Sunny Jones. I really do think she’s one of the most lovely people I know. She also is the reason that there are any beautiful photos of my child. Though I disagree, she describes herself this way, “Jack of all trades and truly the master of none. I have two jobs from home, three kids, knit, and watch crime stories with cheap wine before bed. Also, I’m obsessed with everything white. And linen. That really does sum me up 100%.” She’s also funny. She says that all she really ever wanted out of life was to get married to a boy with blonde, curly hair and have babies. But, as evidenced in these photos, she married a boy with dark straight hair and had three boys (one with blonde curls for good measure). She’s been a photographer for ten years, and recently took a position as a Creative Content Manager for Snuggle Me Organic. She says, “I work a lot to be a stay at home mom, but God made it happen and I’m super grateful to be doing things that I love with the people I love near.”
How did you celebrate Mother’s Day?
What is unique about your motherhood journey?
What I say is unique really doesn’t feel so unique to me anymore. I feel like everyone struggles in some way with fertility or healthy pregnancies these days (which is thanks to people like you for being transparent). We never got pregnant. We just assumed it would happen, and month after month turned into two years and we (well, I) panicked. My sweet husband never seemed to show fear, and I remember finally breaking down angry at him one day asking why he didn’t care if he was to never be a father. He just smiled at me and said, “Yes, I will be, Sunny. You’ll be a mother too. It may not look how we imagine, but we WILL have a family. I’m confident in that.” I was so desperate to have that mentality and jealous of his peace with it all, but I just ached to be a mommy and every day was super painful to endure as friends began building families around me. I truly never felt resentment or even jealousy, but I had plenty of pity parties for myself and asked a lot of “Why, God?” between the tears. I think we assume motherhood is an option without hesitation when we’re young. It’s this “When I have babies…” mentality, and the fact is, a lot of us don’t make it to that point. We went through fertility treatments at a clinic here in Birmingham, and got pregnant on a 3% chance that the doctor recommended we abandon because it didn’t seem like it was going to work. Days later I got a phone call I never dreamed I would receive. Our little “Hail Mary” is now a five year boy named Sheppard, and the spitting image of his Daddy. My husband jokes that he’s glad they look alike considering our likelihood of conceiving was slim to none. I love that we had such a slim chance the time it worked, because it truly gave God the glory in our story. I went on to conceive two more boys naturally, and thank goodness I have something that resembles me in the mix now.
What is something about motherhood that has made you strong in Christ?
Motherhood. Motherhood in it’s entirety made me stronger in Christ. Something about the moment you conceive changes you. Motherhood is this total sacrifice of your body, your time, your sleep. You don’t have sick days or vacation time or the ability to escape it. You don’t matter half as much as you did before it all began. And, guys, you just don’t care do you? I mean yes, I’d love a good day off here and there, but I’d probably spend it looking at videos of them on my phone. Something about having them has made me understand that love that I was told the Lord had for me growing up. You finally understand the depths of grace, parables like the prodigal son, and a love that surpasses your own life for the sake of theirs. Having children gave me a perspective that I didn’t have before, and humbled me to a place where I belong.
What is something that the Lord has taught you recently that you would like to share with others?
Waiting. You’d think I would have learned that through infertility, but I am still learning that today. I’m an instant gratification girl, and the Lord is constantly pulling me back to wait for His timing. Something that stuck with me through infertility was the statement that God sees your beginning from the end. I wish I could remember who told me this because it got me through some pretty rough days. Seeing each ending in my life unfold I realize that the beginning was right where it needed to be, and as I look back a lot of times that wasn’t my preference at the start.