dozens of different ways, to show the impact of Nora’s name and legacy. 

They lit candles and sent up balloons. They sent us the most beautiful wind chime so I can feel Nora’s presence every time the wind blows. They sent a doll for Nolan to cuddle with and a gift card for him to pick out a toy. They sent me beautiful jewelry and precious ornaments. 

And even now, 4 months after Nora was born, they are still carrying me through. Today we received these beautiful flowers. They are eco flowers, with photos of Nora mixed in. They look stunning in our guest bedroom with all of Nora’s things. They sent them to me to let me know they are thinking of me as my due date approaches. 

These women, 500+ women whom I have never met, have carried me through some of the darkest days of my life. They encourage me, lift me up, pray for me, and speak Nora’s name to me so I know she is not forgotten. I cannot put into words what they mean to me. God knew I would need them and I wholeheartedly believe He handpicked every single one of them to have a baby in March of 2015. 

This is what social media should be about. Encouragement and the lifting of others. In a world that is terrifying and the Internet is known as a scary place, the March Mamas are everything that is right. 

“Mommy boards” might get a bad rap sometimes, but it’s just because the rest of them aren’t the “March Moms”. To my March Mamas out there, thank you.

I hope everyone who reads this thinks a second longer before posting that rude comment online. Just because you don’t “know” them doesn’t mean you can’t have an impact on their life. If everyone was as nice and kind as the March Mamas, this world would be a better place.