Here we Goooooooo….
AGAIN!
RATTLED: Take 2!
I never would think I would be saying that we would be on TV again. It’s crazy when you say you’ll never do something… I know God is just laughing at me!
As most of you know who have followed our story, when we were first approached about the show 2 years ago, I immediately said “No.”
“Heck-to-the-no.”
I remember Josh asking me why I was so definitive about it, and I just said, “I don’t want to be on TV. I don’t want my kids to be on TV.” I said it that dry and really felt like he didn’t need an explanation. I had made my mind up!
I immediately thought of all the kids I had seen on “reality” TV, and I felt like people put their kids on TV for money, and you see them grow up in a world of fame… many of those kids love the fame or resent their parents for it.
I thought, “That will definitely NOT be my family.”
Then, as we prayed and thought about it more, my heart started to open toward it, knowing it would be done so differently.
The idea of the “Reality TV family” was probably not even accurate, and even if it was, I knew our family would go about it differently.
In my most honest thoughts as I wrested with the idea of it, I thought, “This really isn’t about the kids- it’s about me. This is a me thing—people’s perception of me and my family… and me not wanting to see myself on TV.”
That’s really what it was.
If my kids were older, or if anything about them was put in a negative light- that would be one thing, but this wasn’t it. It was documenting bringing them into this world. And in a short amount of time, people would most likely forget who we were- and I was totally okay with that.
I was actually banking on that: Don’t remember us– Remember Jesus!
Once I was able to whittle it down to that, I realized that my reasons for not doing it, were basically a me thing.
Then, Josh and I talked to others and sought out counsel.
They all asked the same questions: “Why would you not want to this? Why would you want to?”
As we wrestled through those thoughts, I realized that the reasons for doing it, outweighed the reasons for not doing it.
If we did it, we would document this season of our lives.
We could do some pretty cool things as a family.
And the most compelling thing was that we could give so many people hope. Whether they were ill, battling infertility, or considering adoption–we knew our story would reach people.
So, I hesitantly said yes, and we jumped right in.
We didn’t know what to expect, and for the most part, it has been a wonderful experience!
The only negative has been just a few mean people;)
I have come to realize that there are people that are just mean. I call them the “social media meanies”— I literally think people just search for things to be mean and ugly about!
There are people who want to pick out all the bad about being on TV and critique the way you talk, the clothes you wear, or the way you are holding your baby…but that’s just life.
Thankfully, we got very little of that when the show aired, but I was still amazed at how mean people can be behind a computer screen with knowing so little about our lives. But, you do expose yourself to that when you are on TV, and we were well-aware of that when we agreed to be on the show.
So, after the 1st season, we literally had thousands of people reach out to us.
People’s lives were literally SAVED from of seeing our story.
More people were getting mammograms, doing self-breast exams, being prompted to go through with an adoption, continuing to pray for a pregnancy—Wow, it has been incredible to watch. I wish I could share each story with you- TRULY incredible.
There really has been very little negative things to come from being on TV for our family, if anything- Praise God!
So, when we were approached again about doing it, that thing rose up in me again: “Heck, no I don’t want to do this! I just want to have a normal life, and I do not want to see myself on TV again or open myself up and my family up to criticism!”
Once again, I had to sort through those emotions and look at the truth.
Disclaimer:
*I am all about protecting my family. Don’t you worry, momma bear can come out in a millisecond, and if I ever felt like my girls were being negatively affected by us being on TV, we would stop immediately.*
But, my point is that all of my reasoning was once again just not wanting to do it paired with fear—and I am not saying that is wrong to not want to do it, but it just wasn’t a good enough reason for me to say no to this season.
So, we said yes.
We said yes again.
We said yes hesitantly.
We said yes excitedly.
We said yes prayerfully.
Asking God to protect us.
Asking God to minister through us.
Asking God to shout His love through us.
Asking God to bloom us where he has planted us.
We did not seek out this ‘TV” thing. But here we are.
We are sure going to use this platform for all its worth. Seeking to bring light to a dark world, and to enjoy this experience with our little family.
Thank you for your love, support, and prayers!
Rattled, Take 2, here we Gooooo!
With love,
Aly